Francis Ngannou (photo via UFC / YouTube)

By FCF Staff

Stipe Miocic turned to his wrestling game to defeat Francis Ngannou in their first encounter. But, as their rematch approaches, Ngannou’s coach is reporting the heavyweight’s made big improvements to that part of the game.

Ngannou challenged the heavyweight champ back in January, 2018, but Miocic scored six takedowns in the fight and outstruck the feared slugger by a 200 – 33 margin. Miocic won the fight via unanimous decision.

On account of a four-fight winning streak, which has seen Ngannou quickly stop every man he’s faced, he’s been booked to face Miocic again this Saturday at UFC 260. Recently his coach, Xtreme Couture’s Eric Nicksick, spoke with MMA Fighting.

While discussing the improvements Ngannou (15-3) has made to his wrestling, since he lost to Miocic, Nicksick said this.

“We had to implement [wrestling] in every practice that we do. So it’s not like one practice you’re sparring or hitting pads. It’s MMA. So every practice you have to focus on defending a takedown. Furthermore, you have to focus on taking guys down yourself. You have to have offensive wrestling just as important as your defensive wrestling.

“Those are some of the things, as scary as it sounds, this dude is blowing through guys on takedowns, putting guys on their backs and beating them up from the top. This guy is now enjoying the elements of wrestling offensively and defensively and understanding there is another path he can find a victory and not shy away from wrestling. You need to implement it one way or another.”

Since Miocic (20-3) defeated Ngannou in 2018, he has fought Daniel Cormier three times, and he took the series 2-1.

UFC 260 will take place at the Apex Facility in Las Vegas, Nevada.