Report: UFC Planning For Stipe Miocic vs. Francis Ngannou, Alex Volkanovski vs. Brian Ortega For March PPV
The UFC is reportedly planning to stack their second pay-per-view offering in March.
According to ESPN’s Ariel Helwani, the UFC is aiming for the heavyweight championship rematch between champion Stipe Miocic and challenger Francis Ngannou to headline the event.
The report also has the promotion penciling in Alexander Volkanovski defending his featherweight title in the evening’s co-main event against former title challenger Brian Ortega.
Per sources, the current plan for March’s second UFC PPV, on March 27, is for it to feature:
Stipe Miocic x Francis Ngannou for the heavyweight title
&
Alexander Volkanovski x Brian Ortega for the 145 title.
However, neither fight is finalized just yet or officially agreed.
— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) January 16, 2021
The event would mark the second bout between Miocic and Ngannou. The pair squared off at UFC 2020 where Miocic would successfully defend his title against Ngannou via unanimous decision.
Miocic (20-3) has fought three times since his first encounter with Ngannou but all three fights were against former double champion, Daniel Cormier. Miocic would get TKO’d by Cormier at UFC 226 before returning the favor to reclaim his title at UFC 241 and ultimately putting the perverbial nail in the coffin to their feud when he took a unanimous decision over Cormier at UFC 252, which marked the end of the latter’s professional MMA career.
Ngannou (15-3) has fought five times since his loss to the aforementioned Miocic. He would be on the wrong end of a lack-luster decision against Derrick Lewis in his return bout is currently riding a four-fight win streak, knocking out Curtis Blaydes, Cain Velasquez, Junior dos Santos and most recently Jairzinho Rozenstruik at UFC 249.
Neither the UFC or any of the scheduled fighters have yet confirmed the bouts.
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