ROUNDTABLE: Who wins between Stipe Miocic and Francis Ngannou?

Stipe Miocic looks to make heavyweight history, when he takes on Francis Ngannou at UFC 200. Who will win?

JOSHUA GARCIA, MMATorch Contributor

I think this should be a really good fight, but Ngannou just has too much power and will KO Miocic. This will be a very tough fight for Ngannou though, Miocic has shown that he can be susceptible to getting rocked and if Ngannou is able to catch him it will be lights out.

FRANK HYDEN, MMATorch Columnist

I’m going with Miocic by TKO in the fifth round. Ngannou has great power, but I don’t think he can sustain it into the later rounds. I think Miocic will just try to survive and pepper Ngannou with jabs and stuff early, then start turning it on as Ngannou tires. I think Ngannou gasses and learns a lot from this loss. I think Miocic learns from this as well, and becomes a better champion. This should be a great fight and this could make stars out of both men.

DAVE KOULA, MMATorch Contributor

I say this every time with heavyweights, so I’m saying it again: its heavyweights, nothing ever makes sense, anyone can beat anyone regardless of skill, power, experience, cardio etc, things just happen. When you size everything up, what it should come down to is either Ngannou lands one really good punch or Stipe comes in with a solid game plan with tight boxing to get inside, beat him up, tire him out and eventually find a finish. When you run the calculus on that, and consider that Ngannou’s actual boxing skills are very good, and he’s just so damn big and strong, I think Ngannou has a better chance of doing what he needs to do to win. I’ll say Ngannou second round knockout and new heavyweight champion of the world. But you know, it’s heavyweights.

SEAN COVINGTON, MMATorch Contributor

Stipe will TKO Ngannou. I fully expect Stipe to stand and bang with Ngannou. No one is expecting Stipe to trade blows with Francis so that’ll probably be a big part of his strategy. Stipe will get caught a few times but will win the exchange mid-second round.

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