Getting big is relevant again in combating. Over the last year or so, both boxing and MMA have seen somewhat of a rebirth in the heavyweight divisions with Anthony Joshua, Deontay Wilder and Stipe Miocic rising through the ranks as the best on the planet. And with top champions brings out some of the greatest opponents, and on Saturday night in Boston, Miocic will be the first to reply a really tough test.
The existing UFC heavyweight champion is set to carry on perhaps the scariest puncher at MMA when he squares off against Francis Ngannou at the main event at TD Garden. Ngannou (11-1, 7 KOs) has won all five of his fights since joining the company and all coming through KO/TKO with not one getting beyond the next round. His brutal knockout of high competition Alistair Overeem at UFC 218 might happen to be the most vicious knockout of this year.
But Miocic remains his collected and calm ahead of his newest challenge. Miocic (17-2, 13 KOs) can also be on a five-fight knockout streak and sits only one win short of being the longest reigning heavyweight champion in company history.
“I’m so used to it now,” Miocic said during his open workout on Wednesday. “I love being the underdog since I shut up everyone. That is exactly what this game’s all about — it’s like’The Jerry Springer Show’… I am walking ‘and .’ No one (else) is going to be winner until I leave.

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