MMA Update - Francis Ngannou believes UFC wants him to beat Alistair Overeem, fight for title

​

DETROIT – Francis Ngannoubelieves he has the support of the UFC brass going into Saturday's heavyweight title eliminator with Alistair Overeem at UFC 218. Ngannou (10-1 MMA, 5-0 UFC), who meets Overeem (43-15 MMA, 8-4 UFC) in the UFC 218 pay-per-view co-headliner at Little Caesars Arena following prelims on FS1 and UFC Fight Pass, is one of the few legitimate contenders who has yet to challenge current heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic (17-2 MMA, 11-2 UFC).

Overeem lost to Miocic by first-round knockout at UFC 203 just 14 months ago, and Ngannou believes there's little interest in a second fight. He believes the UFC would prefer him to win, and he said there's no doubt he would deserve a crack at the gold after beating Overeem.

"Not just because (I'm a fresh contender), because I deserve it," Ngannou said at today's UFC 218 open workouts. "I'm contender No. 4, and Alistair is contender No. 1. After I beat him, what should be my ranking? Probably No. 1. Then I'll get right to the title shot. I'm on five straight wins, and this one will be my sixth.

"I'm the contender who hasn't fought," he continued. "Ahead of me are Cain Velasquez, Fabricio Werdum and Alistair Overeem. Fabricio Werdum and Alistair Overeem already fought and loss to Miocic. Cain has an injury. I'm the right one. After I beat Alistair Overeem I will be contender No. 1."

After a more than 10-month layoff following his knockout of Andrei Arlovski at UFC on FOX 23 in January, Ngannou is itching to get back in the octagon. For a fighter who has been professional for just over four years, Ngannou has the talent to make tremendous strides between fights.​