Francis Ngannou ‘taking some time off’ following loss to Stipe Miocic

Francis Ngannou won’t be fighting for awhile.

The heavyweight sensation has decided to take a step back and relax after a one-sided loss to UFC champion Stipe Miocic at UFC 220 in Boston, Mass., on Jan. 20.

“The Predator,” who came up short in his attempt to win the UFC heavyweight belt earlier this month, fought Miocic only six weeks after knocking out Alistair Overeem at UFC 218. After an active first few years in the UFC, fighting three times in 2016 and twice in 2017, Ngannou has announced on his social media that he is “taking some time off” from competition.

”I’m taking some time off which will benefit my personal life by going back home to see family and friends,” Ngannou wrote, “then I’ll be back to set things up.”

Ngannou (11-2) entered the Octagon seven times in a little more than two years, racking up an impressive 6-1 record under the UFC banner, including knockouts over Andrei Arlovski and Overeem.