Bothered by Heavyweight Title Picture, Stipe Miocic Plans to Meet with UFC

Stipe Miocic is a little bit upset that he wasn’t part of the conversation when the UFC decided to book an interim heavyweight title fight between Ciryl Gane and Derrick Lewis earlier this month.

After all, Miocic is the owner of the longest heavyweight championship reign in promotion history and is coming off a loss to Francis Ngannou in a title bout at UFC 260 on March 27.

"It does bother me, because I just wish they would have at least came to me," Miocic told ESPN. "Even if I wasn't able do it, I would have just loved to be given the opportunity. I think I deserved it. But I'm not gonna bitch and moan about it.”

Miocic’s next move is to fly to Las Vegas for a meeting with UFC president Dana White, where he will express his disappointment at being excluded from the heavyweight title picture.

"I just have to sit down and have a conversation with him," Miocic said. "And everything will fall into place.”

Gane defeated Lewis via third-round technical knockout in the UFC 265 headliner on Aug. 7 to presumably set up a title unification bout with Ngannou at a future event. The 39-year-old Miocic still has his sights set on being a UFC champ for a third time.

"Getting my rematch and getting my belt back," Miocic said. "That's the only way I see it.”

Just like Ngannou, Miocic is uncertain why the UFC booked an interim title fight as well as why he wasn’t included in the discussion.

"I have no idea," Miocic said. "I've seen it for years. If I knew, I wouldn't be a fighter; I would be a matchmaker. ... We'll have a sit-down come September with Dana and figure everything out.”