At UFC 220 in Boston, Massachusetts Cameroonian fighter Frances Ngannou learned the hard way, what Stipe Miocic already knew; experience is priceless. Now that the dust has settled on their UFC heavyweight title fight, what is next for these two fighting powerhouses?

The Unanointed King

Going into his heavyweight title challenge against Champion Stipe Miocic, Ngannou, knew (like everyone else) that he was a monsterous striker. We had witnessed it at UFC 218 only a month earlier. Ngannou had almost decapitated, the then number one heavyweight contender, Alistair Overeem with a shovel left hook from hell.

Since that moment, the buzz around Ngannou has been insatiable. He had been paraded around the media circuit as the most dangerous man alive. To lend credence to this claim Ngannou official boasts the hardest punch in the world.

Ngannou could be forgiven for buying into his own hype. He hadn't the experience to believe otherwise.

The Silent Champion

In contrast to the Ngannou "hype train", Stipe Miocic was (and still is) is the most undersold fighter on the UFC roster. In another narrative this fight could have been billed as Miocic cementing his legacy. For Miocic was on the cusp of his fourth straight title fight victory (an feat no man had ever achieved in UFC heavyweight history).

However in the era of "the motor mouth", Stipe is a down to earth fighter. The son of Croatian immigrants when he is not fighting he works as a part-time firefighter paramedic. He would more likely be seen snow mowing his lawn at 5 in the morning than rolling out of a club.

Thus Stipe was billed as a footnote in Ngannou seemingly inevitable inauguration.

Style over substance

There was an era when being a salt-of-the-earth personality stood you in good stead in the UFC. Welterweight legend, Matt Hughes, who entered the ring to "a country boy will survive" epitomized this best. Hughes was a favourite with the UFC brass. However a lot of time has pasted since Hughes' hayday.

Nowadays "Money talks" (literally) in combat sport. The nadir (or zenith, depending on your viewpoint), was the Mayweather-McGregor fight. A billion dollar contest built on hype and trash talk than competitive excellence.

Ngannou cannot be called a trash talker however he has been given super-human status. The made he stepped out of Cameroon and into an Octagon to demolish all in his path. The fact that he is built like he was carved out of stone helps add to the mystic.

Real champ to get real challenger

However when Ngannou meet Miocic an old maxim rang true; skills win's fights. Ngannou's limitation in wrestling and on the ground were laid bare for all to see. After Miocic weather the early storm, it was Ngannou that had no answer to Stipe's grappling prowess. By the end it wasn't whether Stipe was going to get the win but whether he'd force the stoppage. To Ngannou's credit he survived however the decision was never in doubt. Miocic went home with the beat.

So what next for Stipe? Well a bout with Light Heavyweight king Daniel Cormier has been set for UFC 226.

This is a stunningly spectacular fight. Before dropping down to Light Heavyweight (to primarily avoid a showdown with his team-mate and good friend, Cain Velasquez, Cormier was well on course for a stab at the Heavyweight strap. Stipe may start as favourite however he'd need to find an answer to Cormier's wrestling, something no other heavyweight Cormier faced has been able to contend with.

It promises to be a fight ('real fight') for the ages.

Rebuilding house of cards

As for Ngannou, the seduction of a power puncher is hard to resist. There is a primal attraction to a fighter who can knock someone out with one punch. Ngannou has the Mike Tyson effect. The Rumble Johnson effect.

However being an explosive power puncher comes at a cost. As with most thing in life there is a trade off.

Power comes at the expense of energy. It sounds obvious because it is. The more power use exert the more of your energy you use. A key to being a power puncher is being efficient with your energy. Also, in mman you need to be well versed in "anti-wrestling" so you can keep the fight standing.

Ngannou could do worst than study the fighting style of Chuck 'The Iceman' Liddell. In his prime, light heavyweight Liddell was one of the most feared punchers in mma.

Liddell knew if he touched you he'd put you to sleep. So he spent most of his time stalking his prey. Putting the fear of death in them. Liddell perfected the sprawl, he was difficult to take down.

Ngannou needs to manage his energy. To use his size and power to intimate rather than blast out opponent. To stay on his P&Qs in terms of take down defence. He says he 'under-estimated' Miocic. Only the nativity of an inexperienced fighter will under-estimate a reigning champion.

Stipe exposed an achilles heel Ngannou never knew he had; namely if you push his stamina and take him into deep water, Ngannou.

Now Francis will need to learn how to protect his energy reserves. Sometimes experience is all about understanding your limitations and offset them with wisdom. It's about mastering the ego, catering for the strengths of others and knowing your vulnerabilities.

It is impossible to achieve what Ngannou has in such a short period without a high level of intelligence, fight IQ and an amazing ability to learn quickly. His next lesson will involve acknowledging his weaknesses and taking measures to protect them. Perhaps then, the hardest lessons for a man so physically powerful are yet to come.