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Tag: Francis Ngannou

  • Dana White Compares DWCS Lightweight War To Miocic vs. Ngannou

    Dana White Compares DWCS Lightweight War To Miocic vs. Ngannou

    Week four of this year’s instalment of Dana White’s Contender Series delivered some big upsets and one of the show’s most memorable knockouts.

    Whilst it was Yuneisy Duben that stole all the headlines with her one-punch knockout over Shannon Clark, the evening’s opener set the tone.

    The first fight between Quillan Salkilld and Gauge Young was a high-level and super competitive three-round affair in the lightweight division.

    Though Salkilld earned the win and thus, his place on the UFC roster, the UFC boss went into the Octagon after the fight to give praise to both men – something he rarely does.

    Dana White Says The Shots Landing Between Salkilld & Young Were Comparable To Ngannou vs Miocic 2

    In his post-fight press conference after the event, Dana White spoke about how impressed he was by this fight from both men’s perspectives.

    The opening bout of the card has delivered great fights or moments across season 8 of the series and this one was no different.

    To emphasize how powerful and durable both men were, White described the impact of some of the shots that they were both landing and receiving across the 15-minute duration.

    He compared the sound of these strikes to when Francis Ngannou met Stipe Miocic in a rematch for the heavyweight title back at UFC 260, which took place in a near-vacant UFC Apex due to the restrictions for hosting live events at the time.

    “Both of those kids were 24 years old and you know, my thing was however the judges score this fight, however this plays out, both of you have a bright future in this sport. Both durable, tough guys, well-rounded no matter where the fight went. Head kicks, eating nasty head kicks, the body shots that both of those took, the punches. I mean when they hit each other with some of those right hands, it sounded like heavyweights. It reminded me of the night that Francis and Stipe fought in here. When Francis and Stipe were hitting each other that night and you were just like God damn! Those two were throwing those kind of punches at each other, it was a great fight.”

    Read also: Merab Dvalishvili Doesn’t Regret Social Media Post That Angered Dana White: ‘This Is Who I Am!’

  • Randy Couture On Whether Saudi Arabia Can Make UFC vs PFL Happen: ‘That Kinda Money…’

    Randy Couture On Whether Saudi Arabia Can Make UFC vs PFL Happen: ‘That Kinda Money…’

    Randy Couture recently offered his thoughts on whether Saudi Arabia’s General Entertainment Authority head, Turki Alalshikh, possesses the influence to bring the highly anticipated super fight between Francis Ngannou and Jon Jones to life.

    For years, the most monumental heavyweight bout the UFC could have delivered was a showdown between Ngannou and then-light-heavyweight champion Jones, who declared his intent to move up a weight class in 2020. However, a bitter contract dispute with UFC CEO Dana White led to “The Predator” entirely parting ways with the organization. Ngannou later inked a multi-fight deal with the PFL, which included the freedom to explore his passion for boxing.

    White has repeatedly asserted that it was Ngannou who blocked the eagerly awaited matchup, while the former heavyweight champion countered by saying that it was “Bones” who was reluctant to fight him as he tried to negotiate a new contract to remain with the UFC. In the end, any negotiations that were in place fell through.

    However, now with Saudi Arabia owning a modest share in the PFL, Alalshikh seemingly has the sway to potentially orchestrate this long-dreamed-of clash. Even White, who has traditionally opposed cross-promotion, was questioned about the possibility during the UFC 303 post-fight press conference in June, and surprisingly, he didn’t dismiss the notion outright.

    “The Natural” thinks the UFC would never gamble with their reigning champion by jeopardizing a loss to someone like Ngannou, whose stock continues to soar. However, he believes the Ngannou vs. Jones clash could become a reality if authorities higher than White step in to make it happen…

    Couture Sees TKO CEO & Alalshikh As Key To Ngannou vs. Jones Fight

    During a recent interview with MMAFightingonSBN, Couture shared his thoughts on the likelihood of a Ngannou vs. Jones showdown ever materializing. The former two-division champion expressed his doubt, stating that it’s highly improbable the UFC would ever agree to a cross-promotion bout.

    “I don’t see the champ in the UFC ever getting a shot at fighting the champ from PFL or any other organization for that matter, and that’s unfortunate,” Couture said. “That’s a shame that the fans are never going to get to see those types of matchups. That’s one of the flaws and issues in our sport right now.”

    However, “The Natural” added that a bout of such magnitude could only come to fruition with the involvement of UFC’s parent company, TKO Group Holdings, under the leadership of CEO Ari Emanuel, along with the influence of Alalshikh.

    “At the end of the day, I think Ari [Emanuel] is the one calling the shots. He’s the one who bought the company from Zuffa. It’s his business. He has shareholders and people he has to answer to, and he needs to do what’s best for the bottom line for that company, which includes WWE and UFC and everything that’s going on there.”

    “Certainly, what the Saudis are holding and what they’re doing with LIV Golf, and all the other things that they’re doing to build culture and create opportunity for their citizens and their athletes in their country, that [fight] could very well happen because that kind of money can make a lot of things happen.”

  • Dan Hardy Reacts To UFC Erasing Francis Ngannou, Compares With Own Experience

    Dan Hardy Reacts To UFC Erasing Francis Ngannou, Compares With Own Experience

    Francis Ngannou found himself in the news without doing anything the week before the press conference for his PFL debut.

    “The Predator” may be gearing up for his long awaited MMA return where he will face Renan Ferreira on October 19 but the legacy he left behind in the UFC will never be forgotten.

    The MMA leader found themselves receiving some criticism during fight week for UFC 305, after claims that they had tried to erase Ngannou from the promotion’s history books due to his name being edited out during the Countdown episode preview.

    Though Dana White did apologise for this and put it down to a miscommunication, it certainly wasn’t the first time that the UFC have tailored things to better suit the promotion.

    Dan Hardy Says Francis Ngannou’s UFC Erasure Was Sad But Not Surprising Based On Track Record

    During a recent interview with Sportskeeda MMA, PFL commentator Dan Hardy gave his thoughts on the discourse regarding the UFC’s conduct around the career of their former heavyweight champion, who left the promotion on less than stellar terms.

    “The Outlaw” spoke about the comparisons between Ngannou’s treatment and that of Randy Couture, who also left to sign with another promotion and wasn’t remembered fondly by the UFC as a result.

    “It was sad to see and it didn’t surprise me unfortunately and I did see what Dana’s reply was about the fact that the editors had assumed that’s what he would have chosen and what he would have wanted and look, they were probably right because it’s happened so many times in history. Ngannou and Randy, they’re two fantastically credible names in the sport.”

    Hardy was also able to draw from his own experiences, even if his was on a smaller scale.

    The current Head of Fighter Operations for PFL Europe left the promotion in 2021 after some disagreements with the UFC, both publicly and privately.

    He recalled how he was seemingly wiped from the history of UK MMA during an event in London where his wife, Veronica, was in action.

    Despite being the first Brit to challenge for a UFC title when he faced Georges St-Pierre for the welterweight belt, “The Outlaw” was nowhere to be seen across the celebrations of the sport in this region.

    “My history in the UFC is far more mediocre in comparison but even so, at UFC London when Veronica was on the card, there’s posters of all the UK fighters on all of the underground tubes and everything and of course, I’m not there. It does happen, they do it a lot.

    “It makes no difference to me, I can dye my hair red and walk down the street and people will remember my fights. It’s just kind of a weird thing to see and for people like Randy and Ngannou, they need to be celebrated because they’ve inspired so many people, myself included. They shouldn’t be omitted, they’re part of the fabric of the sport and I think the fans will always remember that.”  

    Read also: PFL CEO Contradicts President’s Rejection Of Muhammad Mokaev: ‘He Could Absolutely Be The Future Face Of Flyweights Within PFL’

  • PFL Executive Says Tom Aspinall vs. Ngannou & Ferreira Winner Determines Best Heavyweight In The World

    PFL Executive Says Tom Aspinall vs. Ngannou & Ferreira Winner Determines Best Heavyweight In The World

    The heavyweight division in MMA has gone through a lot of changes over the last few years.

    From Francis Ngannou leaving the UFC and vacating his heavyweight title, to Jon Jones debuting in the weight class and becoming champion, to the ongoing situation regrading him, Stipe Miocic and interim champ Tom Aspinall.

    Ngannou is set to make his long awaited return to MMA when he debuts in the PFL on October 19 against PFL champion, Renan Ferreira.

    The fight will see the winner claim the PFL Super Fights belt but with Ngannou never losing his UFC title, he has to be in the conversation for still being the best out there and therefore, Ferreira can also enter that discussion with a win.

    Dan Hardy On Who The Best Heavyweight In The World Is

    In a recent interview with Sportskeeda MMA, PFL commentator Dan Hardy gave his thoughts on the magnitude of the fight that is billed as “Battle of the Giants”.

    The Head of Fighter Operations for PFL Europe believes that Ngannou versus Ferreira is the very highest level in the heavyweight division.

    For what it’s worth, he also weighed in on the current Jones, Miocic, and Aspinall debate, making it clear who his pick is for the best of the bunch.

    “We’re potentially going to find out who the best heavyweight is on the planet. There’s a lot of conversation on the other side around Tom Aspinall, Jon Jones, Miocic, etc. Right now for me, Tom Aspinall is head & shoulders above Jon Jones and Stipe just based on his activity.”

    With Aspinall being his pick for the best heavyweight in the UFC, Hardy said that a fight between the Brit and the winner of Ngannou vs. Ferreira may be the very pinnacle of the weight class.

    “But, then you compare Tom Aspinall to Ngannou and Ferreira and that might be the fight to determine who the best heavyweight is on the planet, the winner of the Ngannou-Ferreira fight and then Tom Aspinall. It’s exciting. As an MMA fan, I love speculating about these things, it’s very rare that we get to match a current PFL champion against the heavyweight king of the world, Francis Ngannou.”

    Read also: Glover Teixeira Gives His Verdict On Alex Pereira Weight Class Move

  • Dan Hardy Highlights Difficulty For Francis Ngannou In Renan Ferreira Fight: ‘I Might Wrestle But Then I’ve Got Five Rounds…’

    Dan Hardy Highlights Difficulty For Francis Ngannou In Renan Ferreira Fight: ‘I Might Wrestle But Then I’ve Got Five Rounds…’

    Francis Ngannou is set to make his return to MMA on October 19 where his PFL debut comes with some big unknowns.

    Earlier this year, in his second venture into pro boxing, he was stopped for the first time in his career by Anthony Joshua.

    It was a devastating finish after being dropped several times in the early stages of the fight and we don’t know how Ngannou will bounce back from such a tough loss.

    In Renan Ferreira, he meets a fellow super-athlete who has proven his ability to connect with massive power at an unmatched range.

    We have seen Ngannou use his grappling to secure the win when he defeated fellow-striker Ciryl Gane but will this be the same version that we see in Riyadh later this year?

    Dan Hardy Breaks Down What Version Of Francis Ngannou We Will See On His Return

    If there’s one area that is a weakness on Ferreira’s side, it’s his wrestling ability which has been an issue for him during his PFL career.

    PFL commentator and analyst Dan Hardy isn’t convinced that even with this in mind, we will see Ngannou lace up his wrestling shoes because it’s not his usual game.

    He spoke in an interview with talkSPORT shortly after the first meeting between Ngannou and Ferreira about how coming in with a grappling approach may not be the best idea for “The Predator”.

    “It certainly could, especially the psychology around it right. Especially that first round where I mean, it’s not like he’s stepping back in against another heavyweight, like this guy is a legit phenom. He’s a freak, he’s tall, he’s fast, he can do backflips off of one leg, it’s ridiculous. So then you’ve got to think, if I’m Francis Ngannou and I’m standing across from this guy, I’m thinking to myself, ‘Well, I might wrestle but then I’ve got five rounds. If I start to slow down over five rounds, this guy could beat me up with a jab from a distance.’

    “So for me, the confident but reckless Ngannou is the real danger on the feet in this one and we might see him go back to his wrestling again but ultimately, I think that the work that Ferreira has done at ATT [American top Team] has really shored up his wrestling and his grappling so even that’s not a foregone conclusion. I think we’re going to get a striking extravaganza and really, honestly, it’s the first one to land clean.”

    Read also: 2024 PFL 9 Playoffs: Brendan Loughnane vs. Kai Kamaka III Results & Highlights (7 PM ET)

  • Francis Ngannou Clears The Air On Dana White Claiming He Ducked Jon Jones: ‘The Guy Who Control The Narrative…’

    Francis Ngannou Clears The Air On Dana White Claiming He Ducked Jon Jones: ‘The Guy Who Control The Narrative…’

    Unless you’ve been living under a rock, it’s common knowledge in MMA circles that Francis Ngannou and Dana White have a rocky relationship. After being the UFC’s biggest heavyweight superstar for quite some time, Ngannou left due to contract-related conflicts, and White has never been happy about it.

    Since Ngannou’s departure, White has frequently taken jabs at the former UFC heavyweight champ. The UFC President has blamed him for not fighting Jon Jones and has discredited his boxing career as well.

    In the press conference for his PFL debut against Renan Ferreira on Oct. 19 in Saudi Arabia, Ngannou finally fired back at White’s latest comments…

    Francis Ngannou Reveals Why Jon Jones Fight Didn’t Happen Despite His Request

    While talking to journalists at the PFL press conference, Ngannou flipped the script and claimed that Jones didn’t want to fight him in the UFC. He allegedly requested the fight multiple times but was told that “Bones” wasn’t willing to fight as he was enjoying life in Albuquerque.

    “As far as I’m concerned, it was Jon Jones didn’t want to fight for me, according to them. And so many time that we sit down on the meeting, I’m like, oh it can’t happen Jon Jones doesn’t want to fight anymore. You know, like he live in Albuquerque. He live his small life. He has a lot of money in his bank account, you know. So, I think, the guy who control the narrative can say whatever he wants but that’s just the narrative. I never, I was the one requesting the Jon Jones fight but I didn’t want that like a trap, to get into some deal and get to something I didn’t want.”

    As per “The Predator”, another reason why the Jones fight couldn’t happen was his contract. He was down to fight the UFC light heavyweight GOAT but wanted a contract that benefited him in ways other than just money. This included the freedom to box, in-cage sponsorships, and health insurance, among other things.

    Ngannou’s relationship with the UFC fell apart when both parties couldn’t negotiate a contract that fulfilled the former’s demands. Instead, the UFC heavyweight champ left the promotion and signed with the PFL.

  • Battle Of The Giants: Francis Ngannou vs. Renan Ferreira Press Conference Highlights & Faceoff

    Battle Of The Giants: Francis Ngannou vs. Renan Ferreira Press Conference Highlights & Faceoff

    The build-up to Francis Ngannou’s long-awaited MMA comeback and PFL debut continued on Thursday, with the heavyweight powerhouse going face-to-face with opponent Renan Ferreira at the Battle of the Giants press conference.

    Ngannou, a former UFC heavyweight champion, hasn’t laced the MMA gloves since his lone successful title defense against Ciryl Gane in January 2022. He later departed the organization following a lengthy contractual dispute and found a new home, putting pen to paper on an exclusive MMA deal with the Professional Fighters League in May 2023.

    He’s yet to enter the SmartCage, however, instead using the freedom granted to him by the PFL to complete his long-discussed venture to the sport of boxing. After shocking the world with his performance against then-WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury, Ngannou stayed in that realm of combat for a highly anticipated matchup with former two-time unified champ Anthony Joshua.

    A devastating knockout defeat to the Brit in Saudi Arabia this past March has put a stop to his charge in the ring for the time being, and Ngannou’s sights are instead now on the sport in which he made his name once again.

    “The Predator” will be back in the cage on October 19, making his promotional debut in the main event of a PFL Super Fight card opposite Renan Ferreira, the 2023 heavyweight champ inside the SmartCage.

    The card’s co-headliner, meanwhile, sees another major name make their return as Bellator Women’s Featherweight Champion Cris Cyborg gears up for her first MMA outing in over a year. She’ll meet the PFL’s very first two-weight title winner in Larissa Pacheco this fall.

    Those four names were initially all set to appear at the Battle of the Giants press conference on August 22, held at The Anthem in Washington D.C. However, only Ngannou and Ferreira fielded questions from the media, with Pacheco also appearing briefly. It’s unknown why original plans to have Cyborg in attendance fell away.

    Check out a full stream of the presser below via the PFL’s official YouTube channel, followed by all the highlights and faceoffs!

    Francis Ngannou vs. Renan Ferreira Press Conference Stream

    Francis Ngannou vs. Renan Ferreira Press Conference Highlights

    Francis Ngannou vs. Renan Ferreira Press Conference Faceoff

  • Jon Jones Continues To Justify Avoiding Tom Aspinall: ‘Francis Would’ve Knocked Out 98% Of People, But Somehow Stipe Is Washed?’

    Jon Jones Continues To Justify Avoiding Tom Aspinall: ‘Francis Would’ve Knocked Out 98% Of People, But Somehow Stipe Is Washed?’

    UFC Heavyweight Champion Jon Jones won’t have his stance affected.

    The topic of Jones’ first title defense has long raged on. While it was initially set to come eight months on from his crowning in a divisional debut opposite Ciryl Gane, it’s now been 17 months since he completed multi-weight glory at the Frenchman’s expense.

    A planned bout against Stipe Miocic last November fell away due to an injury for Jones, throwing the division up in the air. The surging Tom Aspinall was subsequently crowned interim champ at the Madison Square Garden-held event.

    But despite the presence of another titleholder, both Jones and the UFC have remained firm on plans to reschedule the clash with Miocic. Criticism of that only increased when the Brit defended his gold with a first-round knockout of Curtis Blaydes last month in Manchester.

    Many of those against Jones and Miocic sharing the cage for the title have pointed to the latter’s layoff. The heavyweight legend hasn’t competed since suffering a brutal knockout at the hands of Francis Ngannou three and a half years ago and is now 42 years old.

    But Jones has frequently dismissed the suggestion that he’s chasing a lower level of opposition, defending Miocic against those branding him “washed.” That trend continued in a social media post this week, with the Rochester native branding anyone who follows that line of thought a “casual.”

    “Man, I appreciate the boss and the comments he made at last nights press conference. Sounds like I have some massive options on the table, an athletes dream,” Jones wrote. “Right now I need to get back to focusing on the task at hand. Despite what some of the casuals think, Stipe is really no joke. It’s crazy that we live in a world where you can go from the best heavyweight ever to washed up after a bad performance. The reality is Francis would’ve knocked out 98% of people on the planet that night, but somehow Stipe is washed up?

    “Stipe not competing in so long tells me that he’s had plenty of time to heal and rebuild. Let me get back to focusing on the actual task at hand, that’s what got me this far. My focus, I do what others can’t,” Jones added.

    Fans Make Their Voices Heard After Jones’ Latest Refusal To Unify UFC Heavyweight Division

    Unsurprisingly, Jones’ latest post reiterating his avoidance of Aspinall and stance that nothing but a showdown with the returning Miocic should be next drew out plenty of reactions on social media.

    While plenty berated the former light heavyweight champ, accusing him of “ducking” his British counterpart, some others backed Jones’ right to finish out his career in the way he chooses.

    https://twitter.com/OG1BonnyP/status/1826284180772475126
    https://twitter.com/bewarethArchons/status/1826283582593355790
    https://twitter.com/bewarethArchons/status/1826282321085112478
  • Dana White ‘Takes Responsibility’ For Francis Ngannou Erasure In UFC 305 Video, Apologizes To Israel Adesanya

    Dana White ‘Takes Responsibility’ For Francis Ngannou Erasure In UFC 305 Video, Apologizes To Israel Adesanya

    UFC CEO Dana White has addressed the controversy surrounding a quote from Israel Adesanya in the latest Countdown episode being edited to remove any mention of Francis Ngannou.

    The lead-up to this past weekend’s UFC 305 pay-per-view was heated after Adesanya took issue with some of middleweight champion Dricus Du Plessis’ past comments regarding his status as the “real African” in the UFC. The Nigerian-New Zealander accused the South African of downplaying his achievements, as well as others who came before him like welterweight veteran Kamaru Usman and former heavyweight kingpin Ngannou.

    The promotion unsurprisingly included that storyline in its Countdown episode for UFC 305. But while much of what was said by “The Last Stylebender” surrounded the “three kings,” the UFC eliminated one from the equation.

    During UFC 305 fight week, AFeldmanMMA posted a video on X showing Adesanya speaking about Usman and Ngannou, who joined him as the “three kings” hailing from Africa who simultaneously held UFC titles a number of years ago. The quote came during the UFC 305 on-sale press conference weeks before the event.

    Accompanying that clip was the same moment shown on Countdown, but heavily edited to remove any mention of the “three kings” and Ngannou.

    That drew heavy backlash throughout the community, with Adesanya himself speaking out against the promotion’s apparent attempts to erase the Cameroonian’s legacy and part of history in the UFC.

    White Addresses Ngannou Erasure: ‘Somebody In The Company Made That Decision’

    During the press conference following this week’s episode of Dana White’s Contender Series, the UFC CEO was asked about the controversy surrounding the promotion’s Ngannou erasure by Kevin Iole.

    White and other senior UFC figures close by insisted they weren’t aware of the editing of the quote to remove “The Predator,” with White suggesting it had to have been an employee acting of their own volition.

    “I don’t know about this. Do you?” White asked UFC staff who were present. “It was something that we produced? Are you sure that we produced this? What show was it on? Like Embedded or something? I don’t disagree with that (Adesanya’s criticism). But literally everybody who’s sitting in here right now, including our head of PR, doesn’t know about it. When did Israel say it, post-fight? We’ll find out what happened.

    “If that’s true and that was done, and it was something that we produced, then somebody in the company made that decision,” White continued. “Listen, you know me. If I said we did it, I’d say, ‘Yeah, f*ck him and this is why we did it.’ I know nothing about it, nobody ever asked me about it, and this is the first we’re hearing about it.”

    It evidently didn’t take long for Iole to receive a follow-up statement, posting an update on social media. According to the veteran reporter, White took full responsibility for the controversy and quickly called Adesanya to apologize.

    “I had asked @danawhite tonight about the UFC scrubbing @francis_ngannou out of the Countdown show for #UFC305 tonight. He said he’d look into it. Just called me and took full responsibility. His complete answer will be in my story upcoming shortly.

    “I should also had here for full context that Dana said he’d already called @stylebender to apologize,” Iole wrote.”

    It remains to be seen whether Ngannou will also be receiving an apology. It was, after all, his legacy being erased…

  • Francis Ngannou’s Coach On UFC Deleting His Legacy: ‘It Takes Somebody Of Izzy’s Stature…’

    Francis Ngannou’s Coach On UFC Deleting His Legacy: ‘It Takes Somebody Of Izzy’s Stature…’

    Francis Ngannou is set to really begin the next chapter of his MMA career when he makes his long-awaited PFL debut against Renan Ferreira on October 19.

    Despite parting ways with the UFC in January of 2023, the former UFC heavyweight champion has been competing in boxing before taking some time off after tragically losing his son earlier this year.

    In the meantime, his former home has done a few things that rubbed both Ngannou and his supporters the wrong way by not acknowledging what he achieved in the promotion.

    One particular stat shown in August of last year listed Tafon Nchukwi as the first Cameroonian fighter to ever compete in the UFC, which was quickly corrected by Ngannou on social media.

    Not only had they erased Ngannou on this occasion, they had also jumped past Thierry Sokoudjou who “The Predator” gave props to.

    Eric Nicksick Says He Doesn’t Understand UFC’s Stance On Francis Ngannou

    This lack of acknowledgment for Ngannou was brought up once again by Israel Adesanya during his media day interviews ahead of UFC 305.

    Ngannou’s coach Eric Nicksick spoke about the impact that actions like this from “The Last Stylebender” have during a recent interview with Submission Radio.

    He gave his opinion on Ngannou not being celebrated for his time in the UFC, stating that he can’t understand this way of handling the situation even if it did end on less than stellar terms.

    “It just doesn’t make any sense. I think it’s like if you had this break-up but you still learn something or you still gained something from that relationship and I think it takes somebody of Izzy’s stature and nobility of like he cares so much about Francis that he has a platform and he speaks up about it. Good on Izzy for seeing these injustices and speaking up on it. It’s just silly. It just actually, I think it brings more light and more negative connotation to the situation.

    “Had they just been like, ‘Oh hey man, you know, he was a great champion for us while he was here.’ You don’t have to promote the guy but when you’re doing a stat that said the first Cameroonian fighter in UFC history, like wait a minute, you had a couple guys that were in there. It is what it is man, it’s their promotion, it’s their business what they decide to do. I just would never really understand the purpose or reason why behind it.”

    Read also: Francis Ngannou’s Touching Gesture To Coach Who ‘Doesn’t Have A Family’: ‘It Was Enough To Move This Man To Tears…’

  • Classy Kamaru Usman Reacts To Du Plessis’ UFC 305 Win: ‘We’ve Moved On From Three Kings To Four Horsemen’

    Classy Kamaru Usman Reacts To Du Plessis’ UFC 305 Win: ‘We’ve Moved On From Three Kings To Four Horsemen’

    Kamaru Usman recently expressed his views on Dricus Du Plessis’ impressive win over Israel Adesanya at UFC 305.

    “Stillknocks” retained his UFC middleweight championship in commanding style last weekend, submitting Adesanya with a fourth-round rear-naked choke in a thrilling contest at the RAC Arena in Perth, Australia.

    In a fiercely contested bout where neither fighter held back, Du Plessis displayed remarkable grit and determination. As the fight entered the championship rounds, the South African unleashed a relentless flurry of punches that left “The Last Stylebender” reeling. Seizing the momentum, the defending champion secured a takedown and swiftly transitioned to lock in a decisive submission.

    Despite a rivalry that had flared up and taken an ugly turn on multiple occasions, Du Plessis and Adesanya finally put their animosity to rest after their historic clash. The bout, steeped in a fierce cultural clash narrative, marked the UFC’s first-ever all-African title fight.

    Adesanya, originally born in Lagos, Nigeria, and later relocating to New Zealand at a young age, had previously accused Du Plessis of undermining the legacy of the “African Kings”. This tension began when “Stillknocks” had boldly claimed he wanted to be the ‘real’ African UFC champion.

    The title of “African Kings” was a prestigious moniker bestowed upon Adesanya, alongside Usman and Francis Ngannou, during a time when the trio simultaneously held UFC belts, representing the continent on the global stage.

    “The Nigerian Nightmare” provided a nuanced perspective about the heated feud heading into UFC 305 and also his thoughts on where Du Plessis fits into UFC’s African elite.

    Usman Includes Du Plessis In UFC’s African Elite

    During a recent episode of the Pound 4 Pound podcast with Henry Cejudo, Usman delved into Du Plessis’ victory over Adesanya at UFC 305. However, the conversation quickly escalated into a lively debate when the former UFC welterweight champion voiced his displeasure over Cejudo’s lighthearted remark – where he dubbed Du Plessis the “Real African King.”

    “I understand it was a whole marketing thing for Dricus Du Plessis, which he might not have necessarily meant in the way that Israel might have taken it,” Usman said. “But you have to be careful because it’s dangerous—it’s very, very dangerous. You have to be careful with what you say because now we’re in a position to influence the masses in the world. So, with power—I say it all the time—with great power comes great responsibility. When you have that platform and you have that mic in your hand, you have to be careful with what you say.”

    “The Nigerian Nightmare” went on to emphasize that Du Plessis is actually the fourth African champion.

    “So to say, ‘Oh, I’m the real African,’ that’s completely crazy. And for you [Cejudo] to say that perpetually, ‘Oh, he’s the real African king,’ I know you’re just joking, but it’s not—this is how division continues to be perpetuated. Dricus Du Plessis is the fourth African champion right now, so there are four horsemen. We’ve moved on from the three kings to where now it’s four horsemen. So to continue to perpetuate this whole ‘Oh, African king’ or this or that, that’s ridiculous.”

  • ‘This Is Actually So Embarrassing’ – Fans React To Video Highlighting UFC’s Editing Of Israel Adesanya Quote To Remove Francis Ngannou Mention

    ‘This Is Actually So Embarrassing’ – Fans React To Video Highlighting UFC’s Editing Of Israel Adesanya Quote To Remove Francis Ngannou Mention

    The UFC has been getting some backlash after removing one of the “three kings” from an Israel Adesanya quote in the recent Countdown episode.

    Adesanya is set to headline this weekend’s UFC 305 pay-per-view event in competition for Dricus Du Plessis’ middleweight title. The Nigerian-New Zealander will shoot for a historic three-time crowning inside the RAC Arena in Perth, Australia.

    The build-up to Saturday’s numbered event has been relatively heated after Adesanya took issue with some of Du Plessis’ past comments regarding his status as the “real African” in the UFC.

    “The Last Stylebender” has accused the South African of downplaying his achievements, as well as others who came before him like Kamaru Usman and Francis Ngannou. And the promotion played up to that storyline in its Countdown episode for UFC 305 — only, with just two of the “kings.”

    A recent video posted on X by AFeldmanMMA showed Adesanya making note of both Usman and Ngannou, who joined him as the “three kings” hailing from Africa who simultaneously held UFC gold in their possession, during the UFC 305 on-sale press conference.

    Accompanying that clip was the same moment shown on Countdown. The moment was heavily edited to remove any mention of the “three kings” and Ngannou.

    The instance marks the latest controversy surrounding the UFC”s attitude toward Ngannou since his departure at the start of 2023.

    After he chose to pursue his contractual demands elsewhere, the promotion notably incorrectly branded Tafon Nchukwi the “only Cameroonian fighter in UFC history” during a broadcast.

    Fans Slam Continued Ngannou Erasure: ‘UFC Can Try As Hard As They Want…’

    Members of the MMA community online were quick to give their takes on the latest example of the UFC looking to avoid any mention of Ngannou.

    Plenty were up in arms, accusing the UFC of attempting to diminish the former heavyweight champion’s legacy. The promotion wasn’t without its defenders, however, in addition to those who took issue with the branding of Nchukwi as the first Cameroonian UFC fighter but saw no issue with the editing of Adesanya’s quote.

  • Report: AJ McKee vs. Paul Hughes Targeted For Undercard Of Francis Ngannou’s PFL Debut

    Report: AJ McKee vs. Paul Hughes Targeted For Undercard Of Francis Ngannou’s PFL Debut

    A huge lightweight matchup is reportedly being set for the debut of the PFL PPV Super Fights series, which features the MMA return of Francis Ngannou.

    First reported by @MagicM_MMABets on X, former Bellator featherweight champion AJ McKee is expected to be returning to take on one of the biggest prospects in the sport, Paul Hughes.

    This was later confirmed by several other media sources, including MMA Fighting’s Mike Heck.

    Hughes Set For Major Matchup In Second PFL Assignment

    Ireland’s Hughes made his debut for the promotion earlier this year after signing to the PFL, stopping Bobby King in the second round at a Bellator Champions Series event following his run in Cage Warriors.

    “Big News” made it clear after that fight that he had big-name opponents in mind, and that’s certainly what he’s got on his hands on October 19 should these reports come to fruition.

    McKee, meanwhile, put in a standout performance at February’s PFL vs. Bellator event in Saudi Arabia when he submitted longtime PFL veteran Clay Collard in the first round.

    Now he will look to welcome Hughes to the very top tier of competition in this promotion in a clash between Bellator’s biggest homegrown talent and one of the PFL’s most exciting additions.

    Main-event billing for what is shaping up to be the biggest card of the year for the PFL goes to the long-awaited clash between Ngannou and Renan Ferreira, who knocked out Bellator champion Ryan Bader at the previously mentioned PFL vs. Bellator card.

    In the co-main event, Cris Cyborg faces Larissa Pacheco in another highly anticipated and long-awaited meeting between the two dominant female forces on the combined PFL and Bellator rosters.

    A location is yet to be confirmed for this event, though it has long been expected to be taking place in Saudi Arabia.

  • Israel Adesanya Reiterates Fury With ‘Privileged’ Dricus Du Plessis’ Comments: ‘Not Like Francis, Who Had To Cross The Desert…’ 

    Israel Adesanya Reiterates Fury With ‘Privileged’ Dricus Du Plessis’ Comments: ‘Not Like Francis, Who Had To Cross The Desert…’ 

    Former two-time UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya remains motivated to make Dricus Du Plessis pay for some of his remarks at UFC 305.

    Having not competed since losing the title in shocking fashion against Sean Strickland last September, Adesanya will make his return to action opposite the man against whom “Tarzan” fell off the throne earlier this year.

    After an injury to Du Plessis scuppered plans for the pair to collide in Australia 11 months ago, “Stillknocks” and “The Last Stylebender” are now just days away from a battle Down Under, one that the South African will enter as the divisional kingpin.

    Du Plessis and Adesanya have long gone back and forth over the former’s remarks about African heritage. In addition to branding himself the “real African” in the UFC in one of his first post-fight interviews, the South African has pointed to his continued stay in the continent as a relevant point compared to the likes of Adesanya and Kamaru Usman.

    Adesanya Vows To Show Du Plessis The Error Of His ‘Colonialist’ Mindset

    During a recent interview with TMZ Sports, Adesanya looked ahead to his mixed martial arts comeback and further commented on the sensitive topic that built his feud with Du Plessis early last year.

    The Nigerian-New Zealander reiterated his frustration with his upcoming opponent’s mindset, pointing to his journey and stories such as that of Francis Ngannou as examples Du Plessis ignored when branding himself the “real African” in the UFC.

    “It’s not personal, personal. I just want him to take accountability for his remarks,” Adesanya said. “Dricus is saying, ‘I train in Africa, I do this in Africa,’ and then people like (Abdul) Razak (Alhassan) and myself, who were forced to flee our own country because of better opportunities, he’ll never understand that because he lives behind the f*cking gates of his privileged life in South Africa.

    “Not like someone like Francis, who had to cross the desert to go overseas to go train. If you know Francis’ story, you can’t call him not a real African champion because he didn’t train in Africa,” Adesanya continued. “It’s like, bro, are you f*cking kidding? The guy got sent back out to the desert six, seven times to go die and he survived. … We paved the way for him and he comes out there and tries to take it all for himself. I wonder where he got that from? … ‘I see this and want it all for myself.’ … What kind of mindset is that? … That’s a colonialist mindset.”

    Adesanya will look to settle his grudge with Du Plessis within the steel surroundings of the Octagon this weekend, when he makes the walk to it for the first time in close to a year.

    Should he have his hand raised in Perth, more than just emerging victorious from what appears to be a heated grudge match with the South African, “The Last Stylebender” will achieve a historic three-time crowning.

  • Francis Ngannou’s Touching Gesture To Coach Who ‘Doesn’t Have A Family’: ‘It Was Enough To Move This Man To Tears…’

    Francis Ngannou’s Touching Gesture To Coach Who ‘Doesn’t Have A Family’: ‘It Was Enough To Move This Man To Tears…’

    When MMA fans first came across Francis Ngannou, many bought into him because of his destructive one punch knockout power that made him a must-watch addition to the UFC’s roster.

    It was then his story, and some incredible highlight reel knockouts, that really helped to turn “The Predator” into a big star in the combat sports world.

    As a result of his incredible journey in life to achieve his dreams after coming from humble beginnings, it’s no surprise that Ngannou is a great person.

    He represents combat sports so well by being a tremendous human being so it was no surprise to see the amount of support he received after what he went through earlier this year.

    Eric Nicksick Shares Recent Moment From The Gym Where Francis Ngannou Shared His Appreciation For One Of The Coaches

    There is sure to be many people that have crossed paths with Ngannou that would be able to talk about the character of the former UFC champion.

    Not many know him better than Xtreme Couture head coach Eric Nicksick who described his fighter in an interview with MMA Fighting as a “forward thinker” who is “always trying to leave people better off than when he found them”.

    When asked to give an example of the kind of person Ngannou is behind closed doors, a moment that recently took place in the gym jumped right into his mind.

    Nicksick told the story of how a potentially underappreciated member of the coaching team at the gym, Nathan Pettit, was a recent recipient of Ngannou’s kindness and gratitude.

    “Oh 100%. Nate Pettit is one of our coaches at the gym and Nate’s just one of the hardest workers you’re going to see in the room like the guy’s constantly holding the pads for people, constantly on the road. He’s a dog like he’s just a guy that’s like if you walk in the gym right now, Nate’s working and he doesn’t have a family, doesn’t have a life, his life is this gym. So Nate came up to me, we were putting the new cages together, Nate came up to me with like tears in his eyes, this is like two weeks ago and he’s like, ‘Dude, Francis just handed me a cheque and just said thank you for everything that you do.’

    “I don’t know what the amount was, I didn’t even ask but it was enough to move this man to tears, to an emotion. I said to Francis later on, I was like hey, thanks for hooking up Nate. He’s like, ‘Of course bro, I see how hard he works and I want to pay him for all the time he’s given to others that maybe it’s not reciprocated back to him.’ So you know, just keeping it in the house, keeping it in the family the way he takes care of his coaching staff and the people around him. Nate had a huge role in helping Francis beat Stipe Miocic, Nate ran those wrestling practices along with Dennis Davis so paying it forward to Nate man, that’s just the type of person that Francis is.”

    Read also: Opening Betting Odds Released For Francis Ngannou & Cris Cyborg’s PFL Debuts

  • Opening Betting Odds Released For Francis Ngannou & Cris Cyborg’s PFL Debuts

    Opening Betting Odds Released For Francis Ngannou & Cris Cyborg’s PFL Debuts

    Oddsmakers are seeing one of the two blockbuster matchups announced for the next PFL pay-per-view as a lot closer than the other…

    This week, the Professional Fighters League (PFL) confirmed its expected second Super Fight PPV card of 2024, the first of which pitted its champions against Bellator titleholders in Saudi Arabia this past February.

    The next major lineup on October 19 boasts two huge names at the top, with former UFC champions Francis Ngannou and Cris Cyborg making their respective PFL debuts in the headlining acts.

    In the main event, Ngannou returns to mixed martial arts following a two-match boxing stint. His first taste of action inside the cage since January 2022 comes against an expected opponent in Renan Ferreira, the 2023 PFL heavyweight title winner who stopped Ryan Bader in just 21 seconds earlier this year to secure a showdown with “The Predator.”

    Setting the stage for those two heavyweight behemoths will be Cyborg, the reigning Bellator women’s featherweight champion and an all-time great. Her frustrated calls for an MMA return against two-weight PFL champ Larissa Pacheco have finally been answered.

    Both bouts will be contested for Super Fight titles. And in terms of who will walk away from the October 19 event with an additional piece of gold for their trophy cabinet, oddsmakers believe one matchup is easier to call…

    Ngannou Heavy Favorite For Successful Comeback, Pacheco Narrow Underdog Against Cyborg

    Shortly after the top two clashes for the PFL’s next PPV card were announced in a press release on Wednesday, opening odds were released by BetOnline.ag.

    Given his destructive run toward the UFC’s heavyweight gold prior to his departure from the MMA leader and subsequent boxing venture, it’s perhaps unsurprising to see Ngannou heavily favored.

    “The Predator” has opened at -350, with Ferreira’s underdog line reading +285.

    The co-headliner is seen as much closer, with Cyborg a narrow -140 favorite against Pacheco’s +125 line. The PFL standout became the promotion’s first-ever two-division title winner last year when she added featherweight gold to her 2022 lightweight success.

    The PFL is yet to confirm any other bouts for the October 19 event, but French star Cédric Doumbé has previously been touted for the fall PPV. Also, Yoel Romero recently spilled the beans on a Bellator light heavyweight title fight against champ Corey Anderson on that date.

  • ‘Predator Is On The Hunt’ – MMA Fans React To Confirmation Of Francis Ngannou’s PFL Debut, Renan Ferreira Clash

    ‘Predator Is On The Hunt’ – MMA Fans React To Confirmation Of Francis Ngannou’s PFL Debut, Renan Ferreira Clash

    Mixed martial arts enthusiasts had plenty of thoughts after former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou’s MMA comeback was made official.

    Fans of the Cameroonian powerhouse have had to wait over two years for an announcement regarding his next outing in the sport, having not competed since a successful UFC title defense against Ciryl Gane in January 2022.

    The rest of that calendar year saw Ngannou recovering from a serious knee injury, and 2023 began with his exit from the MMA leader off the back of a lengthy contractual dispute.

    He later found a new MMA home in the form of the Professional Fighters League (PFL), who granted “The Predator” his freedom to venture to boxing. A close fight with Tyson Fury and violent defeat to Anthony Joshua later, Ngannou is finally set to grace a cage once again.

    The PFL revealed its next pay-per-view event for October 19 in a press release on Wednesday, headlined by Ngannou’s return against 2023 heavyweight title winner Renan Ferreira for a PFL Super Fight belt.

    Co-headlining the major lineup will be another ex-UFC champ in Cris Cyborg, as the Bellator featherweight queen meets two-time PFL titleholder Larissa Pacheco.

    MMA Fans React To Ngannou vs. Ferreira PPV Main Event: ‘We Want Cédric Doumbé On This Card!’

    Unsurprisingly, MMA fans were quick to flock to social media to react to confirmation of Ngannou’s long-awaited PFL debut.

    While some predicted a brutally successful return to action for “The Predator,” others questioned if his chin will hold up against the heavy hands of Ferreira following a devastating setback at the hands of Joshua in the ring earlier this year.

    https://twitter.com/RealNealRiggers/status/1821177622497284368
  • Francis Ngannou’s MMA Return Official For PFL Super Fight Card On Oct. 19, Cris Cyborg Co-Headlines

    Francis Ngannou’s MMA Return Official For PFL Super Fight Card On Oct. 19, Cris Cyborg Co-Headlines

    Former UFC champions Francis Ngannou and Cris Cyborg both have their mixed martial arts returns and PFL debuts in the calendar.

    Ngannou, a former UFC heavyweight kingpin, hasn’t competed in MMA since his successful title defense against Ciryl Gane at UFC 270 in January 2022. Since then, he’s departed the MMA leader off the back of a lengthy contractual dispute and found a new home.

    “The Predator” put pen to paper on an exclusive MMA deal with the PFL last May, which also sees him as the chairman of PFL Africa, set to launch in 2025. He’s yet to enter the SmartCage, however, instead using the freedom granted to him to complete a long-desired venture to the boxing ring.

    And after shocking the world with his performance against then-WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury, Ngannou remained in the boxing world for a blockbuster matchup with former two-time unified champ Anthony Joshua.

    A brutal knockout loss to “AJ” in Saudi Arabia this past March appeared to put a stop to his charge in the ring for the time being, and Ngannou’s sights are back on the sport in which he made his name.

    The PFL announced in a press release this week that “The Predator” will debut in a pay-per-view main event on October 19. As expected, he’ll share the Octagon with Renan Ferreira, the promotion’s 2023 heavyweight champ who secured the much sought-after Ngannou bout by stopping Ryan Bader in seconds this past February.

    While a location hasn’t been confirmed, the PFL’s second PPV event of 2024 has long been touted to once again take place in Saudi Arabia.

    Francis Ngannou vs. Renan Ferreira
    Image: PFL MMA

    In the release, Ngannou commented on his confirmed first foray into the PFL cage, noting that he’s had his eyes on “Problema” for a while.

    “Renan is a great fighter; I have been watching him for years,” Ngannou said. “I have been studying him for years, in fact I’ve been telling people to watch this guy. He’s quite unique, he’s athletic, fast, his size doesn’t impress me as much as his skill.”

    The two powerhouses, whose clash is dubbed “Battle of the Giants,” will compete for a Super Fight belt, the first editions of which were up for grabs at the PFL vs. Bellator card in Riyadh earlier this year.

    Ngannou won’t be the only major name making a long-awaited return, with Bellator Women’s Featherweight Champion Cris Cyborg making the walk to compete in MMA for the first time since October 2023.

    Cyborg Finally Gets PFL Debut, Faces Pacheco On Ngannou Undercard

    Cyborg has been frequently calling for a booking since the Professional Fighters League officially acquired the Bellator brand late last year.

    The MMA great’s frustration at a champ vs. champ showdown with Larissa Pacheco not coming to fruition has even seen her publicly flame the PFL and higher-ups such as founder Donn Davis.

    The Brazilian has finally gotten her wish, however, and will meet Pacheco, the PFL’s first-ever two-weight title winner, on the undercard of Ngannou’s momentous MMA comeback this fall.

    Cyborg has defended her featherweight belt five times since winning it in January 2020. She’ll now have the chance to add another strap to her collection at the expense of Pacheco, who defeated Kayla Harrison to win the 2022 PFL lightweight season and Marina Mokhnatkina to capture last year’s inaugural 145-pound title.

  • PFL Headliner Tim Johnson: Francis Ngannou ‘Harnessing’ Grief Of Losing Son In Training (Exclusive)

    PFL Headliner Tim Johnson: Francis Ngannou ‘Harnessing’ Grief Of Losing Son In Training (Exclusive)

    It appears that Francis Ngannou is gearing up for his long awaited return to MMA, after what has been a difficult year for the former UFC heavyweight champion.

    The PFL fighter recently announced that he will be hoping to step back inside the cage later this year in what is sure to be an emotional moment for both he and his fans.

    Messages and support poured in from all angles of the combat sports world in April after Ngannou announced the tragic passing of his 15-month-old son Kobe.

    A teammate of his said that “The Predator” appears to be building up some steam in training, and he’s doing it with fire in his eyes after what he has been through.

    Tim Johnson Says Francis Ngannou Is Slowly Returning To The Gym With Motivation

    Former UFC and Bellator veteran Tim Johnson is set to make his return in the main event of PFL 7 this weekend where he takes on Denis Goltsov.

    During his training camp at Xtreme Couture in Las Vegas, he crossed paths with his teammate and fellow PFL fighter as he works his way back.

    Johnson gave an update on Ngannou during a recent interview with MMA News, stating that one of the baddest men on the planet is slowly coming back to speed.

    “He’s been in the gym, getting his wheels greased again. Kind of going slow but he’s in no rush like he doesn’t, it’s not like he’s fighting in eight weeks or anything but yeah he’s been back in the gym, feeling big, strong, like he always has.”

    Johnson also said that Ngannou appears to be doing okay mentally from what he has been able to take away from their conversations.

    He said that if anything, the heavyweight knockout artist is now in a position where he is using this difficult time in his life as fuel.

    “He seems to be, yeah. I talked to him a little bit and as a father to father, I told him, me and my wife gave him our sympathies. I couldn’t imagine it, that’d be the worst scenario in any parents life and he seems to be harnessing it and utilizing it.”

    Read also: 2024 PFL 7 Playoffs: Denis Goltsov vs. Tim Johnson Weigh-In Results

  • Francis Ngannou On People’s Doubts About Boxing Venture: ‘There Is Not A Fight On Earth That I Have Zero Chance In’

    Francis Ngannou On People’s Doubts About Boxing Venture: ‘There Is Not A Fight On Earth That I Have Zero Chance In’

    Regardless of his boxing record through two fights, former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou has no doubts about his ability to compete with the very best inside the ring.

    Ngannou has gone 0-2 in pro boxing since departing the UFC as champ in early 2023, but that certainly doesn’t show the whole story of his short career in the squared circle to date.

    After signing an exclusive MMA deal with the Professional Fighters League (PFL) last May that includes the freedom to box, “The Predator” completed his long-desired foray to the ring five months later to square off against then-WBC heavyweight champ Tyson Fury.

    The Cameroonian went above and beyond expectation, first by knocking “The Gypsy King” down early on and going on to reach the distance in a competitive 10-round affair. Many even believe Ngannou deserved the nod.

    While he was able to prove his detractors wrong first time around, Ngannou’s sophomore boxing outing didn’t go to plan. The ex-UFC star was emphatically beaten by Anthony Joshua this past March, suffering a brutal knockout early into round two.

    That result brought Ngannou’s doubters back out of the woodwork, with some suggesting he never had a chance against the former two-time unified heavyweight titleholder while branding his performance against Fury as the product of his opponent underestimating him.

    According to Ngannou, however, there’s not an opponent in the world whom he’d have “zero chance” against…

    Ngannou Defends Decision To Box Joshua

    During an appearance on the Joe Rogan Experience, Ngannou reflected on his first two bouts as a pro boxer, which ended in vastly different fashions.

    “The Predator” acknowledged the doubt many had leading into his debut opposite Fury, as well as the feelings those same individuals have shared since his brutal setback to Joshua five months later.

    “It was like, ‘Okay, we want it to happen? Then make it happen,’” Ngannou said of his clash with Fury. “I think a lot of people do mistake something. … If anybody hits you, you’re gonna get hurt, you know? Yes, I might not have been doing boxing; I’m not a boxer. But still, I am a fighter. And even if I wasn’t a fighter, I can hurt and I can harm somebody.

    “I was watching and people were like, ‘No, he stands no chance, he has zero chance!’ There is not a fight on Earth that I have zero chance. That element of zero chance does not exist,” Ngannou continued. “If you look at it, I’m a man. Two men together, someone might have more technique, might know the sport. But even if I’ve never been in the gym, you still better watch out; I still have a chance. Maybe not as much, maybe not equal chance, but I still do have a chance.”

    For now, Ngannou will seemingly put down the boxing gloves and return his gaze to the cage, where he made his name as one of the hardest hitters in combat sports.

    After 2022 PFL champ Renan Ferreira stopped Bellator kingpin Ryan Bader in seconds this past February, he looks set to cash in on his reward by sharing the cage with Ngannou at an expected pay-per-view event in Saudi Arabia this October.

  • MMA News Today: Emotional Francis Ngannou Opens Up About The Passing Of His Son, Paddy Pimblett Shares Warm Encounter With Former Foe At UFC 304 Fighter Hotel, & More

    MMA News Today: Emotional Francis Ngannou Opens Up About The Passing Of His Son, Paddy Pimblett Shares Warm Encounter With Former Foe At UFC 304 Fighter Hotel, & More

    Welcome to MMA News Today, a daily feature running down the most interesting stories in the world of mixed martial arts. For July 24, 2024, we’re taking a look at:

    • Ngannou bravely opens up following a tough year
    • Pimblett jokes with Gordon during shared elevator ride
    • Muhammad ranks welterweights, puts Edwards fourth

    Francis Ngannou Shares Heartbreak Following Family Tragedy

    The combat sports world rallied around the former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou after he suffered a family tragedy.

    His 15-month-old son, Kobe, sadly passed away in April and after taking time to have privacy, Ngannou spoke about this recently.

    The PFL fighter is hoping to resume his fighting career in the near future but after what he has been through as of late, his outlook on life has changed to some degree.

    He bravely spoke on the JRE MMA Show about what this was like to go through and how he now sees things differently.

    Despite always being grateful for what he has right now, Ngannou said that he looks forward to being reunited with his son in another life.

    “You have a lot of things to be grateful about but in your heart, you feel like you’re broke, you have nothing. I mean, I always love life and know that I have everything but at least for once, I’m like at least whenever I die, I’m going to go see my kid. I’m going to see him. I’m not afraid of it. I still want to live but at least whenever, you get to that point, to think like that. So someway you’re looking for what, for whenever that happen.”

    Paddy Pimblett And Jared Gordon Cross Paths And Exchange Pleasantries During UFC 304 Fight Week

    Ahead of his UFC 304 encounter with King Green this weekend in Manchester, Paddy Pimblett crossed paths with a former opponent of his when stepping into the fighter hotel lift.

    “The Baddy” earned a controversial split decision win against Jared Gordon back at UFC 282 but the two lightweights have always been friendly towards one another.

    After coming across one another, the two men embraced and Pimblett told him that he thought Gordon should have won his last fight which went the way of Nasrat Haqparast via another split decision.

    Gordon jokingly remarked, “I f****** did, again”, which both the lightweight contenders had a laugh about.

    “Flash” gave his prediction for the fight before they parted ways, stating that he thinks Pimblett will stay undefeated in the UFC this weekend by finishing Green who he faced in March last year.

    Belal Muhammad Says Leon Edwards Is The Fourth Best Active Welterweight

    Belal Muhammad believes that whilst his opponent this weekend at UFC 304 is the welterweight champion, he isn’t the best fighter in the weight class.

    Leon Edwards is set to make his third title defense in Manchester but Muhammad isn’t so sure that he’s worthy of being called the champion.

    In a recent interview with Kaz Crossley for Title Sports Network, the challenger was asked to give his own version of the top five rankings at 170-pounds.

    He, of course, put himself at the top spot with Edwards sitting below both Kamaru Usman (who Edwards beat twice) and Shavkat Rakhmonov with Jack Della Maddalena rounding out the top five.

    Muhammad will look to back up his claims on July 27 when he faces the man that, in his opinion, isn’t the top dog in the division.

    “I would be one. Then I would put Kamaru two, Shavkat (Rakhmonov) three. I would put Leon four. And then number five, I would put Jack Della (Maddalena),” Muhammad said. “Man, you’re gonna lose the last couple fans you have left once I take the belt away from you. sorry bro. … I don’t like Leon. My other opponents, I didn’t wanna fake it (trash talk) with like, a ‘Wonderboy’ or a Maia. … It’s easier to bully him (Edwards).”

    Read more on the story here.

    For more MMA news, check out:

  • Francis Ngannou Provides Positive Update On PFL Debut: ‘I Think It’s Going To Be Him…’

    Francis Ngannou Provides Positive Update On PFL Debut: ‘I Think It’s Going To Be Him…’

    It appears that all systems are finally go for Francis Ngannou’s debut under the Professional Fighters League (PFL) banner.

    Ngannou, a former UFC heavyweight champion, hasn’t competed in mixed martial arts since his successful title defense against Ciryl Gane at UFC 270 in January 2022. Since then, he’s departed the UFC off the back of a lengthy contractual dispute and found a new home.

    “The Predator” put pen to paper on an exclusive MMA deal with the PFL last May, which also sees him as the chairman of PFL Africa, set to launch in 2025. He’s yet to enter the SmartCage, however, instead using the freedom granted to him to complete a long-desired venture to the boxing ring.

    And after shocking the world with his performance against then-WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury, Ngannou remained in the boxing world for a blockbuster matchup with former two-time unified champ Anthony Joshua.

    A brutal knockout loss to “AJ” in Saudi Arabia this past March appeared to put a stop to his charge in the ring for the time being, and it now appears that Ngannou’s sights are back on the sport in which he made his name…

    Ngannou Says PFL Debut In The Works For October

    During a recent appearance on the Joe Rogan Experience, Ngannou revealed that his MMA return and PFL debut is in the works over a year on from his signing.

    “The Predator” confirmed that the promotion’s second pay-per-view is targeted for October 19 in Saudi Arabia, and that the current plan is for him to share the cage with 2023 PFL heavyweight champion Renan Ferreira.

    “We have a good relationship. I have a fight. I will be fighting by the end of the year,” Ngannou said. “I think Renan Ferreira is the guy. I’ve been telling people about this guy for almost two years. Very athletic, fast hands, one-two…very athletic. I think it’s going to be him.

    “That’s what the PFL is working on. … They’re working on October. It’s not finalized yet, but they (were) talking about October 19,” Ngannou added.

    Ngannou’s remarks come as the second indication that the PFL will stage a major card in Riyadh on Oct. 19. Earlier this month, former UFC title challenger Yoel Romero claimed he’s set to challenge Corey Anderson for the Bellator light heavyweight title on that date.

    While the date comes as a fresh update for “The Predator’s” MMA return, Ferreira has been lined up as the opposition ever since his standout performance in the main event of the PFL vs. Bellator PPV card this past February.

    In the main event, “Problema” knockout out Bellator Heavyweight Champion Ryan Bader just 21 seconds into the very first round. He now looks in line to be rewarded for that performance with the kind of handsome payday set to come with fighting Ngannou in the PFL.

  • MMA News Today: Conor McGregor Has ‘Eyes On’ BKFC Move After Seeing Out UFC Contract, Magomed Ankalaev Talks Neutralizing ‘Aggressive’ Francis Ngannou During Sparring, & More

    MMA News Today: Conor McGregor Has ‘Eyes On’ BKFC Move After Seeing Out UFC Contract, Magomed Ankalaev Talks Neutralizing ‘Aggressive’ Francis Ngannou During Sparring, & More

    Welcome to MMA News Today, a daily feature running down the most interesting stories in the world of mixed martial arts. For July 18, 2024, we’re taking a look at:

    • McGregor teases BKFC future
    • Ankalaev was forced to shut Ngannou down
    • Curtis doubles down on Costa call-out

    Conor McGregor Says Competing In BKFC Could Be An Option After UFC Run

    Conor McGregor has completed his first press conference for BKFC since becoming a part-owner of the promotion in April.

    He spoke ahead of BKFC 67 where “The Notorious” seemed to suggest that part of his investment in this company could see him take off the gloves and jump in the ring.

    McGregor, who is still expected to make his long-awaited UFC return later this year against Michael Chandler, told the media that he has two fights left on his current deal.

    Referring to the fighters that are set to compete on October 12 in Marbella, he said that he’s not just here to talk about these athletes but potentially mix it up with them also.

    “For me, I’ve a bit of business left with the Ultimate Fighting Championship, two fights left on my contract but for sure, we’ve got three lightweights up here on the deas and you know I have my eye on all of this. I’m not up here just as an owner, player-manager I’ll title myself on this one.”

    https://twitter.com/oocmma/status/1813909981617619434

    Magomed Ankalaev Recalls Heated Sparring Session With Francis Ngannou

    During a recent appearance on the Badaev Podcast, light heavyweight contender Magomed Ankalaev told a story about an encounter that he had with Francis Ngannou.

    Ankalaev claims that the two men sparred with one another some time ago until the former UFC heavyweight champion started to become overly aggressive towards him.

    He was left with no option but to try and avoid any danger by grabbing hold of his sparring partner until the end of the round.

    Ankalaev also states that he believes the reason Ngannou was going so hard at him in sparring was because he had knocked out one of his friends back in 2019.

    “I saw that [Ngannou] wanted to drop me. He was generally aggressive. I quickly went to his feet, put him down and held him. I was waiting for the time to run out so I could say ‘don’t come near me again’. Then we found out the reason – it turns out he is a friend of [Dalcha] Lungiambula whom I had knocked out before.”

    Chris Curtis Calls To Fight Paulo Costa And Says It Will Be Much More Entertaining Than Costa’s Fight With Sean Strickland

    Chris Curtis is continuing to call for a fight with former middleweight title challenger Paulo Costa for his next outing.

    In a recent interview on MMA Junkie Radio, “Action Man” said that a match-up between himself and Costa would be a much more entertaining affair than Costa’s last outing against Curtis’s friend and teammate, Sean Strickland.

    Curtis reflected how he studied “Borrachinha” extensively for that fight but the styles simply didn’t gel well in the co-main event of UFC 302.

    He believes that he and Costa would make for a far better watch because unlike Strickland, he will be willing to stand in front of the Brazilian to trade strikes.

    “I cornered Sean that fight. When he took that fight…I literally went back, watched all of the Costa fights, and I had like a freakin’ four-page bulletin report on what to do…everything that Costa does, when he does it, why I think he does it,” Curtis said. “I just think it’s a fight that I match up well with.

    “Costa’s usually a really fun guy to watch but the Strickland fight was just weird for him because Sean’s a weird guy to fight,” Curtis continued. “I think me and Costa, I think we can just sit there and beat on each other until somebody falls, and I’m okay with that. Sean doesn’t want to fight that way. He’s not trying to get his head bust in. I will gladly stand in front of you and we will just swing at each other.”

    Read more on the story here.

    For more MMA news, check out:

  • Randy Couture Explains Why Francis Ngannou Was ‘Rubbed The Wrong Way’ By PFL: ‘There’s Been A Little Blip After The Boxing’

    Randy Couture Explains Why Francis Ngannou Was ‘Rubbed The Wrong Way’ By PFL: ‘There’s Been A Little Blip After The Boxing’

    After signing with the PFL in May of 2023, there is still no news regarding when Francis Ngannou will be making his debut in the SmartCage.

    Several factors have led to this postponement like the success he had against Tyson Fury in boxing and the tragic loss of his son earlier this year.

    The one big development regarding his career in the PFL was the recent announcement that PFL Africa will launch in the second quarter of 2025, with the former UFC heavyweight champion acting as the Chairman.

    This was a crucial aspect in his decision to sign with the promotion following his UFC departure but Randy Couture believes it may have been even more significant regarding his future in the PFL.

    Randy Couture Says Francis Ngannou’s PFL Africa Role Has Been Crucial To His Continued Involvement

    In a recent interview with InsideFighting, PFL commentator Randy Couture said that the confirmation of PFL Africa could have helped to keep Ngannou with the promotion.

    The former UFC light heavyweight and heavyweight champion stated that he believes that Ngannou may have felt at odds with the promotion after the PFL vs Bellator Champions event earlier this year.

    When Renan Ferreira stopped Ryan Bader in the main event, the PFL looked to set up the Brazilian as their big-money signing’s debut opponent in the SmartCage but Ngannou didn’t seem overly enthused by the idea.

    Couture says that it can’t be underestimated how much this role as Chairman of PFL Africa means to Ngannou because of his want to give back to others who come from similar backgrounds.

    “I think there’s been a little blip after the boxing and Fury and then losing in the next one and they were pushing him to say, ‘Yes I want to take on Renan Ferreira,’ the winner of this champions vs champions and Francis was there at cage side and I think that rubbed Francis the wrong way a little bit.

    “But, at the end of the day, this opportunity to be the Chairman for PFL Africa is what kept him there [at PFL] and I think it means a lot to him. As much as him continuing to develop his legacy and establish himself as one of the best heavyweight mixed martial artists in the world and certainly an amazing boxer at this stage of things too, I think this chairmanship in Africa means a lot to him and he wants to do something special for his countrymen.”

    Read also: UFC Commentator: ‘I Consider There To Be Two Undisputed UFC Heavyweight Champions Right Now’

  • PFL Africa Officially Launched With Francis Ngannou As Chairman, Inaugural Season Set For 2025

    PFL Africa Officially Launched With Francis Ngannou As Chairman, Inaugural Season Set For 2025

    The Professional Fighters League has officially launched its latest regional expansion, PFL Africa, ahead of the first season in 2025.

    Having ran its unique season structure on the global stage since 2018, the PFL has committed to establishing its presence with a number of regional leagues around the world.

    And after kicking off that expansion with PFL Europe in 2023 and adding PFL MENA (Middle East and North Africa) to the calendar in 2024, the promotion recently launched its latest development.

    Having long planned an African expansion with last year’s star signing Francis Ngannou at the helm, PFL Africa has been officially confirmed for its inaugural season in 2025.

    The organization announced the news in a press release this week, also posting a teaser trailer featuring “The Predator” on social media.

    Ngannou ‘Proud To Give Back’ To His Continent Through PFL Africa

    Ngannou’s role as chairman of PFL Africa was announced when he put pen to paper on a deal with the PFL last year, bringing to an end months of speculation regarding his future following a departure from the UFC.

    While the Cameroonian has since had his focus on a boxing venture, sharing the ring with Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua last October and this past March, respectively, his attention will seemingly be back on the PFL soon.

    And although his expected return to MMA and debut in the SmartCage remains unconfirmed, Ngannou has reiterated his commitment to helping up-and-coming talent from his home continent make a splash.

    “I am excited and honored to serve as Chairman of PFL Africa, a league that will shape the very foundation of African MMA,” Francis Ngannou said via a PFL press release. “As we have seen, there is a great wealth of talent in Africa just waiting to be given a global stage. I am so very proud to give back to my homeland and to provide great content to a region with such a passionate and diverse fanbase.”

    While launching PFL Africa, the promotion confirmed that the regional league will follow the same regular season, playoff, and championship structure as the rest of its “network.”

    The PFL also revealed that Helios Sports & Entertainment Group has invested and will hold a stake in PFL Africa.

    “The Professional Fighters League is excited to announce PFL Africa, the third international fight franchise as we continue on our path to becoming the Champions League of MMA,” said PFL CEO Peter Murray. “Africa is home to some of the greatest fighters in the world, including our league chairman Francis Ngannou, and some of the greatest fans in the sport. PFL Africa aims to serve the great fans with premium content while strengthening the PFL global footprint in what has for too long been an underserved market. Alongside our great investment and broadcast partners we cannot wait to kick off PFL Africa league action in 2025.” 

    In his own post on social media, PFL founder Donn Davis made note of his and the promotion’s focus on catering to the wide-range of MMA enthusiasts outside of the United States.

    The organization has previously come under criticism for not securing a broadcast deal for PFL Europe and PFL MENA in the US, meaning American fans are unable to watch. It remains to be seen whether that will be rectified by the time PFL Africa rolls around next year.