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Tag: Francis Ngannou

  • Blaydes: Miocic’s Win Over Ngannou More Impressive Than UFC 260 KO

    Curtis Blaydes is not giving Francis Ngannou heavyweight GOAT status just yet.

    With a very exciting heavyweight title fight coming up on Jan. 22, featuring champ Francis Ngannou and Ciryl Gane, another heavyweight is giving his thoughts on the division. Curtis Blaydes sat down with MMA News to discuss what he makes of the champion and the rest of his possible competition.

    Blaydes spoke a bit about the differences between Ngannou and former champion Stipe Miocic. Blaydes isn’t ready to give the title of GOAT to Ngannou just yet and even feels that Miocic’s win over Ngannou was more impressive to him than Ngannou’s win over Miocic.

    “No, no. That still goes to Stipe… Ngannou has not done enough, in my opinion, to be the greatest ever,” Blaydes said. “He’s very, very good, but when we’re talking the GOAT, you have to start to nitpick, and I’m gonna nitpick,” said Blaydes. “He’s lost rounds. Like, he got owned when he fought Stipe the first time. That wasn’t a good look. He got owned. I’ve never seen, even when Stipe lost, he never got owned. Like, he got knocked out by Ngannou; at heavyweight, anybody can get knocked out.

    “I’m a lot more impressed by decisions. I know that’s weird to say, that a unanimous decision is more impressive than a knockout, but at heavyweight, anybody can get knocked out,” added Blaydes. “That’s just what heavyweights do. But for you to skillfully beat a guy for five rounds, that’s very impressive. I’ve yet to see a Ngannou do that. He hasn’t had to do that yet, but I don’t think he has that ability. I don’t think he wants to be in the Octagon for five rounds. He knows that’s not how he wins.”

    Blaydes is currently ranked fourth in the heavyweight division. He has only lost one fight in his last six and holds wins over Alexander Volkov and Jairzinho Rozenstruik. Blaydes could find himself next in line for a title shot if Ngannou wins.

    Of course, there are other people in the mix, as Jon Jones’ heavyweight debut is looming and Stipe Miocic is still in the picture as well. Perhaps Blades could be matched up with Miocic sometime soon.

    What do you think about Blaydes’ perception of Miocic and Ngannou?

  • Ciryl Gane Assures It Isn’t Personal Between Him And Francis Ngannou

    UFC interim heavyweight champion Ciryl Gane says despite the tense UFC 270 buildup, he doesn’t have anything against Francis Ngannou.

    Gane is set to face Ngannou in arguably the best heavyweight fight in UFC history at UFC 270. He earned the interim title at UFC 265 over Derrick Lewis in a dominant performance.

    During a recent interview with TMZ Sports, Gane shared his thoughts on Ngannou as a person after things have become tense leading up to the event.

    “We’ll shake hands before, during, and after the fight,” Gane said. “I have nothing against him. He’s just my opponent, I have no deal with him. Just an opponent, that’s it.”

    Ciryl Gane’s Coach Has The Most Beef With Francis Ngannou

    Gane and Ngannou used to train together at MMA Factory in France, and leaked sparring footage is part of what has caused a rift between Ngannou and his former coach, Fernand Lopez. In a variety of interviews, Lopez has attacked Ngannou’s character and added more spice to the buildup.

    Ngannou has gone on the record saying he has no relationship with his former coach after allegedly being close for years. Lopez went as far as calling Ngannou a “f**king liar” over his denial of alleged Gane sabotage.

    The speculation in regards to Ngannou and Lopez’s relationship began after the two sides had an awkward run-in backstage at UFC 268. While Ngannou and Gane have each denied that this fight isn’t personal for them, it’s hard to doubt that there won’t be a bit of extra motivation for each man to get their hand raised.

    What is your prediction for Francis Ngannou vs. Ciryl Gane?

  • Francis Ngannou Says Therapist Warned Him About Fernand Lopez Years Ago

    Francis Ngannou has known that his ex-coach would be a problem for years.

    Francis Ngannou is getting ready to defend his heavyweight belt for the very first time this Saturday at UFC 270. He will be facing off against interim champion Ciryl Gane. Ngannou and Gane have a common bond. They used to be training partners, and Gane is still coached by Ngannou’s former head coach Fernand Lopez.

    In the leadup to this fight, Lopez has been trying everything he can think of to get in the head of Ngannou. There has been some drama between Lopez and his former student. Ngannou isn’t all that surprised by this tactic taken by Lopez and says he knew that it would be a problem back a few years ago.

    “I won’t say I’m surprised knowing the person (Lopez). I always knew that something like this could come from him,” Ngannou said in an interview with UFC’s Megan Olivi. “I was in Paris two years ago after the Derrick Lewis fight, and I was dealing with some personal stuff on my end.

    Francis Ngannou Fernand Lopez
    (via Francis Ngannou’s social media)

    “I was so in the bad place that I decided to see a psychiatrist. If you look at the psychiatrist’s notes, it’s funny because even two years ago she pointed out Fernand as a problem and to watch out. I thought she was like, crazy. She started to break it down and put it on the note. Now I think she was all right.”

    Ngannou has had to deal with a lot leading up to this fight. He has been having some negotiation problems with the UFC and could be getting ready to leave the organization. Add in all the trouble he has had to deal with from Lopez, including threatening to leak a sparring video of him and Gane sparring.

    Ngannou might not only be fighting for his UFC belt on Jan. 22 but also perhaps his peace of mind. He will be looking to put Gane, Lopez, and possibly the UFC behind him.

    What do you think of a therapist warning Ngannou to watch out for Lopez?

  • Ngannou Says He, Usman, & Adesanya Will Fight In Africa With Or Without UFC

    Amidst his disagreements with the UFC, Francis Ngannou remains determined to fight in his home country.

    It is no secret Francis Ngannou and UFC President Dana White have bumped heads lately. From contract negotiations to the ongoing argument of fighter pay, the heavyweight champion has experienced controversy with the promotion.

    Dana White and Francis Ngannou
    Dana White, Francis Ngannou Photo Credit: Heidi Craig / USATSI CBS Sports

    With a list of outstanding achievements on his record and currently being on a 5-fight win streak, the 16-3-0 fighter has simply felt underappreciated.

    The results of UFC 270 may have no impact on the fighter’s stance with his current contract, but it could be possible to see just one more fight if Ngannou gets his wish.

    One thing that could help make this possible would be if that fight were to take place in Africa. Francis Ngannou has always shown pride in his African roots, and with the support of other African-born champions, he could possibly bring his dream to fruition.

    In an exclusive interview with Stake, Ngannou touched on his dream bout in Africa and making it a reality in the UFC:

    “It is a big dream to fight in Cameroon, but I also know it will be very hard to make a reality at this point. However, I believe eventually we will figure out a way to make it happen to fight for our people. It’s very important to each of us – myself, Israel and Usman. Ideally with the UFC, but even without the UFC that is going to happen one day.”

    On January 22, Francis Ngannou has the opportunity to add “defending heavyweight champion” to his stellar résumé. The battle against his former sparring partner and Interim Heavyweight Champion Ciryl Gane at UFC 270 is widely considered to be one of the greatest heavyweight matches of all time.

    Francis Ngannou’s path after the UFC is sure to deliver more headlining performances. And perhaps after UFC 270, regardless of the outcome, Ngannou fans will see his next bout in Africa.

    Do you think the UFC will ever consider an event in Africa?

  • Francis Ngannou: Kamaru Usman Is The Best Fighter Of All Time

    UFC Heavyweight Champion Francis Ngannou believes welterweight king Kamaru Usman is the greatest fighter of all time.

    In 2021, Usman extended his reign at 170 pounds and continued his dominance over the top contenders in the division. At the start of the year, he overcame early adversity at UFC 258 to TKO former teammate Gilbert Burns, who was riding a six-fight win streak into his first title shot.

    After showing the improvements he’s made to his striking under the tutelage of Trevor Wittman against Burns, Usman put it on full display two months later when he ran it back with Jorge Masvidal at UFC 261. In the second round, he secured his place in the Knockout of the Year debate with a brutal right hand.

    Having ascended the pound-for-pound mountain, Usman further tightened his grip on the welterweight class by defeating Colby Covington for the second time at UFC 268. After being taken the distance in Madison Square Garden, “The Nigerian Nightmare” added another victory over the #1-ranked contender on the scorecards.

    Ngannou Has No Doubt Where Usman Lies In The GOAT Debate

    After already establishing himself as the P4P king earlier in the year, Usman’s second triumph over Covington further placed himself as one of, if not the, top champions in the UFC. In the eyes of many, the reigning champion’s unbeaten 15-0 record and five successful title defenses have seen him surpass Georges St-Pierre to become the greatest welterweight of all time.

    But while that opinion is hotly debated in the MMA community, one UFC titleholder believes Usman has earned that status and a whole lot more.

    Speaking in a video uploaded to his YouTube channel, Usman’s fellow African UFC champion Francis Ngannou suggested “The Nigerian Nightmare” is “definitely” the best fighter of all time.

    “If you go on his professional record, he’s the best pound-for-pound fighter. And in my opinion, he’s definitely the best fighter of all the time,” said Ngannou. “He’s undefeated (in the UFC), with at least like four or five title (defenses), which is something that (others have done that), but he’s doing it in a pretty way.”

    While he perhaps hasn’t gone beyond the likes of Anderson Silva, Jon Jones, and Georges St-Pierre in the opinion of many fans and pundits, it’s hard to deny that Usman is certainly on his way to contending for GOAT status.

    If the champ can defeat contenders like Leon Edwards, Vicente Luque, and Khamzat Chimaev in the coming months and years, Ngannou’s opinion may well become the consensus.

    Do you think Kamaru Usman is in the GOAT conversation? If not, how many more title defenses does he need?

  • Dana White Explains Why Ngannou/Gane May Be Best HW Fight Ever

    UFC President Dana White is big on the promotion’s upcoming heavyweight title fight.

    White recently had high praise for the UFC 270 bout between UFC Heavyweight Champion Francis Ngannou and interim champ Ciryl Gane. In an interview with BT Sport, White gave his pitch for why the title unification bout could be one of the greatest heavyweight bouts of all time.

    White cited the high level of the fight and the storylines behind it as reasons for why people should pay attention.

    “That fight’s ridiculous—one of the best if not the best heavyweight matchup ever. You got two guys that train together, two guys that had a falling out now and don’t like each other,” said White. “One guy has unbelievable knockout power and the other guy moves around like a middleweight, probably the best technical striker in heavyweight history. So I mean, you couldn’t ask for a better matchup.”

    White: This Fight Has ‘Bad Blood’

    Francis Ngannou, Dana White
    Francis Ngannou, Dana White

    As White said, there is seemingly a real rivalry between Ngannou and Gane heading into this fight. Controversy struck last month, as old sparring footage of them was released by Gane’s camp. Ngannou argued the footage was used to make Gane look good before their fight, potentially playing mind games with the champ and the public as a whole.

    Gane will enter the fight with an undefeated record of 10 wins, including seven in the UFC cage. Ngannou will be fighting to defend his title for the first time in the bout. He first gained the championship last year, stopping Stipe Miocic with a brutal second-round knockout.

    White feels that the stars have aligned perfectly for the upcoming heavyweight title fight.

    “They’re both champions. You got one (who) has the interim title; the other one has the title. Everything’s on the line—and how in-depth the bad blood is between the camp. You just couldn’t write a better story than this.”

    Do you agree with Dana White? Does this fight have the potential to be one of the greatest heavyweight bouts of all time?

  • Two Major Changes To UFC 270 Card Announced

    UFC 270 is just a week away, but there have been a few changes to the card.

    The UFC 270 card will be the first UFC Pay-Per-View in 2022 and it is stacked. The headliner is a heavyweight title matchup between Francis Ngannou and interim champion Ciryl Gane.

    The interesting circumstances between these two fighters and the fact that they used to train together have made this bout the standout on the card. The rest of the main card and prelims are filled with top talent as well. However, there have been two important changes to the event recently.

    The first change is Greg Hardy is off of the UFC 270 lineup. Aleksei Oleinik was originally booked to face Hardy but had to withdraw from the bout. Hardy was then paired against Sergey Spivak. Hardy made the announcement himself on Instagram.

    The other shake-up to the UFC 270 fight card is Charles Jourdain has stepped in to face Ilia Topuria after his original opponent Movsar Evloev fell ill. This news was first reported by Álvaro Gª Colmenero on Twitter. Topuria is currently undefeated as a professional and is now on a three-win streak in the UFC. Jourdain is coming off a win over Andre Ewell just a few weeks ago.

    With these last-minute changes, the current UFC 270 fight card is as follows:

    Main Card (ESPN+ PPV, 10:00 PM ET)

    • Heavyweight Francis Ngannou (c) vs. Ciryl Gane (ic)
    • Flyweight Brandon Moreno (c) vs. Deiveson Figueiredo
    • Bantamweight Cody Stamann vs. Said Nurmagomedov
    • Featherweight: Ilia Topuria vs. Charles Jourdain

    Preliminary Card (ESPN2, ESPN+, 8:00 PM ET)

    • Middleweight Rodolfo Vieira vs. Wellington Turman
    • Bantamweight Tony Gravely vs. Saimon Oliveira
    • Welterweight Bout: Jack Della Maddalena vs. Pete Rodriguez
    • Welterweight Bout: Michel Pereira vs. Andre Fialho

    Early Preliminary Card (ESPN+, UFC Fight Pass, 6:00 PM ET)

    • Bantamweight Raoni Barcelos vs. Victor Henry
    • Welterweight Trevin Giles vs. Michael Morales
    • Lightweight Matt Frevola vs. Genaro Valdez
    • Women’s Flyweight Kay Hansen vs. Jasmine Jasudavicius
    • Strawweight Bout: Vanessa Demopoulos vs. Silvana Gomez Juarez

    What is your pick for UFC 270 Fight of the Night?

  • Curtis Blaydes: Derrick Lewis Hits Harder Than Francis Ngannou

    UFC heavyweight contender Curtis Blaydes says that out of his former opponents Derrick Lewis and Francis Ngannou, it’s “The Black Beast” who packs the hardest punch.

    Across his 19-fight professional MMA career, Blaydes has only tasted defeat against Ngannou and Lewis. In his UFC debut back in 2016, “Razor” had the first blemish added to his record by “The Predator” in the form of a doctor stoppage.

    After going 6-0-1 in his next seven outings, a period that included wins against Aleksei Oleinik, Mark Hunt, and Alistair Overeem, Blaydes had his chance at redemption.

    In the main event of a Beijing, China-held UFC Fight Night in 2018, the Illinois native shared the Octagon with Ngannou for the second time. On that occasion, the current UFC Heavyweight Champion got the job done without a doctor, securing a first-round TKO less than a minute into the contest.

    Like with his first defeat, Blaydes had no issue rebounding after his second setback. Mounting a four-fight win streak, he defeated former titleholder Junior dos Santos and veteran striker Alexander Volkov. That form granted him a title eliminator against Lewis. But in the UFC Vegas 19 main event, Blaydes was knocked out cold for the first time in his career.

    In an exclusive interview with MMA News, Blaydes discussed the immense power of both Ngannou and Lewis, the upcoming UFC 270 main event, his heavyweight GOAT, Jon Jones’ expected heavyweight debut, and his own return to action in 2022.

    Blaydes: Lewis Slept Me, Ngannou Didn’t

    Ngannou is widely regarded as not only the biggest power puncher in MMA but the hardest hitter on the globe. That claim is even backed up by some numbers. In 2017, the Cameroonian powerhouse set the record for the most powerful recorded punch in history.

    That vicious ability to knock everyone and anyone out has been on full display in the UFC. In his five fights since consecutive defeats to Lewis and Stipe Miocic on the scorecards in 2018, Ngannou has knocked out Blaydes, Miocic, dos Santos, Cain Velasquez, and Jairzinho Rozenstruik, four of whom didn’t even escape the opening round.

    But despite that, Blaydes believes the UFC’s power throne is occupied by Lewis, who boasts the most KOs in UFC history. Having felt the power of both top-five heavyweights, “Razor” believes it’s “The Black Beast” who boasts the power edge, citing the fact Lewis was able to sleep him and Ngannou wasn’t as his reasons.

    “Well, Derrick. Obviously, I’d never been put to sleep, he put me to sleep. Gonna have to give it to him,” Blaydes told MMA News’ James Lynch. “When we (Blaydes and Ngannou) fought the first time, that was a doctor stoppage, I was not out, but I guess it goes down as a TKO. And then in Beijing, again, he dropped me twice in rapid succession, and then the referee jumped in, but I was aware, I remember everything. When Derrick Lewis knocked me out, I woke up in the ambulance, so there you go. That’s a big difference.”

    Both Ngannou and Lewis are preparing for fights in the coming weeks. While “The Predator” is set for a title unification bout against former teammate Ciryl Gane at UFC 270 next weekend, “The Black Beast” will ride his main event KO against Chris Daukaus into a clash against fellow hard-swinger Tai Tuivasa at UFC 271 next month.

    Blaydes, on the other hand, finds himself in an awkward position. After comfortably defeating Rozenstruik at UFC 266 last September, he cemented his status as a top-five heavyweight.

    However, with three of the four names above him booked, the other being Miocic, who will likely either fight for the title or challenge Jones next and having already defeated the two contenders below him, options are limited for the time being.

    Targeting an April return to the Octagon, Blaydes will seemingly wait for other fights to play out, and will perhaps challenge the loser of next weekend’s pay-per-view main event.

    Who would you like to see Curtis Blaydes enter the cage with next?

  • Ngannou Details Convo With Dana White, Clarifies Contract Status

    Francis Ngannou has revealed what was said in his recent conversation with Dana White and also clarified his contract status with the UFC if he defeats Ciryl Gane next weekend.

    As we approach the fight week for arguably one of the most anticipated heavyweight showdowns in UFC history, there is somehow a storyline attached to the bout with a public interest level right on par with that of the fight itself: Will this be Francis Ngannou’s final fight in the UFC?

    Francis Ngannou
    Image Credit: GREG BAKER/AFP/Getty Images

    That question goes beyond the natural ponderings that manifest whenever a fighter approaches the final fight on their contract. What makes this situation particularly unique is the fact that Ngannou is still a reigning UFC champion. So the urgency for the UFC to get a deal done would seem immense, lest they permit the possibility of a fighter exiting the promotion while still holding a title.

    Surely, it was this realization that helped inspire Dana White to meet with Ngannou for the first time in what Ngannou claims has been nearly four years. White briefly addressed the dinner meeting between the two recently, stating that the talk went well and that Ngannou simply needs to surround himself with better advisors.

    Speaking with ESPN Thursday, Ngannou shared more intimate details of their conversation.

    “It went pretty well,” Ngannou said about the meeting. “At this point, I’m not upset. I’m kind of chill about everything. And I went to him…we wished each other happy holidays, and I tell him my frustration. I expressed to him how I would like to stay in the UFC, but I don’t feel like the UFC still want me to stay. So I don’t feel (I’ve been) promoted anymore….I mean, maybe I’m wrong about that, but I didn’t see anything compared to what happened to different fighters.”

    When asked what Dana White said in response to this observation, Ngannou praised the UFC boss for being quick on his feet.

    “He bring up something really fast, and that’s why you know that Dana is very good,” Ngannou said with a smile. “He tell me like, ‘Yeah, we want you. Have you ever wanted to go somewhere and we didn’t take care of you?’ I’m like, ‘Yeah, but I think it’s a little more than that.’”

    Ngannou Clarifies Contract Status, Won’t Fight Again On Current Deal

    Francis Ngannou
    PHOTO: MMA JUNKIE

    Ngannou did not suggest there was any resolution at the end of their discussion, which means that there remains the question of what happens if he wins next Saturday? Would he be obligated to remain under contract with the promotion indefinitely as a reigning champion? Would he be obligated to fight one more time or until he loses the title?

    According to Ngannou, neither of those options is true, but the Cameroonian did provide the two options that he says are present in the contract.

    “Contractually, it’s really hard to explain. The UFC contract is very tricky. And they have this string. They can pull the string from anyhow. And that’s why you sign a 40-month contract and you find yourself after four years still dealing with that, even though you have been active and everything. Contractually, that means I have executed the eight fights that was on my contract…

    “And the championship clause is (optional) because it says if at the end of this contract you’re a champion, you’re extended for three fights or one year.”

    Because Ngannou signed his current deal in December 2017, the one-year extension to his four-year deal would mean he would become a free agent in December of this year without any contractual obligation to fight again in the interim. In fact, Ngannou says that we most certainly would not see him compete again under his current deal, regardless of what happens next Saturday.

    “I would not fight for $500,000 or $600,000 anymore,” Ngannou declared. “I mean, it’s over. It’s over.”

    How do you predict this contract saga between Francis Ngannou and the UFC will play out?

  • Ciryl Gane Likens Francis Ngannou To Video Game “Final Boss”

    Ciryl Gane is looking to beat the “game” of the UFC.

    Recently, we had a UFC champion in Charles Oliveira crowned after a long, hard-fought road in the UFC. Ciryl Gane is not like that. He has only seven fights in the UFC, but he has made them all count.

    Now, he is getting ready to fight for his first undisputed UFC title against a familiar foe, his former training partner and the reigning heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou. Gane is aware that this fight with Ngannou is the most important of his career, and the way he is looking at it could win him the “game” of the UFC in a way.

    “For me, yes it’s (Ngannou fight) different than Derrick Lewis (at UFC 265), not because it’s Francis, but because it’s the champion, you see,” Gane explained on The MMA Hour. “And the champion is a really great fighter, with a lot of strength. I like to say that this is the ‘final boss’ (like in my) video games [LAUGHS]. It looks a little bit like that. So yes, this time, like every time, if I make a mistake, it’s gonna be okay, if I will make a mistake. If I lose, I’m really okay with that. Like every fight in my career it was like that, but this time I want to do the last step, you see, that’s why it’s a little bit different.”

    If Gane is feeling pressure heading into UFC 270, he is hiding it well. He has already proven that he is one of the best heavyweights in the sport as he is now holding the interim belt. He and his coach Fernand Lopez are very familiar with Ngannou and his fighting style. They all trained together for some time before Ngannou left. Lopez has spoken numerously about how they know Ngannou’s tendencies and are ready for his fighting style.

    Gane has yet to lose in his career. He burst onto the UFC scene just three years ago and has been turning heads ever since. If he can beat Ngannou and claim the heavyweight strap, that will not be the end of this “game.” In fact, Gane could find himself in a “murderers row” of fighters waiting to try their hand at the new boss. Waiting in the wings for the champion come Jan. 23 are former champion Stipe Miocic and former light heavyweight champion Jon Jones.

    Who do you think will win and become the UFC’s “final boss” at heavyweight on Jan. 22, Francis Ngannou or Ciryl Gane?

  • Tai Tuivasa Shares Prediction For Francis Ngannou vs. Ciryl Gane Title Fight

    Tai Tuivasa believes Ciryl Gane is the real deal and is the new breed of heavyweights, but isn’t sure if he beats Francis Ngannou this soon.

    In the main event of UFC 270, Francis Ngannou is looking to defend his heavyweight title for the first time against the interim champ, Ciryl Gane. It’s a fascinating fight due to the fact they are former training partners and both are phenomenal fighters.

    Ngannou has the one-punch KO power while Gane is a technical striker and is hard to hit. Gane has rarely been touched in the UFC, but Ngannou only needs to land one. For Tuivasa, he believes Gane has the skills to avoid that shot.

    “Yeah, they are two freaks. You know what I mean. I think I have said the other day…I think if Ciryl plays the long game at points and can stay away from Francis, I think he might win over the five rounds,” Tuivasa said on InsideFighting (via Sportskeeda). “But that’s harder than it sounds, you know what I mean. If Francis touches him or lands one of those massive shots, I think we’ve all seen what Fancis does. He might put him out. Like, that’s, again, another 50-50.

    “Ciryl’s a nice guy, but I think Francis might get it. I’m not sure but I’m gonna go with Francis. But Ciryl Gane is a new breed of heavyweights for sure.”

    Francis Ngannou, Ciryl Gane
    Francis Ngannou, Ciryl Gane

    The current betting odds have the fight between Ngannou and Gane as a pick’em, so Tuivasa is right in saying it is a 50-50 fight and a hard one to call. But, we will all find out on January 22 who becomes the new heavyweight champ.

    Tai Tuivasa, meanwhile, is coming off a KO win over Augusto Sakai at UFC 269 to make him the 11th-ranked heavyweight. He’s now riding a four-fight winning streak as he also KO’d Greg Hardy in July and Harry Hunsucker in March. To start 2022, he will be facing Derrick Lewis next month at UFC 271.

    Who do you think wins between Francis Ngannou and Ciryl Gane?

  • Ex-Coach: Ngannou Lacks The Dedication, Sacrifice, & Skill To Be A Boxer

    Francis Ngannou’s dreams of becoming a boxer might be over before they began.

    Francis Ngannou is just one of the UFC fighters who are looking to make some extra money by trying their hand at boxing. The road paved by Jake Paul has given former UFC fighters a chance to make a huge paycheck in a “celebrity” style boxing match. Ngannou has been toying with this idea himself and has been asking for a shot at Tyson Fury.

    One man who is not so sure of Ngannou’s chances against “The Gypsy King” is his former coach Fernand Lopez.

    “I think the fight makes sense for Francis because he thinks he can cash out. There’s also something there for Tyson Fury, he doesn’t care that it’s not a competitive fight, he just wants to make money and make some news,” Lopez told The Mac Life. “It would take at least three years for Francis Ngannou to be competitive from a boxing standpoint with Tyson Fury, and I mean three years only dedicated to boxing. Realistically, he would have to stop everything else and probably do nothing else for three years, only boxing. No grappling, nothing else. The way that his body and muscles are built, it will not allow him to keep throwing punches after the third round.”

    Ngannou is known for his power in the UFC heavyweight division. Who can forget when he sent Alistair Overeem into the shadow realm at UFC 218, but can his power translate over to the squared circle? Lopez thinks not.

    “I’m not sure Francis can ever challenge the stamina or endurance of Tyson Fury,” Lopez said. “All he can do is have a high defense; be elusive, close footwork, change direction. But eventually, Tyson will wear him down, get him tired, work the body and then go up with the uppercut, and sooner or later Francis will give up because of the volume, because of the pressure shots and he will just go down.

    From Homeless to UFC's Next Big Thing: Francis Ngannou's Amazing Journey | Bleacher Report | Latest News, Videos and Highlights
    Francis Ngannou

    “I don’t see how he can win the match. This is an opportunity for him to cash out. I’m not sure if you’re a UFC fighter it’s worth letting it all go and have three years boxing training–how would you live your life, what would be your income? And after three years, you may be competitive enough to stand there and keep throwing punches.”

    Lopez was Ngannou’s first MMA coach in France. He led him to the UFC and saw him rise up the ranks. However, the two have since had a falling out and Lopez is now the head coach of Ngannou’s upcoming opponent Ciryl Gane. Having trained Ngannou for years, Lopez thinks he knows what to expect in the main event of UFC 270. He and Gane are preparing for Ngannou and all of his strengths and weaknesses.

    “We are not expecting anything brilliant, Francis is not a boxer,” Lopez said. “You train a lot to be a boxer. Boxing needs dedication, boxing needs sacrifice, you need years and years to train. So we know the outcome of that fight. The question is how much Francis Ngannou can cash out, because he only has one shot. Because objectively speaking, he cannot think about having a boxing career because his boxing skill will not be enough for him to become a boxer.”

    Do you think Francis Ngannou would have what it takes to succeed at boxing?

  • Ciryl Gane Disagrees With Francis Ngannou’s UFC 268 Conspiracy Theory

    Interim UFC Heavyweight Champion Ciryl Gane has responded to Francis Ngannou’s suggestion that the UFC set up their awkward backstage interaction in November.

    Ngannou and Gane are set to headline the UFC 270 pay-per-view on January 22. Their collision course was set up after “Bon Gamin” won interim gold against Derrick Lewis at UFC 265 last August. Having not competed since his title-winning performance last March, the upcoming clash of former teammates will be Ngannou’s first defense.

    One of the leading narratives heading into the opening PPV main event of the year is the ongoing feud between Ngannou and his former coach Fernand Lopez, who now mentors Gane. Their bitter relationship soured even further after an awkward backstage interaction at UFC 268 attracted widespread interest and attention.

    The meeting in question took place at Madison Square Garden on November 5. While Ngannou was in attendance to support his friend and fellow African champion Kamaru Usman, Gane and Lopez were cornering rising middleweight contender Nassourdine Imavov.

    After Imavov defeated Edmen Shahbazyan, the MMA Factory group was backstage when “The Predator” was filmed walking towards them. Instead of acknowledging his former coach and training partners, the heavyweight titleholder strode past, a move that was later criticized by both Gane and Lopez.

    But Ngannou doesn’t believe all was as it seemed. Later in the month, in an interview with Daniel Cormier, the Cameroonian suggested the interaction was likely manufactured by the UFC in order to add more intrigue and drama to his fight with Gane.

    “There was this lady taking us to our seat. And she was bringing us to this section, and then they talked to her over the radio. And then [she said], ‘Oh, sorry, I’m wrong.’ So she turned around and we get back [and Gane and Lopez are standing right there]. I mean, tell me how this can be a coincidence.”

    Gane Responds To Ngannou’s Conspiracy Theory

    During a recent appearance on Ariel Helwani’s The MMA Hour, Gane looked back on the incident with less than two weeks until his showdown with Ngannou.

    Discussing his upcoming opponent’s claim that the UFC 268 interaction could have been created by the promotion, the Frenchman asserted the theory is “wrong.”

    “The people like to say everything was managed for this meeting (to happen), and that’s wrong. I think it’s wrong,” said Gane. “Because there are no cameras, there are nobody, and we just did a lot of interviews for Nassourdine Imavov, and we were just waiting for the elevators and at the same time, he comes, at the same time. There was no camera, when the people say Francis hung out by the elevator, the guy (filming) picked up his phone and just do that (started recording). It was a phone, it was not a camera, it was not something like that. For me, I’m not sure it was (a controlled meeting).”

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CWo0AecBPon/

    While the UFC is set to return this weekend with a card headlined by Giga Chikadze and Calvin Kattar, most of the January intrigue is pointed towards the battle of former teammates and different heavyweight styles a week later.

    We’ll likely never know whether the backstage moment at UFC 268 was simply by chance or controlled by the UFC. However, it certainly has created some extra animosity and opened the door for Ngannou and Lopez to take their rivalry into the public domain.

    Do you believe the backstage meeting between Ciryl Gane and Francis Ngannou could have been manufactured by the UFC?

  • Helwani Ponders Possible Mass Departure Of UFC Stars In 2022

    Renowned MMA journalist Ariel Helwani has discussed the possibility of a mass departure of the UFC’s top stars taking place in the promotion this year.

    With the success of celebrity boxing, among other factors, the sport of MMA has moved into a climate where fighter pay is at the forefront of the agenda.

    UFC President Dana White has blamed a media narrative for the increased attention and cited the riches of wealthy and successful fighters as proof there’s no issue. However, many involved in the sport, both inside and outside the UFC, often argue that a major problem exists.

    Recently, White and UFC owners Endeavor boasted of the “best nine-month” financial report in the promotion’s history. That comes a year after White suggested the world’s premier MMA organization “broke just about every record” in 2020, including revenue.

    Since then, however, the UFC has chosen to increase pay-per-view prices and keep the lesser-regarded fighters in the promotion on as low as $12,000 per fight.

    With the UFC also distributing one of the lowest percentages of its profits to its athletes among the top sports leagues and companies in the United States, it’s no surprise some stars believe they’re owed more, both in terms of money and treatment.

    Still, despite the criticism on the matter, White maintains the debate is as simple as ‘it’s only bad if you lose’.

    In recent months and years, we’ve seen the likes of Jon Jones express their dismay at the money they’re receiving. In response to Jones requesting more remuneration to face Francis Ngannou in what would have arguably been one of the biggest fights in history, the UFC seemingly abandoned plans for the showdown, leading to Jones spending the entirety of 2021 on the sidelines.

    With that in mind, it’s no surprise that talk of a number of stars moving into free agency instead of signing new contracts has hit the surface. This year, we could see Ngannou, Israel Adesanya, Nate Diaz, and Conor McGregor all complete the final bouts on their active deals.

    In a recent episode of The MMA Hour, host Helwani discussed the possibility of those names choosing to test the waters of free agency rather than re-sign with the UFC.

    “That’s another interesting story to follow in 2022, Israel Adesanya’s contract. Not quite at the point of Nathan (Diaz’s), I think there’s a couple (fights) left, but that’s an interesting one to follow. Could you imagine in 2022, we are facing a potential scenario where Izzy might reach the end of his contract, Diaz reaches the end of his contract, Conor McGregor reaches the end of his contract, Francis Ngannou reaches the end of his contract. Think about that for a second. Think about how big those names are. Think about the power that they have. It could be fascinating times.”

    As Helwani later pointed out, the UFC usually re-signs its fighters before they reach the final appearance on their contracts. While the unranked Charles Jourdain recently dipped his toes into the market before choosing to sign another UFC deal, Helwani questioned the impact it would have if the biggest stars in the promotion chose to follow suit.

    “The brilliance of the UFC is they don’t let the fighters get to the end because they know they wanna lock them up before they get to the end, before they’re able to test those waters, those free-agent waters. But what if they want to? What if they play their cards right and they get to the point where they can? Fascinating times.”

    Ngannou Could Depart The UFC If He Loses At UFC 270

    The biggest contractual story in the UFC right now surrounds the status of UFC Heavyweight Champion Francis Ngannou. Remarkably, “The Predator” is heading into a blockbuster unification title fight against Ciryl Gane at UFC 270 with a possible departure from the promotion looming.

    If Ngannou loses on January 22, he will be out of contract and free to take his power elsewhere. If he wins, he’ll be contractually obliged to defend the title again.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CXy2596vj6Q/

    According to Ngannou’s manager, the issue isn’t about money. He recently laid out the two things that need to happen for his client to re-sign: increased activity and better promotion. The Cameroonian then seemingly added the need for a boxing crossover to be possible to his demands.

    With an increasing number of fighters now questioning their pay and contracts in comparison to the likes of YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul, one of the promotion’s top champions potentially about to fight out his deal, and a number of the UFC’s top stars one or two fights away from a similar situation, will we see a new tone set in regards to testing free agency before re-signing? Only time will tell.

    Do you think we could see some UFC stars fight out their contracts and explore free agency in the near future?

  • O’Malley Would Expect Fury To ‘Piece Ngannou Up’ In Boxing Match

    UFC Heavyweight Champion Francis Ngannou has flirted with the idea of boxing against Tyson Fury, but Sean O’Malley doesn’t like his odds.

    Ngannou is set to face Ciryl Gane for the unified UFC heavyweight title at UFC 270. It’s been quite the buildup to the fight, featuring his strained relationship with his former coach Fernand Lopez.

    After winning his trilogy with Deontay Wilder, Fury is widely expected to face Dillian Whyte next after a mandatory negotiation order. It’s unclear if and when the fight will happen as an official date hasn’t been targeted.

    During a recent episode of his podcast, O’Malley explained why he feels Ngannou wouldn’t match up well against Fury.

    “Ngannou vs. Fury potential boxing fight. If I’m being real, I’ve seen Ngannou throw [punches] like he doesn’t have a lot of boxing skills,” O’Malley said. “If you see how he throws some of his punches, it’s not like a good one too. It’s not even close [to Fury’s level]. With that being said, he could still catch him. He’s got that much f***ing power. Ngannou’s probably got more power than Wilder I’d say… So if they’re in a boxing ring, Francis is so big and terrifying but Tyson Fury would probably piece him up.”

    After the negotiations with Whyte stalled, Fury and Ngannou have gone at it on social media for a potential crossover fight. Ngannou, who has long hinted at a move to boxing, has publicly entertained the idea of fighting Fury.

    Ngannou has been at odds with the UFC brass for months over an ongoing contract dispute. While UFC President Dana White has expressed recent optimism regarding a new contract for Ngannou, it’s unclear if a deal will get done with one fight left.

    O’Malley is arguably one of the best strikers in MMA today and seems to know what he’s talking about when it comes to the boxing aspect of fighting. Ngannou vs. Fury may or may not happen, but O’Malley certainly thinks that Ngannou should stay away from the potential matchup.

    How do you think a Tyson Fury vs. Francis Ngannou matchup would play out?

  • Ngannou: Israel Adesanya Is A Better Version Of Ciryl Gane

    Undisputed UFC Heavyweight Champion Francis Ngannou and interim champ Ciryl Gane are continuing to talk about each other’s fighting style leading up to their main event.

    The two seem to have mutual respect for one another, as they’ve each given the other praise. Gane stated Ngannou is the “most powerful and athletic human” he’s ever seen. Ngannou returned the compliment and admired Gane for possessing the best kickboxing style in MMA.

    Thursday on his YouTube channel, Ngannou was asked about middleweight champion Israel Adesanya’s fighting style, to which Ngannou responded by taking a jab at Gane. Ngannou compared the two’s similar kickboxing styles and stated that Adesanya is a better version of Gane.

    “He’s (Adesanya) a great guy, the best striker in the game, definitely,” said Ngannou. “Because when you look at his style, he just does everything that Ciryl does but in a better way.”

    Ngannou stated that he even tried to get Adesanya to come help train with him in preparations of facing a kick-boxing-styled heavyweight in Gane. Ngannou claims that the reason he couldn’t get “The Last Stylebender” over was due to the strict travel restrictions where Adesanya resides in New Zealand.

    “By the way, I (tried) to get him for this training camp, but travel restrictions with New Zealand wasn’t really helpful for us,” said Ngannou “But he would have loved to come here and help me for the striking part of the game, the footwork and everything.”

    Gane and Adesanya are some of the highest-leveled kickboxers in the UFC, with names like Stephen Thompson, Joanna Jędrzejczyk, Valentina Schevchenko, and many others being up there with them.

    Ngannou and Gane are just a few weeks away from finally fighting for the heavyweight championship, which will be held on January 22nd. Ngannou (16-3) will be looking to make his first title defense since securing UFC gold when he KO’d Stipe Miocic at UFC 260. As for Gane, he will be looking to take the word “interim” off of his current title and become the undisputed heavyweight king with a win over Ngannou.

    Who do you think has the better kickboxing style between Ciryl Gane and Israel Adesanya?

  • Quote: Ngannou Will Never Get The Shine He Deserves During UFC Feud

    Francis Ngannou’s animosity towards the UFC could be keeping him from the UFC stardom he deserves according to Brendan Schaub.

    Francis Ngannou is the UFC heavyweight champion. He is considered to be the “Baddest Man on the Planet” and rightfully so. He is a hard hitter who can put people out with one strike. Now, Ngannou might have his toughest fight in front of him as he prepares for his UFC 270 fight against Ciryl Gane. However, leading up to this fight bigger news might have been the feud that has been brewing between Ngannou and the UFC.

    In the past year, Ngannou and UFC president Dana White have not seen eye to eye. Contract negotiations have been stalled, and the UFC even created an interim title just months after Ngannou won the belt over Stipe Miocic. Now, that interim champ Ciryl Gane will be looking to knock Ngannou right out of the championship picture and perhaps the UFC altogether.

    Brendan Schaub Thinks UFC Friction Will Continue To Hold Ngannou Back

    Dana White Francis Ngannou
    Dana White, Francis Ngannou (via Zuffa LLC)

    Rumors that Ngannou will leave the UFC with a loss have been circling. A former UFC heavyweight turned podcaster, Brendan Schaub, thinks that Ngannou’s relationship with the UFC brass will continue holding him back.

    “Francis Ngannou has been in a fight with the UFC brass. Which is, whenever you’re in a fight with the UFC brass you’re never going to get the shine you deserve,” Schaub said on his podcast, The Schaub Show. “Take a page out of [Tyron] Woodley’s book, even the Diaz brothers man, whenever you get into a dispute with the UFC they control the narrative, unfortunately. And it’s not like Francis Ngannou has a big podcast where he can go on and rip off what’s going on.” (h/t The Mirror)

    Ngannou has expressed interest in leaving the UFC to try his hand at boxing. If that is the road he is looking to follow, leaving the UFC might be the only way to do it. The UFC and Dana White in particular have been adamant about not letting fighters who are under contract do any crossover fights, aside from the Conor McGregor one-off with Mayweather in 2017.

    “He’ll do an interview with TMZ or an outlet or Marquel Martin, his agent at CAA, will do some interviews but those aren’t going mainstream,” Schaub said. “The UFC controls the narrative and it’s a bit of a shame.”

    Do you think Francis Ngannou is better off leaving the UFC after his next fight?

  • Coach: Ngannou Is A “F*cking Liar” For Denial Of Gane Sabotage

    Francis Ngannou’s former coach Fernand Lopez has branded the UFC Heavyweight Champion a “fucking liar” for denying that he attempted to sabotage Ciryl Gane’s UFC signing.

    The build-up to the upcoming UFC 270 main event, which will see a blockbuster unification bout between the promotion’s elite at heavyweight, has been littered with narratives.

    To go along with the intriguing clash of styles, which will see the world’s biggest power-puncher look to shut the lights out on the leader of a new breed of technical heavyweights, is the ongoing uncertainty surrounding Ngannou’s future. A defeat on January 22 could well see him leave the promotion, a scenario that is mind-boggling considering the Cameroonian’s status as one of the top UFC titleholders.

    But behind that lies a bitter story of a former pupil-coach relationship turned sour, which will now see two former teammates collide in the Octagon, one flying the MMA Factory flag.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CWpzhxhMECx/

    Lopez Thinks Ngannou Has A “Victim Mentality”

    Having brought Ngannou off the streets of Paris and into his MMA Factory gym, it’s perhaps surprising to see the state of Fernand Lopez’s relationship with “The Predator” in 2022.

    After the heavyweight behemoth sought a permanent move to the United Status, the Xtreme Couture gym became his new stomping ground following his 2018 loss to Stipe Miocic. In the period since, both Ngannou and his former mentor have traded jabs in interviews, something that increased tremendously last year following an awkward backstage snub at UFC 268.

    Following that, Lopez explained why the relationship deteriorated. Amongst other things, the French coach accused Ngannou of refusing to pay a gym membership, crediting him or the gym for his success, and of attempting to sabotage teammate Gane’s rise by advising matchmaker Mick Maynard not to sign him to the UFC.

    Denying the accusation of sabotage, Ngannou recently described his ex-coach as “evil” for attempting to destroy his reputation. As the game of tennis continues, Lopez has now responded. During an interview with LowKick MMA, the 43-year-old slammed his former student, suggesting he is “full of shit” and has a “victim mentality.”

    “If Francis denied that he didn’t try to prevent the UFC from Ciryl, he’s a fucking liar,” Lopez said. “Francis Ngannou told me, ‘Coach… I had a meeting with Mick. And he asked me, is it true that Ciryl is ready for the UFC? And I said to him, he’s a good young kid, he’ll be good one day. But I told him he’s not ready yet.’ If he says this isn’t true, then he’s a fucking liar.

    “I’m not surprised that he said that, because I don’t think Francis Ngannou ever thought that Ciryl was the kind of guy to face him one day. He basically pretended that Ciryl was irrelevant, always talked him down. That’s who he is, I’m giving you guys the reality. I took him from the street, helped him stay in the gym without paying any fee, gave him money and sponsors, and a place to sleep. And I’m evil?” Lopez added. How I be evil when I’m the one who called Joe Silva when you were 4-1, and got you in the UFC? I told him he could become a champion. He’s full of shit. Francis Ngannou is full of shit and has a victim mentality.” (h/t LowKick MMA)

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CXmEIH0MuoI/

    With so many stories at play as we race towards the opening pay-per-view of 2022, the headliner is certainly shaping up to be a thriller. It’s already been described as the “most compelling” heavyweight contest of all time by Chael Sonnen.

    But when the cage door closes, rivalries beyond the Octagon and contractual disputes will be left on the outside, and bombs will be thrown on the inside. You’d be hard-pressed to find a fan not brimming with excitement ahead of this one.

    Who do you think will leave the Octagon as the undisputed champion at UFC 270, Ciryl Gane or Francis Ngannou?

  • Ciryl Gane: Ngannou Is Most Powerful & Athletic Person I’ve Ever Seen

    Ciryl Gane has high praise for future opponent Francis Ngannou.

    At UFC 270, former sparring partners Gane and Ngannou will face in a heavyweight championship unification bout. In an interview with La Suer Clips (French MMA News Outlet) posted on Youtube Monday, Ciryl Gane labeled Francis Ngannou as the most athletic and powerful person he has ever seen.

    “Till today, I’ve never seen anyone as powerful, as athletic, with such knockout power, I’ve never seen it. In terms of strength, he might be the most impressive guy in UFC’s history,” said Gane.

    Gane’s assessment of Ngannou’s power is not an overstatement. Gane is very familiar with Nganou’s power as the two used to be training and sparring partners at MMA Factory in France before Ngannou had a fallout with the management and moved to the States. Ngannou currently trains at Xtreme Couture in Las Vegas.

    In 2017, Ngannou visited the UFC Performance Institute, where he set the world record for the hardest punch ever. Ngannou recorded a punch of 129,161 units, breaking Tyrone Spong’s previous record. His speed power was measured at 51,064-foot pounds/per second, which is equivalent to the horsepower of a small car.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LC_t7h1JTls&feature=emb_title
    Video of Ngannou’s record-setting punch

    Ngannou has scored 12 knockout victories of his 16, with eight of them coming in the first round. Gane, on the other hand, doesn’t pack the punch as powerful as Ngannou, only having four career wins by knockout with just one in the first round. Cautious of Ngannou’s power, Gane knows that he has to play it safe and strategic when the two lock horns in the Octagon.

    “You know, we’re coming into this fight with our own strengths. We’re not here to try and counter his strengths. We don’t want to try and be stronger than him,” said Gane. “I’m not gonna try to become stronger than him in three months, it wouldn’t make sense.”

    Do you think there is a person in MMA more powerful than Francis Ngannou?

  • Bisping Encourages Ngannou To Focus On Gane Rather Than Distractions

    Former UFC middleweight champion Michael Bisping has encouraged reigning heavyweight titleholder Francis Ngannou to keep his sights set on what matters right now, upcoming opponent Ciryl Gane.

    It’s probably safe to say no other heavyweight fight in UFC history has had so many different narratives at play leading into it as the UFC 270 main event. On January 22, Ngannou and interim champion Gane will collide in a blockbuster unification title fight to open the promotion’s pay-per-view account for 2022.

    On the face of it, the clash pitches two former teammates, one who left his long-time coach Fernand Lopez to pursue fresh pastures and achieve success elsewhere, and one who has grown into the new face of Paris’ MMA Factory gym. With their awkward backstage encounter at UFC 268 and the words aired in interviews since, that story is providing a nice build ahead of the fight.

    Next, we’ve got the stylistic story. A heavyweight behemoth with the hardest punching power on the globe comes up against the new breed of heavyweight: a fast, technical, and evasive Frenchman who has become an expert in hitting and not being hit.

    But below those intriguing layers lies the real story: the heavyweight champion’s ongoing feud and contractual dispute with the promotion. The cherry on top is Ngannou’s clear intention to eventually lace the boxing gloves, something he says must be possible in any new UFC deal.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CWo0AecBPon/

    Bisping Suggests Boxing Ambitions & Contract Dispute Will Distract Ngannou

    In recent weeks, the feud between Ngannou and Lopez and the actual clash between “The Predator” and “Bon Gamin” has been somewhat lost amidst a unique situation between the UFC and one of its titleholders.

    Ngannou’s manager recently spoke out about his client’s treatment and revealed two things the promotion must offer the Cameroonian in order for him to re-sign. Currently, a defeat for Ngannou could see him depart the UFC for another organization, which is a truly remarkable prospect considering his position as champion.

    Alongside that, Ngannou has continued to shout his boxing ambitions to the world. He recently revealed his hopes to test his skills in the ring against top heavyweight boxers Tyson Fury and Deontay Wilder.

    One man who knows a lot about holding UFC gold and pre-fight prep is former 185-pound king Michael Bisping. During a recent video uploaded to his YouTube channel, “The Count” warned Ngannou about becoming too invested in scenarios and situations away from his primary goal: a victory over Gane at UFC 270.

    “It’s already a tough enough fight. But now, I think Francis is kind of muddying the waters a little bit because there’s all his contract talk. If you google Francis Ngannou’s name, there’s a lot of talk about contract disputes, and he wants more money and things… There’s also a lot of talk about him going to the boxing world.

    “I just think that all this could be a distraction. Ciryl Gane is a very, very tough opponent for any man… I hope for Francis and everybody involved that (a crossover to boxing) does happen. But you’ve just gotta be careful because he’s got Ciryl Gane, and it’s kind of a distraction to be thinking about these things… Ciryl Gane is probably in the gym, in training camp, right now, just thinking about Francis Ngannou, formulating a game plan. Then when you google Francis Ngannou, it’s talk about contracts, it’s talk about money, and it’s talk about boxing. You’ve gotta be careful in this day and age.”

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CYKBG-HhHQ-/

    What Ngannou’s status in the UFC will be come fight night is anyone’s guess. While Dana White recently claimed he’d had a “positive talk” with the champ while out for dinner, we’ve yet to hear any similar updates out of the Cameroonian’s camp.

    One thing we know is that if Ngannou wins, he’ll be sticking around for at least another defense, meaning the contract debacle could be far from being sorted.

    Do you agree with Michael Bisping? Will Francis Ngannou’s contractual dispute and boxing ambitions distract him ahead of UFC 270?

  • Lopez Threatens To Release Sparring Footage Of Gane Dropping Ngannou

    The beef between Francis Ngannou and former coach Fernand Lopez continues to grow.

    The UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou has a date set to defend his title against his old training partner Ciryl Gane. The matchup is arguably one of the most anticipated heavyweight title fights in a long time. Now, the growing animosity between Ngannou and Gane’s head coach Fernand Lopez is adding even more drama to this bout.

    Recently, Lopez set forth some heavy claims that accused Ngannou of trying to keep Gane out of the UFC. Ngannou was also the target of some released footage that showed Ngannou and Gane training together.

    The Cameroonian was unhappy with the clip that was released and called it misleading. According to Lopez, however, Ngannou could have been made to look much worse. And now, he is willing to release the entire length of training footage.

    “That footage didn’t tell the whole story of what happened in training,” Lopez told Low Kick MMA. “There were so many opportunities where they got the better of each other in sparring, so we couldn’t have manipulated the footage. He didn’t want me to release the whole footage because, in that specific training, Francis Ngannou ate a knee shot to the liver and got dropped. Stopped the whole training. These are facts. Francis was on his backside. If he’s saying this isn’t true, I’ll release the whole footage. But, my content manager didn’t want to release it because we have privacy in the gym. When guys train in your gym, they expect things to stay in the gym.”

    Ngannou and Gane trained together at MMA Factory in France before Ngannou left. Lopez, now the head coach of Gane, has expressed his problems with Nagnnou in a public capacity. In return, Ngannou publically ignored them while both were backstage at UFC 268 in New York.

    Everything will soon enough be settled inside the Octagon. The real fight will be taking place on Jan. 22 at UFC 270. At that time, all sparring footage will become obsolete and the truly better man and fighter will be crowned as the UFC heavyweight champion.

    Do you think Francis Ngannou has what it takes to defeat Ciryl Gane at UFC 270?

  • Fury & Ngannou Talk Trash During Informal Agreement To Fight

    WBC Heavyweight Champion Tyson Fury and UFC Heavyweight Champion Francis Ngannou have never been more interested in fighting one another.

    If Francis Ngannou fails to come to terms with the UFC, it appears he has a big boxing matchup ahead of him once he becomes a free agent. Ngannou and the UFC are in the middle of tense contract negotiations, with Ngannou’s current deal with the promotion set to expire after his upcoming unification bout against Ciryl Gane at UFC 270. If Ngannou loses, he will be a free agent. If he wins, White recently stated that Ngannou would be contractually obligated to fight with the promotion again.

    Ngannou has recently stated that in order for him to re-sign with the UFC, he must be granted the freedom to box. When mentioning potential opponents, Fury was among the names “The Predator” listed as being on his radar.

    “Tyson Fury, Deontay Wilder. I would like to test myself to that level,” Ngannou said during an interview with TMZ Sports. “It’s not the same sport, although I’m the champion, I’m in the top in this division. At the end of the day, it’s just about like trained hands, trained punches, having a good delivery system to produce bombs, and I’m sure that if I deliver my own punch, it’s pretty good, I can make some damage.”

    Fury’s Response Sets Off Trash-Talking Twitter Exchange With Ngannou

    Tyson Fury
    Image Credit: John McCoy/Getty Images

    Thursday, Tyson Fury took to Twitter to get a very early jump start on promoting the very hypothetical matchup.

    “Who would like to see me fight this beast boxing rules @ufc gloves? @danawhite@francis_ngannou.”

    It wasn’t long before the “beast” offered a taunting response to “The Gypsy King.”

    “How about MMA rules with boxing gloves? I can do you that favor,” Ngannou wrote.

    “you want to come in to my world calling me & wilder out to a boxing match. what i can guarantee you would be knocked out & also paid your highest purse to be so! so have a think,” Fury said in his latest retort.

    “After I handle business on Jan. 22 I’ll fight you under any special rule set you want. In a ring, an octagon or a phone booth,” Ngannou assured.

    Today isn’t the first time Fury expressed interest in boxing Ngannou with MMA gloves. Last summer, prior to Tyson Fury’s victory over Deontay Wilder in their trilogy fight, “The Gypsy King” went back-and-forth with Ngannou in the media in a similar fashion as they did today. Speaking to Michael Bisping for BT Sport, Fury said that he’d have a boxing match with Ngannou inside a cage with MMA gloves on (via MMA.uno).

    “Yeah, I would fight one of those guys, I would fight Ngannou with the little gloves on in a cage, but no grappling and all that, just boxing. Cage boxing. That will be good, right? I would fight these guys, but you know it’s a totally different sport. It is like cricket and tennis. They both have bats or rackets but it is something totally different. If I fight Ngannou in a wrestling match, I am not a fighter, so they are going to take me to the ground like James Toney and they are going to tear me to pieces.”

    MMA News will keep you posted if there is any progress made on this fight ever becoming a reality or if these two behemoths continue to trade barbs on Twitter.

    Who do you think would win in a boxing match with MMA gloves between Francis Ngannou and Tyson Fury?

  • Strickland Explains The “Fear” He Has Sparring Ngannou

    UFC middleweight contender Sean Strickland has described what it’s like to spar with UFC Heavyweight Champion Francis Ngannou in the gym.

    Strickland, one of the most outspoken, unique, and controversial personalities in MMA, has never shied away from detailing his interactions in the gym, which includes a near-bust-up with BJJ champion Orlando Sanchez.

    As he gears up for his second consecutive UFC main event, a clash of 185-pound contenders against Jack Hermansson on February 5, “Tarzan” has been preparing at the renowned Xtreme Couture gym under the tutelage of Eric Nicksick. Among his training partners is a certain “Predator.”

    While some would shy away from sparring with a man who has bombs as fists and boasts the hardest recorded punch in history, Strickland is not “some,” as Nicksick recently revealed to MMA Fighting’s Damon Martin.

    “That dude will literally spar anybody in our gym,” Nicksick said. “He calls Francis out every sparring session. He loves to spar Francis because he goes ‘I want to feel as close to death as possible and I want to have that fear of God in my heart every time I spar a guy like Francis Ngannou.’ So sure, we throw him in there and let him get some rounds with Francis.”

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CTplLcivc3-/

    Strickland discussed his experience sparring the Cameroonian behemoth while speaking to combat sports journalist Helen Yee. The #7-ranked middleweight contender suggested Ngannou cannot relate to the level of fear he feels while standing opposite the heavyweight titleholder in the gym.

    “You know, I would like to think that I fucked Francis up, but I really think that he’s very nice… He’s a good dude, man. I was actually sparring him the other day and I told Francis, ‘You’ve never experienced this in your life, but when I spar you and you’re throwing punches at me, like, I genuinely have fear. You’ve probably never felt that in your life.’ But Francis is a great guy. He throws hard, I trust him not to hurt me. Anytime he fucking wants to bang, dude, I welcome it.”

    Not much can prepare a fighter for an opponent’s power better than training with the biggest power-puncher in the world. And from trading blows with “The Predator” donning the 16oz gloves, Strickland certainly has respect for the power Ngannou possesses.

    In a tweet on Wednesday, “Tarzan” admitted a shot from the heavyweight behemoth with 4oz gloves would send him to sleep.

    “Everyone ask me how do I do with francious lol!! I will tell you that I do really well with him with 16 Gloves in the GYM lol!!! bottom line is you put 4 ounce gloves on him in a FIGHT and he touches me once and I will go to dreamland!!!! LOL.”

    Ngannou Is Gearing Up For A Crucial Unification Showdown At UFC 270

    While Strickland is preparing for a main event contest with Hermansson, Ngannou’s work in the gym is going towards his upcoming unification showdown with interim champ Ciryl Gane.

    Since ascending the heavyweight mountain last March with a knockout victory over Stipe Miocic, Ngannou has been on the sidelines, watching on as his former teammate emerged triumphant in two main events and had interim gold wrapped around his waist.

    At UFC 270 on January 22, the pair will collide to determine who will lead the division as its undisputed king. With the title and potentially Ngannou’s future at stake, the year’s opening pay-per-view headliner is certainly not one to miss.

    Who do you think will leave UFC 270 as the undisputed UFC Heavyweight Champion, Francis Ngannou or Ciryl Gane?

  • Francis Ngannou Unamused By Ciryl Gane Downplaying His Power

    UFC Heavyweight Champion Francis Ngannou won’t allow himself to divert from the gameplan ahead of his UFC 270 clash with Ciryl Gane.

    Ngannou will make his first title defense against Gane, a former teammate of his while they were at MMA Factory in France. He’s been at an impasse with the UFC brass amidst an ongoing contract dispute but is ready to defend his belt at the UFC’s first pay-per-view event of 2022.

    Ngannou and Gane have had a bit of an interesting buildup to their fight. The two had an awkward run-in backstage at UFC 268, and Gane recently downplayed the champion’s trademark knockout power.

    “I think Francis did a lot these last years, and he proved he improved and he’s more intelligent,” Gane said in an interview with BT Sport. “And that’s great. He’s well-rounded now. And I think it’s gonna be more like that. Because he (knows) I can manage the power. I think he knows I can manage the power.”

    During a recent interview with MMA Junkie’s Mike Bohn, Ngannou responded to Gane’s remarks and thinks his prediction was a bit forced.

    “That’s probably his prediction because he has nowhere else to go,” Ngannou said. 

    “He has nothing else to do. Instead of expecting to jump around and waiting for the decision, I’m sure he’s going to be like, ‘I’m going to take him to the long rounds, the deep water’ and all this. That can be his only prediction, which could be very contrary of my prediction, which is knocking him out.”

    Francis Ngannou Vs. Ciryl Gane Wasn’t Expected To Happen Next

    Gane earned the title shot after winning the interim heavyweight title over Derrick Lewis at UFC 265. He was able to stifle Lewis on the feet and control the pace of the fight, eventually earning a TKO finish.

    Ngannou was widely expected to face Jon Jones for his first title defense after earning the belt over Stipe Miocic. The UFC then targeted a matchup between him and Lewis, but contract negotiations stalled as Ngannou asked for more money.

    The Ngannou vs. Gane matchup pits two of the most elite strikers in MMA against one another. If Ngannou were to lose to Gane, his UFC future could be uncertain as he would then enter free agency.

    What is your prediction for Francis Ngannou vs. Ciryl Gane?

  • Francis Ngannou Makes His Pick For Best Striker In MMA

    UFC Heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou packs a heavy punch and knows a thing or two about striking.

    In a Youtube video posted to his channel last Thursday, Ngannou came out and labeled potential foe Jon Jones as the best striker in MMA. Ngannou also talked about his most challenging fight, which was his first fight against Stipe Miocic; who the #1 trash talker in the sport is; the state of boxing; and who he thinks is the best striker in the sport. You can hear his explanation behind his best striker pick below.

    “If I’m about to say the best striker for MMA striking it would still be Jon Jones,” said Ngannou. “For MMA striking, I would give it to Jon Jones. Because, like, with his elbow and all of that stuff he does.. the oblique kick, all those stuff. For MMA, it’s the perfect striking.”

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CWO_uKev9ru/
    Jon Jones training via his Instagram

    Ngannou and Jones have had a little history with one another. The two were in talks of fighting in a blockbuster mega-fight before it got shut down due to failed contract negotiations between Jones and the UFC.

    Ngannou also said that Gane, who he will be fighting on January 22nd is the best kickboxer in MMA.

    “But if we go kickboxing style, then I think it will be Gane,” Ngannou said.

    Ngannou and interim heavyweight champion Gane used to be former teammates and sparring partners. When the two step foot in the Octagon in a few weeks, the undisputed heavyweight champion will be crowned. This will be the first title fight of 2022 and Ngannou’s first title defense since becoming the champion last March when he KO’d Stipe Miocic.

    You can hear Ngannou’s thoughts on the other range of topics he covered in the video below.

    Who do you think is the best striker in the UFC?