Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) heavyweight contender, Francis Ngannou, has a frightening 100-percent finishing rate, notching 10 knockouts and four submissions in his 14 wins across his nearly six-year mixed martial arts (MMA) career.
That includes last Sat. night’s (June 29, 2019) first-round shellacking of former UFC heavyweight champion, Junior dos Santos. “The Predator” barely broke a sweat against the Brazilian, who is known for being a prolific finisher in his own right.
Perhaps “Cigano” was fearing the consequences, like that old goofy catchphrase from ex-heavyweight contender Paul Buentello, which may explain why Dos Santos overextended on an overhand right that marked the beginning of the end.
That’s according to UFC color commentator, Joe Rogan.
“The consequences are so grave so everyone is scared,” Rogan said on his podcast. “It’s normal. Everyone’s scared to fight, or at least there’s gonna be some anxiety or fear. Your heart rate’s gonna get jacked, your adrenaline’s gonna get pumping, but it’s even more so if the consequences are more grave. If you’re gonna take a skateboard down a small hill, you’re not freaking out. But if you’re gonna take a skateboard down. . . Sunshine Canyon, going 50 miles an hour, you’re gonna shit your fucking pants.”
“You’re gonna try to land this thing right, you’re gonna figure out how not to die here, because the consequences are so much graver. And that’s what happens to these guys when they fight Francis. The consequences are so grave they make mistakes. With Junior he reached for an overhand right. He really, really extended himself and you can’t do that with Francis.”
In addition to a decision loss in just his second pro fight, Ngannou (14-3) went down on points to both Stipe Miocic and Derrick Lewis. The first was a bona fide ass whooping, as then-champion Miocic executed a fearless and intelligent gameplan that capitalized on the Cameroonian’s porous defense.
As for his loss to “The Black Beast,” that left fight fans scratching their collective heads. Ngannou was just 11 of 46 in total strikes in a performance that saw “The Predator” asleep at the wheel. Not that Lewis was the busiest of bees, but their three-round snoozer had promotion president, Dana White, hot under the collar.
Fortunately for Ngannou, 32, he was able to right the ship and score three consecutive wins, all by knockout, and could be on the cusp of another heavyweight title shot, depending on how things play out at UFC 241 in Anaheim.
And despite Rogan’s scouting report, I would not expect Miocic or current champion, Daniel Cormier, to be scared of Ngannou’s record-setting power if and when either of those fights ever come to pass.