Midnight Mania! Joe Rogan thinks Francis Ngannou has UFC looking at “Mike Tyson days”

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Joe Rogan thinks Francis Ngannou could be the UFC’s modern version of Mike Tyson. He has finished all six of his UFC fights, most of t…

Bringing you the weird and wild from the world of MMA each and every weeknight

Welcome to Midnight Mania!

Joe Rogan thinks Francis Ngannou could be the UFC’s modern version of Mike Tyson. He has finished all six of his UFC fights, most of them in the first round, and according to the UFC’s measurement, he holds a world record for power, beating out professional kickboxer Tyrone Spong. However dubious that distinction may be, it is no secret Ngannou has mind-numbing power. Via MMAJunkie.com:

“Now they’ve got a star,” Rogan said. “I think Ngannou, one or two more fights, you’re going to be looking at Mike Tyson days. That’s what I think. You’re going to watch fights just to see how long these mother(expletives) can survive against this guy. That’s what I think. That could be their big, breakout star.”

The story is certainly there. Ngannou came up from nothing, going from a child working in sand mines, to wandering the streets homeless in Paris, to the next UFC title contender. He used his platform after his win over Overeem at UFC 218 to bring attention to the human slavery happening in Libya. He’s a gentle, soft-spoken, terrifying giant, a PR dream. The real question is, will the UFC be able to adjust their usual monotonous messaging to capitalize on the obvious potential?

Ngannou, if indeed he does establish himself as a Pay-Per-View star, would fill a hole in the current UFC landscape. Ronda is transitioning to the WWE, GSP’s future is uncertain (but probably won’t include defending that middleweight belt) and Conor is spending most his nights waiting outside after-parties and punching folks connected to the mob.

“Conor, who knows if he’s ever going to fight again,” Rogan said. “We really don’t know. We haven’t heard Conor saying, ‘This is my plan. This is who I’m thinking of fighting. This is who I want to fight.’ He’s been talking (expletive) to Max Holloway, he’s been talking (expletive) to Tony Ferguson, but he’s not set it up.”

Ngannou will face Stipe Miocic for the heavyweight belt at UFC 220 on January 20th in Boston, headlining above a light heavyweight title fight between Daniel Cormier and Volkan Oezdemir. The double headliner seems to be a gamble by the UFC to get as many eyes as possible on this heavyweight fight. Stipe Miocic has won his last five fights via knockout, four in the first round; if he wins, he will set the heavyweight record with three consecutive title defenses. If Ngannou wins, the world is his oyster.

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