Derrick Lewis vs. Francis Ngannou | UFC Betting Sites

Dana White Confirms Lewis-Ngannou 2 To Take Place This Summer

Things are moving along in the UFC heavyweight division, as Dana White confirmed the next title fight and hinted at another major matchup. Heading into UFC 260, it was believed the winner of the Francis Ngannou-Stipe Miocic main event would welcome Jon Jones to the heavyweight division in their next fight. However, after Ngannou scored […]

Things are moving along in the UFC heavyweight division, as Dana White confirmed the next title fight and hinted at another major matchup.

Heading into UFC 260, it was believed the winner of the Francis Ngannou-Stipe Miocic main event would welcome Jon Jones to the heavyweight division in their next fight. However, after Ngannou scored a second-round knockout, contract talks between Jones and the UFC stalled, leaving the champion’s next challenger up in the air.

In an interview with TSN, White provided some clarity in the division, confirming that the UFC is indeed going ahead with the rumored rematch between Ngannou and Derrick Lewis (H/T MMA Fighting).

“We’re working on that fight,” White said. “That fight is going to happen this summer.”

The first fight between Ngannou and ‘The Black Beast’ was one of the most anticipated matchups in recent memory. Not only did it fail to live up to the hype, but it ended up being borderline unwatchable. Lewis won what was essentially a 15-minute staring contest by virtue of landing 20 strikes to Ngannou’s 11. Since that fight, Ngannou has registered 5 consecutive knockouts, while Lewis has gone on to claim the all-time knockout record.

All hope is not yet lost for an eventual Jones move to heavyweight, however. Though the former light heavyweight king recently left his management team, there’s still ongoing talks between he and the UFC. White said UFC Chief Business Officer Hunter Campbell is going to continue talking to Jones about his move up and hopes to come to an agreement some time soon.

“Whether Jon has a manager or not, Jon is going to do what Jon wants to do.” White said. “So it’s probably something that Jon Jones needs to work out. I know that him and Hunter have a good relationship. So I think those guys are going to get together soon and talk.”

“Listen, you look as the last however many years and people ask me who I think the best ever is and I say Jon Jones,” White continued. “Jon Jones is a massive part of the history of this company. He’s one of the best ever. (No matter) where you stand, whether you think it is him, Anderson (Silva), Khabib (Nurmagomedov), GSP (Georges St-Pierre), wherever you stand on that, he’s one of the best of all-time. Obviously there is still some big fights that can be made with him, and we would love to do it. It’s not like we can’t get something done over here.”

Do you like these heavyweight fights Dana White is planning to make?

Derrick Lewis On Title Fight: ‘I’ll Knock Him Out In The First Exchange’

Derrick Lewis has never had anyone doubt his knockout power, but can he knockout Francis Ngannou in the first exchange of a rematch? Lewis certainly thinks so. Lewis will likely contend for the title as Ngannou’s first title defense later this year. During a recent interview with ESPN, Lewis predicted that he would end the fight early […]

Derrick Lewis has never had anyone doubt his knockout power, but can he knockout Francis Ngannou in the first exchange of a rematch? Lewis certainly thinks so.

Lewis will likely contend for the title as Ngannou’s first title defense later this year. During a recent interview with ESPN, Lewis predicted that he would end the fight early and violently. (H/T BJPenn.com)

“I will say the first exchange, I’ll knock him out in the first exchange. I almost knocked out Curtis in the first exchange, too, but he got on that bike and he took off running,” Lewis remarked. “I feel that in my heart, especially if he comes out the way he’s been coming out to all his other guys, especially the way he came out against Rozenstruik. If he tries to come out and fight me the same way, then I’ll knock him out for sure.”

The first time the fighters met in the co-main event of UFC 226, fans were left disappointed as there were none of the fireworks many expected. With Ngannou’s confidence shaken after losing to Stipe Miocic and Lewis dealing with a back injury, the fight was incredibly dull. The fight went the distance, with Lewis securing a decision win in a match that had little striking. This time around, Lewis expects a very different fight.

“It’s gonna be a fun fight. We both learned a lot from that. We both improved since that fight, so it’s gonna have to be a fun fight,” Lewis shared. “Too many rounds are gonna be involved in this fight. It’s gonna be five rounds, so it’s not gonna be five rounds of snooze fest. It’s gonna be five rounds of swinging and banging, so it’s gonna be interesting to see. I’m excited for it.”

Do you think Derrick Lewis will knockout Francis Ngannou in the first exchange of their title bout?

Coach Believes Francis Ngannou Can Become Unstoppable Force Again

Francis Ngannou’s coach has a plan of getting him back on track.

The post Coach Believes Francis Ngannou Can Become Unstoppable Force Again appeared first on LowKickMMA.com.

Coach believes Francis Ngannou can become the unstoppable force again after his slight dip in performance before challenging for the UFC heavyweight title.

Ngannou is still trying to find himself as an overall MMA fighter instead of just being a striker. At the UFC 220 PPV (pay-per-view) event at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts on pay-per-view, UFC heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic successfully retained his title at the time in the main event by scoring a dominant decision win over the title contender.

Moving along to the UFC 226 pay-per-view event at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, Derrick Lewis was able to pick up a unanimous decision win over the former title contender.

Syndicate MMA under coach John Wood told MMA Fighting in a recent interview that he believes Ngannou will return to the gym for his rematch with Curtis Blaydes, which is a rematch that saw Ngannou win the first time around by second-round TKO in 2016. As a result, he thinks he can get Ngannou back to his dominant ways.

“Francis is always a pleasure,” Wood said. “Nicest guy, funny dude, always enjoyed having him around. Great to have him in the gym, always playing with the kids. Just a good dude, man. I never had any experience like that with him at all.”

“We’re still talking about how amazing Francis is. That’s MMA. It’s hard to say. … Is it maybe too soon? It’s a little early in his career. Is it too soon for him to handle it? Eh, he’ll keep growing and get better and I think eventually he’ll end up with that title.”

“He’s still learning, he’s still growing,” Ngannou said. “And yes, he’s still green. That dude is a freak. It’s a freak how fast he learns, how strong. In another year or two, if he keeps moving the way he is, yeah he’s gonna be an unstoppable force. But some people take to it quicker. There’s just little pieces that need to click. But if he goes out there and starches Stipe with one punch, then … we’d be thing he’s the best fighter there’s ever been, that kind of thing.”

Blaydes and Ngannou are slated to fight at the upcoming UFC Beijing event (also known as UFC Fight Night 141) on November 25, 2018 at Cadillac Arena in Beijing, China.

The main card will air on FOX Sports 1 while the preliminary card will be split broadcasted on FOX Sports 1 and the promotion’s streaming service, UFC Fight Pass.

The post Coach Believes Francis Ngannou Can Become Unstoppable Force Again appeared first on LowKickMMA.com.

Coach Believes Francis Ngannou Can Become Unstoppable Force Again

Francis Ngannou’s coach has a plan of getting him back on track.

The post Coach Believes Francis Ngannou Can Become Unstoppable Force Again appeared first on LowKickMMA.com.

Coach believes Francis Ngannou can become the unstoppable force again after his slight dip in performance before challenging for the UFC heavyweight title.

Moving along to the UFC 226 pay-per-view event at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, Derrick Lewis was able to pick up a unanimous decision win over the former title contender.

“Francis is always a pleasure,” Wood said. “Nicest guy, funny dude, always enjoyed having him around. Great to have him in the gym, always playing with the kids. Just a good dude, man. I never had any experience like that with him at all.”

“We’re still talking about how amazing Francis is. That’s MMA. It’s hard to say. … Is it maybe too soon? It’s a little early in his career. Is it too soon for him to handle it? Eh, he’ll keep growing and get better and I think eventually he’ll end up with that title.”

“He’s still learning, he’s still growing,” Ngannou said. “And yes, he’s still green. That dude is a freak. It’s a freak how fast he learns, how strong. In another year or two, if he keeps moving the way he is, yeah he’s gonna be an unstoppable force. But some people take to it quicker. There’s just little pieces that need to click. But if he goes out there and starches Stipe with one punch, then … we’d be thing he’s the best fighter there’s ever been, that kind of thing.”

Blaydes and Ngannou are slated to fight at the upcoming UFC Beijing event (also known as UFC Fight Night 141) on November 25, 2018 at Cadillac Arena in Beijing, China.

The main card will air on FOX Sports 1 while the preliminary card will be split broadcasted on FOX Sports 1 and the promotion’s streaming service, UFC Fight Pass.

The post Coach Believes Francis Ngannou Can Become Unstoppable Force Again appeared first on LowKickMMA.com.