Tag: Francis Ngannou

MMA To Be Legalized In France Starting 2020, Francis Ngannou Reacts

Mixed martial arts (MMA) will soon be legal in the nation of France. France’s minister of sport Roxana Maracineanu announced the news on Monday that MMA would be recognized as a professional and amateur sport starting next year. “As of January 1, 2020, #MMA will officially exist as a professional and amateur sports practice in […]

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Mixed martial arts (MMA) will soon be legal in the nation of France.

France’s minister of sport Roxana Maracineanu announced the news on Monday that MMA would be recognized as a professional and amateur sport starting next year.

“As of January 1, 2020, #MMA will officially exist as a professional and amateur sports practice in France within the framework of defined by @Sports_gouv in harmony with the international landscape of this discipline,” Maracineanu posted on Twitter (via MMA Junkie translation).

MMA was banned in France in 2016 with the government claiming it would only be overturned if it was taken over by an existing French sports federation. Applications are reportedly due September and a final decision will be made December 31 to determine which federation will oversee the sport.

The UFC will be assisting with the process of making the sport legal as well, according to senior executive vice president and chief operating officer Lawrence Epstein.

“UFC welcomes today’s announcement by the Ministry of Sports, which is the first step in officially recognizing MMA and integrating the sport into the French sports ecosystem,” Epstein said in a statement (via ESPN). “We will closely follow the progress of the consultation period and pay particular attention to the respect of the integrity of MMA and preservation of its rules by the host federation. We put our global MMA expertise at the disposal of the authorities to make this process a collective construction.”

Many fighters hail or train from France, but none more notable than current UFC heavyweight Francis Ngannou. The former title challenger was born in Cameroon but got his start in the sport training with the MMA Factory in Paris, as he reacted to the news:

“MMA will officially be legalized in France in January 2020,” Ngannou wrote on Twitter. “Thank you to our sport minister @RoxaMaracineanu.”

The heavyweight could potentially headline a first-ever event taking place in France in the future. First, he’ll have to take care of business this weekend against Junior dos Santos at UFC Minneapolis.

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Ngannou: I Have A Better Jiu-Jitsu Than Junior dos Santos

Francis Ngannou is not just doubling down on his skepticism of UFC Minneapolis opponent Junior dos Santos’s black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu, he is taking it two steps further. First, Ngannou contends that if he is to believe dos Santos is a true blac…

Francis Ngannou is not just doubling down on his skepticism of UFC Minneapolis opponent Junior dos Santos’s black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu, he is taking it two steps further. First, Ngannou contends that if he is to believe dos Santos is a true black belt, he requires proof: “I would like to have some evidence,” […]

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JDS Coach Responds to Ngannou’s Black Belt Disbelief

In the main event of UFC Minneapolis two men known for their boxing will square off when Francis Ngannou and former UFC heavyweight champion Junior dos Santos collide. But even though Junior dos Santos is known as a boxer in the UFC, he also happens to…

In the main event of UFC Minneapolis two men known for their boxing will square off when Francis Ngannou and former UFC heavyweight champion Junior dos Santos collide. But even though Junior dos Santos is known as a boxer in the UFC, he also happens to be a black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu, a fact […]

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Jon Jones Previews Possible Heavyweight Clash With Francis Ngannou

One of the hottest topics surrounding Jon Jones’ mixed martial arts (MMA) career is a potential jump up to heavyweight. There are plenty of options for Jones in regards to a superfight at heavyweight. However, one of the more appealing options has just left the table. Brock Lesnar announced his retirement from mixed martial arts […]

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One of the hottest topics surrounding Jon Jones’ mixed martial arts (MMA) career is a potential jump up to heavyweight.

There are plenty of options for Jones in regards to a superfight at heavyweight. However, one of the more appealing options has just left the table. Brock Lesnar announced his retirement from mixed martial arts (MMA) competition recently, nixing any possibility of the two freakish physical specimens colliding inside the Octagon.

Speaking to TMZ Sports recently, however, Jones admits there are no shortage of challengers at heavyweight:

“I’m not too disappointed, no,” Jones said. “There are a lot of fights in the heavyweight division that are always going to be extremely appealing. We got Cain Velasquez, Francis Ngannou -“

When asked if a fight against Ngannou, another freakish athletic specimen, is something he wants, Jones admits it’s not necessarily a fight he desires, but he recognizes how huge it’d be for all involved:

“That’s not a fight I necessarily want,” Jones said. “But if it were to present itself I know it’d be huge for everybody involved. That’s a scary dude. But that’s why I’m in it, for it to be hard. I’m aware that, the greater the challenge, that’s what makes it great. The hard is what makes it great.”

Jones broke down his game-plan for a potential fight against “The Predator,” which boils down to getting the fight to the ground, where the light heavyweight champion would hold the advantage:

“Francis, no doubt, I would look to fight him smart. Watch out for those power shots and ultimately get the fight to the ground, where I feel like I’d have the advantage. Don’t start trash with me and Francis,” Jones laughed. “I shouldn’t have said his name, I actually like the guy.”

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JDS Says Francis Ngannou Is Dangerous, But Plans On Exploiting Holes

Junior dos Santos gives Francis Ngannou his due, but feels he can shut down “The Predator.” This Saturday night (June 29), dos Antos and Ngannou will throw leather inside the Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The heavyweight tilt wil…

Junior dos Santos gives Francis Ngannou his due, but feels he can shut down “The Predator.” This Saturday night (June 29), dos Antos and Ngannou will throw leather inside the Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The heavyweight tilt will headline UFC Minneapolis. The two would’ve clashed at UFC 239 on July 6, but UFC Minneapolis […]

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UFC Heavyweight Francis Ngannou Says He May Test The Waters With Boxing

Francis Ngannou doesn’t seem opposed to making a transition to boxing some day. Ngannou is set to collide with Junior dos Santos this Saturday night (June 29). The heavyweight tilt will headline UFC Minneapolis. The two were scheduled to meet at …

Francis Ngannou doesn’t seem opposed to making a transition to boxing some day. Ngannou is set to collide with Junior dos Santos this Saturday night (June 29). The heavyweight tilt will headline UFC Minneapolis. The two were scheduled to meet at UFC 239 on July 6, but UFC Minneapolis needed a new main event when […]

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