Tag: Francis Ngannou

Francis Ngannou: ‘I Have to be Careful & Very Smart Against Andrei Arlovski’

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FuidcIiGnng

Next Saturday night (Jan. 28) Francis Ngannou will undergo the most stern test of his young mixed martial arts (MMA) career. Ngannou will meet former Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) heavyweight title …

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FuidcIiGnng

Next Saturday night (Jan. 28) Francis Ngannou will undergo the most stern test of his young mixed martial arts (MMA) career. Ngannou will meet former Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) heavyweight title holder Andrei Arlovski at a UFC on FOX event in Denver.

Since losing the second fight of his career, the “Predator” has gone on an eight-fight winning streak. He told Flo Combat that “The Pit Bull” may be fighting for his UFC contract:

“I think that he really comes to fight every time. He lost the last three fights, but now he really wants to come back and he knows another loss will be really dangerous for him. If he loses it may put him out of the UFC and as you say, he has been a legend in MMA for many years now.”

Arlovski’s three-fight skid left him winless in 2016. He was finished by current UFC champion Stipe Miocic, Alistair Overeem and Josh Barnett. Ngannou is still taking Arlovski seriously heading into the bout.

“I think that for the fight I have to be careful and very smart because Arlovski has a lot of power like me. He’s got very dangerous striking and I’ve got to be careful of that. He also has good grappling so I must take care if he tries to take it to the ground.”

Ngannou currently sits at No. 10 in the heavyweight rankings, while Arlovski finds himself at No. 7. A win over Arlovski would certainly move Ngannou to a higher position. Still, he believes he will have to do more if he expects a chance at gold.

“I don’t think I will be getting a title shot until I can prove I can beat someone in the top-5 and I think I might even need to beat someone else before I can get into the top-5. That’s for sure. I will have to win and win well to get selected for a title shot.”

Francis Ngannou: ‘My Advantage Over Andrei Arlovski is my Mind’

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dyo9Z4R7-Xk&t=17s

Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) heavyweight Francis Ngannou has made some noise since making his debut for the world leader of mixed martial arts (MMA). He knocked out Luis Henrique in the first round. Ngannou finished his next three opponents as well.

“Super Predator” told Bloody Elbow that after submitting Anthony Hamilton, he knew he needed a step up in competition:

“I need to go to the best to get my title shot. I know that to have a title shot you are supposed to fight a great one. I want for people to see I am a great fighter and I think to be a great fighter you are supposed to fight a great one. You’re supposed to fight one who people know, that has a good reputation or is a very tough fighter. And that is why I say now, after my fight with Hamilton, I feel now I need [a] top ten [opponent] because I need to be recognized as a great fighter.”

If there is one edge fight fans would give Arlovski, it’s his experience. “The Pit Bull” is a former UFC heavyweight champion and has had 39 professional fights. While Ngannou gives credit where it’s due, he feels he has the upper hand in another area.

“My advantage is in my mind. I know that a lot of people have experience because they are fighters that have fought in the UFC or for other organizations for many years. I don’t have that experience, but I have life experience and I think that’s what will make me triumph. That makes me tough. That makes me something different than Arlovski.”

Ngannou and Arlovski will compete at a UFC on FOX event in Denver, Colorado. The card will be held inside the Pepsi Center on Jan. 28. A women’s strawweight bout between Valentina Shevchenko and Julianna Pena will be the headliner.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dyo9Z4R7-Xk&t=17s

Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) heavyweight Francis Ngannou has made some noise since making his debut for the world leader of mixed martial arts (MMA). He knocked out Luis Henrique in the first round. Ngannou finished his next three opponents as well.

“Super Predator” told Bloody Elbow that after submitting Anthony Hamilton, he knew he needed a step up in competition:

“I need to go to the best to get my title shot. I know that to have a title shot you are supposed to fight a great one. I want for people to see I am a great fighter and I think to be a great fighter you are supposed to fight a great one. You’re supposed to fight one who people know, that has a good reputation or is a very tough fighter. And that is why I say now, after my fight with Hamilton, I feel now I need [a] top ten [opponent] because I need to be recognized as a great fighter.”

If there is one edge fight fans would give Arlovski, it’s his experience. “The Pit Bull” is a former UFC heavyweight champion and has had 39 professional fights. While Ngannou gives credit where it’s due, he feels he has the upper hand in another area.

“My advantage is in my mind. I know that a lot of people have experience because they are fighters that have fought in the UFC or for other organizations for many years. I don’t have that experience, but I have life experience and I think that’s what will make me triumph. That makes me tough. That makes me something different than Arlovski.”

Ngannou and Arlovski will compete at a UFC on FOX event in Denver, Colorado. The card will be held inside the Pepsi Center on Jan. 28. A women’s strawweight bout between Valentina Shevchenko and Julianna Pena will be the headliner.

Andrei Arlovski vs. Francis Ngannou Announced For Jan. 28 UFC On Fox Card

ufc-191-results-andrei-arlovski-edges-out-frank-mir-with-unanimous-decision-victory

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dyo9Z4R7-Xk

It’s always kind of endearing to see a fighter issue a challenge in his or her post-fight interview and get the fight. This weekend, we saw the fruits of once such call-out in the fight of the year, as Dooho Choi had called out the winner of Cub Swanson vs. Tatsuya Kawajiri and had an all-action war with Swanson. The night before UFC 206, at the Fight Night card in Albany, heavyweight Francis Ngannou called his shot after making short work of Anthony Hamilton, putting Andrei Arlovski on his short list of fights he wanted. On this week’s edition of UFC Tonight, it was revealed that he got his wish.

The fight is set for January 28th in Denver at UFC on Fox: Pena vs. Shevchenko. Ngannou has been perfect in his UFC run so far, going 4-0 with each win being inside the distance. Arlovski is the toughest opponent he’s faced by far, but he is on a three fight skid, finished each time, after starting his return to the UFC at 4-0. After a controversial split decision win over Brendan Schaub, Arlovski beat Antonio “Bigfoot” Silva and upset Travis Browne by first round knockouts. In his last fight before his losing streak, the former UFC Heavyweight Champion beat fellow former titleholder Frank Mir by decision in a fight where he admitted that he took his opponent lightly, leading to a tepid performance.

ufc-191-results-andrei-arlovski-edges-out-frank-mir-with-unanimous-decision-victory

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dyo9Z4R7-Xk

It’s always kind of endearing to see a fighter issue a challenge in his or her post-fight interview and get the fight. This weekend, we saw the fruits of once such call-out in the fight of the year, as Dooho Choi had called out the winner of Cub Swanson vs. Tatsuya Kawajiri and had an all-action war with Swanson. The night before UFC 206, at the Fight Night card in Albany, heavyweight Francis Ngannou called his shot after making short work of Anthony Hamilton, putting Andrei Arlovski on his short list of fights he wanted. On this week’s edition of UFC Tonight, it was revealed that he got his wish.

The fight is set for January 28th in Denver at UFC on Fox: Pena vs. Shevchenko. Ngannou has been perfect in his UFC run so far, going 4-0 with each win being inside the distance. Arlovski is the toughest opponent he’s faced by far, but he is on a three fight skid, finished each time, after starting his return to the UFC at 4-0. After a controversial split decision win over Brendan Schaub, Arlovski beat Antonio “Bigfoot” Silva and upset Travis Browne by first round knockouts. In his last fight before his losing streak, the former UFC Heavyweight Champion beat fellow former titleholder Frank Mir by decision in a fight where he admitted that he took his opponent lightly, leading to a tepid performance.

Andrei Arlovski Set To Return At UFC on FOX 23

Earlier today (Wed., Dec. 14, 2016), it was announced that Colorado native Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone would be taking on Jorge Masvidal at January 28’s UFC on FOX 23 from The Pepsi Center in Denver, Colorado. Now, an intriguing heavyweight battle has also been confirmed for the card. It was announced on tonight’s edition of the

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Earlier today (Wed., Dec. 14, 2016), it was announced that Colorado native Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone would be taking on Jorge Masvidal at January 28’s UFC on FOX 23 from The Pepsi Center in Denver, Colorado. Now, an intriguing heavyweight battle has also been confirmed for the card.

It was announced on tonight’s edition of the UFC Tonight that No. 8-ranked former champion Andrei “Pitbull” Arlovski will square off No. 12-ranked rising prospect Francis Ngannou next month.

Arlovski returned to the UFC in 2014 and rattled off four straight victories, but he’s hit some rough times as of late, as he’s dropped his last three bouts including losses to current champion Stipe Miocic, Alistair Overeem, and Josh Barnett.

Ngannou, on the other hand, possesses a 9-1 overall record and is currently 4-0 inside of the Octagon. “The Predator” owns UFC victories over Luis Henrique, Curtis Blaydes, Bojan Mihajlovic and he most recently submitted Anthony Hamilton earlier this month in Albany.

Will Arlovski get back to his winning ways or will this bout representing a passing of the torch to promote Ngannou from prospect to contender?

The post Andrei Arlovski Set To Return At UFC on FOX 23 appeared first on LowKickMMA.com.

UFC Albany Bonuses: Villante vs. Safarov Banks FOTN

UFC Albany kicked off from the Times Union Center in Albany, New York tonight (Friday, December 9, 2016) as the Ultimate Fighting Championship’s second event in the Empire State. The Fight of the Night went to light heavyweight sluggers on the main card. Gian Villante and short-notice replacement Saparbek Safarov duked it out for the

The post UFC Albany Bonuses: Villante vs. Safarov Banks FOTN appeared first on LowKickMMA.com.

UFC Albany kicked off from the Times Union Center in Albany, New York tonight (Friday, December 9, 2016) as the Ultimate Fighting Championship’s second event in the Empire State.

The Fight of the Night went to light heavyweight sluggers on the main card. Gian Villante and short-notice replacement Saparbek Safarov duked it out for the better part of two rounds. At first it appeared that Villante’s more poised striking and big-show experience would carry him over the Russian newcomer, but Safarov refused to give in. He dropped the New Yorker in the second, and though bloodied, searched for his own finish. When it failed to materialized, Villante went back to work on his gassed adversary, eventually earning the TKO with punches and elbows against the fence. Safarov covered up but offered no other intelligent defense, forcing the referee to intervene.

Still, Safarov’s stock should rise in the aftermath. From unknown and unheralded debutante to Fight of the Night winner in less than ten minutes of action. Both 205-pounders took home an extra $50,000 for their efforts in Albany.

Elsewhere in main card action, fellow heavyweight Francis Ngannou earned himself a $50,000 bonus check for Performance of the Night against Anthony Hamilton. The Frenchman got the first round finish many predicted, but certainly not in the fashion that was expected. After escaping

After escaping to his feet following a Hamilton takedown, Ngannou countered another takedown attempt with a standing kimura. He took the Jackson-Wink product down while maintaining the hold, moved to side control, and wrenched the arm for the tap. It was the first submission of Ngannou’s UFC career, and his fourth straight victory in the promotion.

Finally, UFC newcomer Gerald Meerschaert banked a $50,000 Performance of the Night bonus of his own with his first round submission of Joe Gigliotti. Back and forth stand-up and scrambles ultimately resulted in Meerschaert taking Gigliotti’s back, then transitioning to an anaconda choke as his foe tried to escape. The 32-fight veteran tightened the hold and walked his legs toward Gigliotti, forcing the submission. Meerschaert’s was the first finish of the card after five straight decisions.

Stay locked to LowKickMMA for all the coverage of this fight-packed weekend.

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Twitter Reacts To Strange UFC Albany Main Event

UFC Albany went down from the Times Union Center in the capital of the Empire State tonight (Friday, December 9, 2016). The Fight Pass event was headlined by a heavyweight duel between fan-favorite Derrick “The Black Beast” Lewis and streaking Russian Shamil Abdurakhimov. The main event was a weird one. Lewis’ typical kick-heavy game at

The post Twitter Reacts To Strange UFC Albany Main Event appeared first on LowKickMMA.com.

UFC Albany went down from the Times Union Center in the capital of the Empire State tonight (Friday, December 9, 2016). The Fight Pass event was headlined by a heavyweight duel between fan-favorite Derrick “The Black Beast” Lewis and streaking Russian Shamil Abdurakhimov.

The main event was a weird one. Lewis’ typical kick-heavy game at range cost him dearly in the first few rounds, as Abdurakhimov routinely caught his kicks and took down the Houston export. A punch to the eye also clearly hampered Lewis throughout the fight, as he continually blinked and rubbed it. But the Russian’s lack of meaningful offense would come back to haunt him. Lewis still had enough left in the tank in the fourth round to go for his own takedown. He moved to mount soon after completing it, and from there he pounded out his foil for his fifth straight victory.

In the heavyweight co-headliner, Francis Ngannou made quick work of Anthony Hamilton. The scarily powerful French prospect quickly escaped an early takedown from Hamilton, and then worked to fend off another against the cage. Ngannou latched on a kimura grip, took Hamilton down, and finished the armlock with seeming ease in the very first round.

Check out Twitter’s reaction to these eccentric heavyweight tilts below:

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