Tag: Francis Ngannou

Francis Ngannou confident of upset win over Tyson Fury in October boxing fight: ‘I’m ready to shock the world’

Francis Ngannou vows to shock the world in boxing match with Tyson Fury in October UFCTasked with ending the career-undefeated run of incumbent WBC heavyweight champion, Tyson Fury in just his first professional boxing matchup, former UFC titleholder, Francis Ngannou claims he’s “ready to shock the world” when he draws the Morecambe native in October. Ngannou, a former undisputed heavyweight champion under the banner of the UFC, has been sidelined […]

Francis Ngannou vows to shock the world in boxing match with Tyson Fury in October UFC

Tasked with ending the career-undefeated run of incumbent WBC heavyweight champion, Tyson Fury in just his first professional boxing matchup, former UFC titleholder, Francis Ngannou claims he’s “ready to shock the world” when he draws the Morecambe native in October.

Ngannou, a former undisputed heavyweight champion under the banner of the UFC, has been sidelined from combat sports competition since he headlined UFC 270 back in January of last year, successfully unifying the division titles in a unanimous decision win over then-interim gold holder, Ciryl Gane.

Departing the Dana White-led promotion of his own volition back in January of this year, Cameroonian knockout artist, Ngannou has since penned a multi-fight deal with the PFL (Professional Fighters League), ahead of an expected return to mixed martial arts competition in the opening quarter of next year as part of a ‘superfight’ pay-per-view model.

However, in the time between, Batié veteran, Ngannou is set to sport a pair of boxing gloves inside the professional squared circle for the first time in his combat sports career, drawing unbeaten WBC heavyweight kingpin, Fury in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on October 28. as part of a massive showcase – over the course of 10 professional rounds to boot.

Francis Ngannou vows to upset the odds in October with a win over Tyson Fury

And despite retaining zero professional boxing experience, Ngannou, 36, dropped a fan-made poster ahead of the bout, promoting the event on his official social media – before claiming he would turn the world on it’s axis come the conclusion of his pairing with Fury.

“Ready to shock the world Oct. 28,” Francis Ngannou posted on his official X account. 

And for Fury, the outspoken heavyweight champion will not be putting his WBC championship on the line in the clash, most recently defending the crown in a third career win over challenger, Derek Chisora back in December of last year at the Tottenham Hotspur ground in London, England. 

Can Francis Ngannou defeat Tyson Fury in October?

Francis Ngannou claps back at the UFC after a cheap shot by the broadcast at UFC Vegas 78

Francis NgannouAt UFC Vegas 78, a blatant cheap shot was made by the UFC broadcast directed right at former heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou. The slight may have gone unnoticed by the majority of fans, but those who did catch it were more than outraged. As rising middleweight contender Tafon Nchuckwi made his walk to the octagon to […]

Francis Ngannou

At UFC Vegas 78, a blatant cheap shot was made by the UFC broadcast directed right at former heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou. The slight may have gone unnoticed by the majority of fans, but those who did catch it were more than outraged.

As rising middleweight contender Tafon Nchuckwi made his walk to the octagon to take on AJ Dobson, fight fans were served blatant, misleading propaganda.

Right there in the dead center of the lower end of the screen, it could be seen plain as day: “Only Cameroonian fighter in UFC history.” This is not only a lie, but an obvious dig at Francis Ngannou. What makes matters even worse, is Ngannou wasn’t even the first Cameroonian to compete in the UFC. Meaning Dana White and crew made a deliberate dig at not only Ngannou but an innocent third party as well.

Francis Ngannou claps back at the UFC on Twitter

Francis Ngannou would not stand for the insult and lies. Obviously angered, Ngannou still held his composure with his response on social media. “Thierry Sokoudjou was the first Cameroonian in the UFC,” Ngannou would say on Twitter, posting a picture of the fighter in question. “I was second. Don’t let them lie and erase history!”

So, the UFC not only dissed Ngannou, but they also insulted the legacy of an innocent third party as well. For what? Anger because Francis Ngannou decided to test his value in free agency and got rewarded for doing so?

A low blow like that coming from a company as big as the UFC is honestly appalling. However, everybody is human. And when you have humans doing anything, sometimes emotions and pride can reign supreme and influence the mind to do crazy things.

While it’s not yet been confirmed if this was just a mere accident by the UFC broadcast team, or something maliciously done and executed by Dana White as sort of an “inside joke”, the effect still remains.

Hundreds of thousands, if not millions of people could have seen that graphic displayed on the screen during Nchukwi’s walkout. Now, most of those people will believe Nchukwi is in fact the only Cameroonian fighter in UFC history, and this is unfair to the legacy of Francis Ngannou and Thierry Sokoudjou.

What are your thoughts on what transpired during Nchukwi’s walkout?

UFC Vegas 78 broadcast takes cheap shot at Francis Ngannou, riles up MMA fans on social media

Francis NgannouIt’s no secret that there is some lingering tension between Francis Ngannou and the UFC. The pair had a less-than-amicable split from one another at the beginning of the year following a series of failed negotiations. At the time, Ngannou was the reigning UFC heavyweight world champion, but he was more than willing to give […]

Francis Ngannou

It’s no secret that there is some lingering tension between Francis Ngannou and the UFC.

The pair had a less-than-amicable split from one another at the beginning of the year following a series of failed negotiations. At the time, Ngannou was the reigning UFC heavyweight world champion, but he was more than willing to give up the gold for greener pastures, and that’s exactly what he did.

Francis Ngannou went on to sign a ground-breaking deal with the Professional Fighters League, but he continued to be a thorn in Dana White’s side after securing a high-profile boxing match against WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury, pulling ‘The Gypsy King’ away from a proposed hybrid-rules fight with Jon Jones under the UFC banner.

Well, Uncle Dana and company let it be known that ‘The Predator’ is still living rent-free in their heads on Saturday night as the promotion took a rather blatant dig at the African-born superstar.

Middleweight standout Tafon Nchuckwi made his return to the Octagon on Saturday night for a clash with AJ Dobson. Though the bout itself left little to talk about, fans were quick to spot an interesting fact that popped up on the screen during Nchuckwi’s walk to the cage.

Dead center on the screen, the graphic clearly reads, “Only Cameroonian Fighter in UFC History” which is a blatant, and honestly infantile dig at former heavyweight division staple Francis Ngannou. ‘The Predator’ was born and raised in Batié, Cameroon before relocating to Paris when he was 26 years old.

During his reign as UFC champion, Ngannou was often marketed as an African-born champion, alongside other champions hailing from the world’s second-largest continent, including Kamaru Usman and Israel Adesanya.

Fight Fans Slam UFC For Attempting to Erase Francis Ngannou

The promotion’s attempt to essentially erase Francis Ngannou from UFC history quickly drew the ire of fans online, with one saying, “That’s insane, he was literally the heavyweight champion. Why do they think they can just try to erase his legacy? Actually shameful of them.”

Another happily reminded the UFC that despite their best efforts, fight fans will always remember Ngannou’s iconic run inside the Octagon. “This is pettiness beyond what I expected. Yall can try but fans will never forget the most lethal KO artist in UFC history.”

You can check out some of the more scathing reactions to the UFC’s cheap shot at Ngannou below:

Ex-UFC champ Francis Ngannou shows off incredible physique after training session with ‘Iron’ Mike Tyson

Francis NgannouFormer UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou appears to be in the best shape of his life as his highly anticipated clash with Tyson Fury quickly approaches. On October 28, ‘The Predator’ will make his return to combat sports, but this time, he’ll do so in a ring rather than a cage. Francis Ngannou will head […]

Francis Ngannou

Former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou appears to be in the best shape of his life as his highly anticipated clash with Tyson Fury quickly approaches.

On October 28, ‘The Predator’ will make his return to combat sports, but this time, he’ll do so in a ring rather than a cage. Francis Ngannou will head to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia this fall for a showdown with reigning WBC heavyweight boxing world champion Tyson Fury. To adequately prepare for his fight with perhaps the best pugilist in the sport today, Ngannou has enlisted the help of another icon of the sport, ‘Iron’ Mike Tyson.

Appearing together on an episode of ESPN’s First Take, Mike Tyson made it clear that his goal is to put Francis Ngannou through the wringer, working him harder than ever before and molding him into a fighter that can give Tyson Fury a true run for his money.

“He’s had many professional fights, but he’s never experienced a professional boxing match,” Tyson said. “But by working with him yesterday, he has the aptitude, and I see a good future in this life. It’s not going to be as one-sided as people think it is. I was speaking with Francis once he came in, and I asked him ‘Are you sore today?’, and he said ‘No.’

“That was a big mistake. But, we’re going to work, and we’re going to exert everything he has for this particular match. I definitely believe that it’s going to be a tougher fight than anyone thinks.”

Francis Ngannou Shows What It’s Like to Work with Mike Tyson

Taking to Instagram, Francis Ngannou showed some early signs of his worth with Mike Tyson, wringing out a sweat-drenched shirt whilst giving fans a glimpse at his impressive pre-fight physique.

Francis Ngannou is 17-3 in his mixed martial arts career with 11 career knockouts, but the world of professional boxing is an entirely different monster. Not to mention, he will be stepping into that world with one of the most feared fighters in the history of the sport, Tyson Fury.

To give Ngannou the best possible chance, Mike Tyson is helping ‘The Predator’ put more focus on his movement and agility inside the ring which will ultimately give him an opportunity to land a devastating knockout blow against ‘The Gyspy King.’

“He isn’t a combat novice; he is a world champion. He knows how to compete when the bell rings, but the key will be combining his energy and combat skills into his punches and using his agility to move swiftly around the ring then delivering the knockout blow,” Tyson added. “We’re here to win” (h/t GiveMeSport).

Mike Tyson slated to train, corner Francis Ngannou ahead of boxing debut against Tyson Fury in October

Mike Tyson set to train and corner Francis Ngannou ahead of his boxing match with Tyson Fury UFCFormer undisputed heavyweight world champion, Mike Tyson is confirmed to train with former undisputed UFC heavyweight gold holder, Francis Ngannou ahead of the Cameroon knockout artist’s professional boxing debut against WBC titleholder, Tyson Fury in October. Ngannou, a former undisputed heavyweight champion under the banner of the UFC, has been sidelined from combat sports since […]

Mike Tyson set to train and corner Francis Ngannou ahead of his boxing match with Tyson Fury UFC

Former undisputed heavyweight world champion, Mike Tyson is confirmed to train with former undisputed UFC heavyweight gold holder, Francis Ngannou ahead of the Cameroon knockout artist’s professional boxing debut against WBC titleholder, Tyson Fury in October.

Ngannou, a former undisputed heavyweight champion under the banner of the UFC, has been sidelined from combat sports since he headlined UFC 270 back in January of last year, successfully unifying the division titles in a unanimous decision win over former interim gold holder, Ciryl Gane.

As for Fury, the Morecambe native most recently retained his undisputed WBC heavyweight championship back in December in London, dispatching three-time foe and title chaser, Derek Chisora with a tenth round TKO win in the capital.

Francis Ngannou drafts Mike Tyson into his camp ahead of boxing debut

And booked to fight Fury in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia in October over the course of 10 sanctioned rounds in the Middle East, Ngannou is now set to have the help of revered knockout ace, Tyson in his corner and in his camp ahead of his squared circle bow.

“He (Francis Ngannou) isn’t a combat novice; he is a world champion,” Mike Tyson told Riyadh Season PR in an official press release confirming his participation. “He knows how to compete when the bell rings, but the key will be combining his energy and combat skills into his punches and using his agility to move swiftly around the ring, then delivering the knockout blow. We’re here to win.” 

“Bringing Mike Tyson into my camp is one of the best decisions I can make to prepare for Tyson Fury in the ring at this year’s Riyadh Season,” Francis Ngannou explained. “Mike Tyson is an idol of mine in the sport. His experience and boxing IQ will be important to honing my technique under his guidance to win this superfight.”

“I’ve been wanting this fight for years and now that it’s here, I’m focused on fighting the greatest fight of my career and shocking the world on the most epic stage for the fans in Riyadh,” Francis Ngannou said. “October 28th, the world will know who’s the Baddest Man on The Planet.” 

Francis Ngannou looks to spring a massive upset against world champion Tyson Fury

Fans call for Derrick Lewis to rematch Francis Ngannou in PFL after staggering knockout win in UFC 291 return

Fans call for Derrick Lewis and Francis Ngannou rematch with PFL after UFC 291 win free agentDespite their forgettable UFC 226 clash back in 2018, fans have called for Derrick Lewis to entertain a potential PFL (Professional Fighters League) move and a re-run with former-foe, Francis Ngannou – off the back of his UFC 291 knockout win voer Marcos Rogerio de Lima last night, which cast the fan-favorite into free agency. […]

Fans call for Derrick Lewis and Francis Ngannou rematch with PFL after UFC 291 win free agent

Despite their forgettable UFC 226 clash back in 2018, fans have called for Derrick Lewis to entertain a potential PFL (Professional Fighters League) move and a re-run with former-foe, Francis Ngannou – off the back of his UFC 291 knockout win voer Marcos Rogerio de Lima last night, which cast the fan-favorite into free agency.

Lewis, who was promoted to the main card of UFC 291 last night in Salt Lake City – managed to capitalize on the cancellation of a planned fight between Stephen Thompson and Michel Pereira.

And earning his first victory since a main event KO win over Chris Daukaus back in 2021, Lewis, the most prolific knockout artist at both the heavyweight limit and in the entire antiquity of the UFC, managed to land a brutal 33-second TKO win over Brazilian heavyweight, de Lima.

Blasting through the gates with a spectacular jumping switch knee, Lewis dropped the former instantly during their first exchange, before laying waste to de Lima soon thereafter with a slew of ground strikes.

And in the immediate aftermath – after dispatching his fight shorts once again, Derrick Lewis revealed during his post-fight Octagon interview with Joe Rogan, how his outing marked the end of his contractual obligations with the Dana White-led promotion.

Derrick Lewis has completed his contractual obligations with UFC

A slew of fans and commenters have urged the UFC to instantly resign Lewis to a mulit-fight deal off the back of his stunning knockout win, while others have suggested the Texas favorite should make a move to the PFL – in pursuit of a debut rematch with former UFC heavyweight champion, Francis Ngannou.

Would you like to see Derrick Lewis and Francis Ngannou run it back in the PFL?