A Frustrated Francis Ngannou Believes He’ll Get a Title Shot With a KO Over Overeem

The hype train is no longer locked at the UFC station. Francis Ngannou has finally been booked to fight Alistair Overeem after pacing on the sidelines. Ngannou was supposed to fight Junior dos Santos at UFC 215, but after JDS got pulled Ngannou had to search for other options. He had his eye on both the UFC heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic and Alistair Overeem, but it looks like he’ll have to wait a little while longer for the title shot. Ngannou is confident though that he’ll get his shot, after he knocks out Overeem that is.

“I was very frustrated because my last fight was in January. I hoped to fight in September, but they pulled my opponent out. It’s a good match-up, definitely. I knew that I would fight Alistair Overeem one day, so I’ve been ready for this fight since a long time ago. I think after this fight, there is no way to not give me [the] title shot. Overeem now is a bigger challenge than Junior dos Santos because he is on a good [run]. He’s doing a good job right now and he keeps winning.”

The bout between @Alistairovereem & @francis_ngannou is set for #UFC218! ⌚ these great bouts from the two of them!https://t.co/w2YugGhYyq pic.twitter.com/i8lI2wOwW4

— UFC Fight Pass (@UFCFightPass) September 29, 2017

“Alistair Overeem is a huge opponent. He’s a very good fighter with a K-1 background, and I think he’s [a] brown belt in jiu-jitsu. Two years ago, he changed his game plan and became a very, very good fighter. He’s very smart as a fighter, with a game plan and everything. He’s able to bring everything. I have [more] speed than Alistair. I’m stronger than [him], for sure. I have [a] knockout punch, and that’s what’s going to happen. I’m sure that I will get a title shot, because I’m the No. 4-ranked [heavyweight], so there’s no way to not give me the title shot after that.” — Francis Ngannou speaking to FloCombat. 

It’s great that Francis Ngannou finally has a fight. Not just any fight, but a slobberknocker between Overeem. No matter how you look at it though, the heavyweight division is looking good. Francis Ngannou fighting Overeem is awesome. The loser fighting Fabricio Werdum is awesome. Either Ngannou or Overeem fighting Miocic is awesome. Oh, and Cain Velasquez may be coming back early next year? Yeah, heavyweight is fire right now.

This article first appeared on BJPenn.com on 10/11/2017.