Francis Ngannou News
Khamzat Chimaev strongly rejects Francis Ngannou’s fighter pay gripe: “He was speaking about living outside before”
Harry Kettle - November 21, 2022
Khamzat Chimaev has hit out at Francis Ngannou for criticising the Ultimate Fighting Championship over fighter pay. For the last few years, fighter pay has been a big issue in the UFC. From champions to contenders and beyond, many have had a thing or two to say on the matter.
Francis Ngannou provides grim update on potential UFC return: “This contract situation hasn’t been sorted”
Susan Cox - November 12, 2022
Francis Ngannou has provided a grim update on his potential UFC return. The last time Ngannou (17-3 MMA) fought in the Octagon was this past January at UFC 270 where he defeated Ciryl Gane (11-1 MMA) via unanimous decision. Prior to the victory, the champ had suffered an MCL tear and partial ACL tear in training, but bound and determined, he proceeded to fight and defeat Gane.
Watch | Weili Zhang shows incredible strength by lifting UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou
Josh Evanoff - November 3, 2022
Former UFC women’s strawweight champion Weili Zhang looks ready to earn back her gold. ‘Magnum’ has been out of action since her rematch with Joanna Jędrzejczyk in June. Their first outing two years prior was one of the greatest women’s MMA fights of all time. Zhang won that first bout by split decision, but wouldn’t need the judges in the second.
Brendan Schaub opines prime Tim Sylvia could pose problems for UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou: "He's a monster"
Josh Evanoff - October 7, 2022
Brendan Schaub believes former UFC heavyweight champion Tim Sylvia could pose problems for Francis Ngannou. Dream fights are a common conversation for MMA fans and pundits. Matchups such as Anderson Silva vs. Georges St-Pierre and Brock Lesnar vs. Fedor Emelianenko are still discussed today. While they never did, and never could happen, it’s still fun to dream.
Henry Cejudo explains why Ciryl Gane is a “bigger threat” to Jon Jones than current UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou
Harry Kettle - September 7, 2022
Henry Cejudo has explained why he believes Ciryl Gane is a bigger threat to Jon Jones than reigning champion Francis Ngannou. Last Saturday night at UFC Paris, Ciryl Gane got himself back into the win column as he managed to knock Tai Tuivasa out in the third round of their blockbuster heavyweight main event.
Francis Ngannou reacts to Ciryl Gane's knockout win over Tai Tuivasa: "It’s really hard to be impressed"
Chris Taylor - September 3, 2022
UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou admits Ciryl Gane vs. Tai Tuivasa was an “electric” fight, but says it’s really hard to be impressed. Ngannou (17-3 MMA) was cage-side to watch his most recent adversary Gane (11-1 MMA) take on streaking heavyweight contender Tuivasa (14-4 MMA) in today’s UFC Paris main event.
Coach provides timeline for Francis Ngannou’s UFC return, expects ‘The Predator’ to face Jon Jones or Stipe Miocic in 2023
Josh Evanoff - September 1, 2022
UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou’s coach has given an update. ‘The Predator’ has been out of action since his showdown with Ciryl Gane in January. In the main event of UFC 270, the champion had to go to wrestling to score a decisive victory. With that, Ngannou had his first title defense, but it didn’t come without a cost.
Francis Ngannou echoes Luke Rockhold's fighter pay complaints: "Fighters are ripped off"
Cole Shelton - August 17, 2022
Francis Ngannou agrees with Luke Rockhold that fighters need to be paid more. Ngannou has been vocal about his displeasure with his UFC contract and it has been reported that he has just one fight left on his current deal. He has been disappointed with the promotion’s pay, as well as their refusal to let him take boxing fights.
Jon Jones responds after Francis Ngannou comes to the defense of Israel Adesanya: “I could takeoff two more years and you guys work combined won’t match what I’ve done in that octagon”
Cole Shelton - July 6, 2022
Jon Jones has ripped Francis Ngannou after the heavyweight champion defended Israel Adesanya following his UFC 276 performance. In the main event of UFC 276, Adesanya beat Jared Cannonier by decision in a lackluster fight, and after the event, Jones took a shot at the middleweight champ.
Michael Bisping advises Jon Jones to wait for Francis Ngannou instead of fighting Stipe Miocic: “Let's be honest. Stipe is the greatest heavyweight of all time”
Harry Kettle - June 30, 2022
Michael Bisping has explained why he thinks Jon Jones should consider waiting for Francis Ngannou instead of jumping into a fight with Stipe Miocic. After Dana White confirmed that Jon Jones is ready to return to the Octagon, many fans have been waiting for a confirmed return date and opponent for the light heavyweight GOAT. Unfortunately, that has yet to come to fruition, leading many to wonder what the hold-up is – as Stipe Miocic seems like the clear choice for his first fight back.
UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou responds to chicken taunts from Tyson Fury: “You’re still my priority. I’m coming for all of the smoke”
Harry Kettle - June 28, 2022
Francis Ngannou has responded to a challenge from Tyson Fury for a showdown at Wembley Stadium later this year. While both men are currently inactive, Fury as a result of his supposed retirement and Ngannou due to injury, they both still seem to be pretty keen on getting a mixed rules fight in the diary. Ever since his win over Dillian Whyte, Tyson Fury has made it clear that squaring off with Francis Ngannou is just as much of a priority for him as an undisputed heavyweight championship showdown would be.
Francis Ngannou provides injury update, says he could make his UFC return in December
Harry Kettle - June 27, 2022
UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou has revealed that he could return to the Octagon by the end of the year. Back in January, Francis Ngannou surprised a lot of fans by using his newly-found wrestling skills to defeat Ciryl Gane and unify the UFC heavyweight championship. However, it didn’t take long for Ngannou to reveal that he’d been dealing with a knee injury that was likely going to lead to surgery.
Francis Ngannou claims he is just getting started in the fight game: “I have at least 5 more years to conquer everything”
Harry Kettle - June 8, 2022
UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou believes he has at least five more years left in the fight game. In the immediate aftermath of his win over Ciryl Gane back at UFC 270, it became apparent that a knee injury would force Francis Ngannou out of action for quite some time. Following his surgery earlier this year, ‘The Predator’ has been on the road to recovery as his rehabilitation continues in Las Vegas.
Michel Pereira details hotel confrontation with UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou: “Honestly, Ngannou made me angry”
Susan Cox - May 27, 2022
Michel Pereira has detailed the hotel confrontation he had with UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou. It was Michel Pereira (28-11 MMA) vs Santiago Ponzinibbio (29-6 MMA) in the welterweight co-main UFC Vegas 55 event on Saturday May 21, 2022. Pereira came out the victor via split decision, taking his record to 5 wins in a row.
Brendan Schaub sounds off on Dana White blasting Francis Ngannou vs. Tyson Fury: "Now that you don't have your hand in the pie, it's stupid?"
Josh Evanoff - May 10, 2022
Brendan Schaub doesn’t seem to be a fan of Dana White’s comments on Francis Ngannou vs. Tyson Fury. The two heavyweight champions are in talks for a proposed boxing match next year. While the bout hasn’t been confirmed, Fury and Ngannou have stated it will happen. The pair even had a brief staredown in the ring after The Gypsy King’s victory over Dillian Whyte.
Dana White shuts down potential Francis Ngannou-Tyson Fury fight: "F**king waste of time, energy, and money"
Cole Shelton - May 3, 2022
Dana White isn’t too interested in making a fight between Francis Ngannou vs. Tyson Fury. Ngannou has talked about boxing for months now and that only increased after Fury knocked out Dillian Whyte and brought the UFC champ in the ring to hype up a potential fight. However, in order for such a fight to come to fruition, ‘The Predator’ would need the UFC’s blessing and it doesn’t appear Dana White is willing to provide that.
Chael Sonnen casts doubt on Francis Ngannou’s ability to become a free agent: “There for sure is a non-negotiation clause”
Susan Cox - April 27, 2022
Chael Sonnen is weighing in on Francis Ngannou’s contract with the UFC and his subsequent ability to become a free agent. Ngannou, (17-3 MMA), the current UFC Heavyweight Champion, has had an ongoing contract dispute with Dana White & Co.
Tyson Fury vs. Francis Ngannou will "do bigger business than Mayweather vs. McGregor", says promoter
Cole Shelton - April 26, 2022
Bob Arum has all the confidence in the world that Tyson Fury vs. Francis Ngannou would be a massive fight. After Fury knocked out Dillian Whyte he brought Francis Ngannou into the ring as both men have shown interest in making a fight happen. There’s no question it would be a spectacle and for Arum – who is the promoter of Fury – he thinks it would be bigger than Floyd Mayweather vs. Conor McGregor.