Francis Ngannou News

Chris Taylor - November 24, 2018

Former Strikeforce and DREAM heavyweight champion Alistair Overeem snapped his two-fight losing skid at today’s UFC Beijing event. “The Reem” needed less than five minutes to hand promotional newcomer Sergey Pavlovich the first loss of his professional mixed martial arts career.

Chris Taylor - November 24, 2018

A heavyweight tilt between perennial division contenders Curtis Blaydes and Francis Ngannou headlined today’s UFC Beijing event. The bout served as a rematch, as Francis Ngannou and Curtis Blaydes had previously met at UFC Fight Night 86 in April of 2016, with “The Predator” emerging victorious by way of second-round TKO (doctors stoppage).

Chris Taylor - November 24, 2018

Francis Ngannou, Li Jingliang, Alex Morono and Song Kenan each pocketed an extra $50,000 for their respective performances at today’s UFC Beijing event. Francis Ngannou and Li Jingliang took home “Performance of the Night” awards, while Alex Morono and Song Kenan earned “Fight of the Night” honors.

Chris Taylor - November 24, 2018

Francis Ngannou (12-3 MMA) snapped his two-fight losing skid in tonight’s UFC Beijing main event, scoring a first-round TKO victory over Curtis Blaydes. “The Predator” was able to land a beautifully timed right hand just seconds into the opening round which sent Curtis Blaydes crashing to the canvas.

Chris Taylor - November 24, 2018

A key heavyweight rematch between perennial division contenders Curtis Blaydes and Francis Ngannou headlined tonight’s UFC Beijing event. Curtis Blaydes enters tonight’s UFC Beijing main event on a five-fight win streak, his latest being a third-round TKO victory over Alistair Overeem at UFC 225.

Tom Taylor - November 22, 2018

Francis Ngannou began the year 2018 as arguably the most hyped fighter on the UFC roster. Unfortunately, the year hasn’t gone quite the way he planned. Currently riding back-to-back losses to Stipe Miocic and Derrick Lewis, the hulking Cameroonian-French knockout artist will enter his Saturday, UFC Beijing rematch with Curtis Blaydes in a must-win scenario. From the sounds of it, however, he’s in a good place mentally as this crucial contest bears down.

Tom Taylor - November 20, 2018

The next UFC event on the calendar is UFC Beijing, which goes down this Saturday morning in Beijing, China. This UFC Beijing card will be headlined by a heavyweight rematch between top contender Curtis Blaydes and former title challenger Francis Ngannou.

Tom Taylor - November 13, 2018

The year 2018 has not been kind to Francis Ngannou. Though the hulking Cameroonian-French heavyweight began the year as perhaps the UFC’s most hyped fighter, he was then dominated in his anticipated title fight with Stipe Miocic, and defeated by Derrick Lewis in one of the most disappointing fights ever. After this tough run in 2018, Ngannou’s next opponent Curtis Blaydes isn’t sure what to expect when they meet in the main event of UFC Beijing on November 24. “He’s probably in a hole right now,” Curtis Blaydes said during a recent media scrum (via MMAjunkie). “0-2 after being the hotshot? That’s got to be a dark, dark place. I want him to be his best. I don’t want any excuses out of his camp or the fans or the company. I want him at his best. I’ll beat him 10 out of 10 times.”

Tom Taylor - September 12, 2018

After Francis Ngannou’s back-to-back decision losses to then UFC heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic and Derrick Lewis, UFC President Dana White accused the Cameroonian-French heavyweight contender of having an ego problem. “I can tell you that his ego absolutely did run away with him,” White said of Francis Ngannou in an interview with MMA Fighting. “The minute that happens to you in the fight game, you start to fall apart. I had some personal encounters with him, as did other people in the organization, and this guy’s ego was so out of control.”

Tom Taylor - August 27, 2018

The UFC’s big debut in Beijing, China will have a suitably big main event. In keeping with recent reports, the card will be headlined by heavyweight rematch between top contenders Curtis Blaydes and Francis Ngannou. The UFC made the bout official on Twitter on Sunday evening.

Tom Taylor - August 22, 2018

Shortly after Francis Ngannou gave up a decision to Derrick Lewis at UFC 226 — in inarguably one of the worst UFC fights ever — UFC President Dana White suggested that the former title challenger was being hindered by an ego problem. Francis Ngannou’s long-time coach Fernand Lopez agrees with the UFC President on this one.

Drake Riggs - August 16, 2018

The heavyweight division over the past so many years has been one of the shallower ones in MMA. But that has begun to change recently. Leading the charge are several talented fighters from all over the world.

Tom Taylor - August 8, 2018

Heading into his January heavyweight title fight with then champion Stipe Miocic, Francis Ngannou was easily one of the most hyped title challengers in UFC history. In the end, of course, this title shot did not go the way he planned, as he was soundly walloped by Miocic en route to a unanimous decision loss. From there, things went from bad to worse for Francis Ngannou. In his comeback fight — a collision with fellow knockout artist Derrick Lewis that was expected to be incredible — he unleashed almost no offense, and lost a decision in one of the most objectively terrible fights in UFC history.

Drake Riggs - July 16, 2018

UFC 226 was full of great fights. With the exception of one of the most anticipated ones not panning out at all how we expected. That fight being, of course, the heavyweight clash between usual knockout artists, Derrick Lewis and Francis Ngannou.

Jordy McElroy - July 12, 2018

It’s almost the same outcome every time—the arena lights dim, Francis Ngannou emerges from the curtains, steps into the cage, some poor soul gets knocked unconscious and the audience erupts in excitement. However, that was far from the case at UFC 226, when the chiseled heavyweight phenom dropped a second consecutive loss. The typical jovial response following an Ngannou fight was replaced with a chorus of boos ringing throughout the T-Mobile Arena.

Tom Taylor - July 10, 2018

Francis Ngannou’s UFC 226 battle with Derrick Lewis was an undeniable disappointment, as he failed to mount any meaningful offense over the course of the three-round fight, and ultimately lost a unanimous decision as a result. After a brief period of silence, a disappointed Ngannou took to social media to explain his performance. Apparently, he let the residual nerves from his last fight — a decisive decision loss to Stipe Miocic — affect the way he fought at UFC 226.

Thomas Taylor - July 8, 2018

Note: The views expressed in this text are those of the author, and do not necessarily represent those of BJPENN.COM or its affiliates.  Derrick Lewis and Francis Ngannou’s UFC 226 heavyweight fight, which Lewis won by unanimous decision, was objectively terrible. Although the pre-card promotional material promised we were in for a collision of planetary proportions, what we got was a snore-inducing pseudo-fight.

Chris Taylor - July 7, 2018

A key heavyweight fight featuring former title challenger Francis Ngannou taking on perennial contender Derrick Lewis served as the co-headliner of tonight’s UFC 226 pay-per-view event in Las Vegas. The Lewis vs. Ngannou fight was expected to be a barn burner, with most fans and analysts believing it would end within the first five minutes.