Francis Ngannou News
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.
Francis Ngannou reveals he still hasn't gotten a new UFC contract, says he’s “not in a rush” to sign one
Cole Shelton - September 19, 2022
Francis Ngannou is still yet to sign a new UFC contract but he claims he is not in a rush to sign one. It has been well documented that Ngannou and the UFC have been in a contract dispute on getting the heavyweight champ a new deal. Ngannou voiced his displeasure ahead of his UFC 270 title fight against Ciryl Gane as he wants to be paid more but is not in a rush to sign a new deal.
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.
Francis Ngannou praises Mohammed Usman following his knockout victory to win TUF 30: “A new contender was born in the heavyweight division”
Fernando Quiles - August 7, 2022
UFC Heavyweight Champion Francis Ngannou is heaping praise on the latest Ultimate Fighter winner Mohammed Usman. On the main card of UFC Vegas 59, Usman went one-on-one with Zac Pauga to determine the TUF 30 heavyweight winner. Usman ended up knocking Pauga out cold in the second round to lay claim to the label of TUF champion.
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.
Dana White on the current status of negotiations with Francis Ngannou: “There’s no lost cause”
Susan Cox - June 8, 2022
Dana White is speaking out about the current status of negotiations with Francis Ngannou. White, while speaking about the upcoming UFC 275 event in Singapore this Saturday, June 11th, took some time to discuss Francis Ngannou.
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.
Sean O’Malley believes Francis Ngannou and Tyson Fury botched their in-ring confrontation: “At least fake it”
Harry Kettle - April 28, 2022
UFC star Sean O’Malley believes Francis Ngannou and Tyson Fury could’ve done more with their in-ring confrontation. Last Saturday night, Tyson Fury knocked Dillian Whyte out in the sixth round of their Wembley showdown. In the immediate aftermath of the fight, Fury welcomed UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou into the ring in order to promote a potential crossover fight between them in the future.
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.
Brendan Schaub hopes Francis Ngannou works with UFC to make Tyson Fury fight: "Boxing promotion sucks!"
Josh Evanoff - April 26, 2022
Former UFC heavyweight Brendan Schaub hopes that Francis Ngannou doesn’t leave the promotion. The UFC heavyweight champion’s contract with the company expires later this year. ‘The Predator’ was last seen in action at UFC 270 in January. His victory over Ciryl Gane was a huge one, as it allowed him to leave the promotion with UFC gold if he chooses.