Francis Ngannou News

Mike Straus - February 18, 2019

On Sunday night, the Octagon finally took center stage on the largest sports platform in the world, as the UFC debuted on ESPN. Whether it was the return of Cain Velasquez or the first Gracie to earn a victory inside the Octagon in 25 years, UFC on ESPN 1 in Phoenix, Arizona definitely had its moments.

Cole Shelton - February 18, 2019

The UFC had its first card on big ESPN last night. In the co-main event of the evening, we witnessed a battle between two top lightweights in James Vick and Paul Felder. In the main event, meanwhile, Cain Velasquez made his long awaited return to the Octagon to take on Francis Ngannou. Ultimately, Felder defeated Vick by unanimous decision which should put a number beside his name, while Ngannou beat Velasquez in just 26 seconds by TKO to cap off a crazy night of fights.

Tom Taylor - February 18, 2019

Last night, in the headlining bout of the UFC’s debut event on ESPN, Francis Ngannou picked up arguably the biggest win of his career, defeating former heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez in less than 30 seconds. In the wake of this fight, however, there’s been some debate as to whether or not Velasquez was put down by Ngannou’s punches, the knee injury he sustained, or a grisly combination of both.

Tom Taylor - February 18, 2019

Having dispatched UFC heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez in the headliner of the UFC’s Sunday night debut event on ESPN, Francis Ngannou now wants a shot at the UFC heavyweight title. As luck would have it, that title is currently owned by Daniel Cormier, a long-time friend and training partner of Velasquez. “I think what should be next for me is the title shot,” Ngannou said at the post-fight press conference. “I think Cain is the one that the victory against him, after that you deserve a title shot.”

Christopher Taylor - February 17, 2019

A highly anticipated heavyweight tilt between former division champion Cain Velasquez and feared knockout artist Francis Ngannou headlined tonight’s UFC Phoenix event. Cain Velasquez returned to action for the first time since defeating Travis Browne via first round TKO at UFC 200 in July of 2016.

Chris Taylor - February 17, 2019

A key heavyweight scrap between former division kingpin Cain Velasquez and former title challenger Francis Ngannou headlined tonight’s UFC Phoenix event. Cain Velasquez returns for the first time since UFC 200 in July of 2016, where he defeated Travis Browne via first round TKO.

Tom Taylor - February 17, 2019

On Sunday evening, former UFC heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez will return from a hiatus of almost three years to battle brick-fisted knockout artist Francis Ngannou. Speaking on the UFC Unfiltered  podcast recently, Velasquez’s chief handler Javier Mendez explained what is motivating the former champion as he heads into this high-stakes showdown with Ngannou.

Tom Taylor - February 17, 2019

On Sunday night, the UFC will makes its debut on ESPN with a stacked card from Phoenix, Arizona. This card will be headlined by a crucial heavyweight battle between two-time former champion Cain Velasquez and former title challenger Francis Ngannou. Daniel Cormier will be watching this fight very closely — not just because he’s the reigning heavyweight champion, but because he’s a long time friend and training partner of Cain Velasquez.

Cole Shelton - February 15, 2019

The UFC’s first ever event on ESPN is upon us. In the main event, former UFC heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez will be making his long awaited return to the Octagon to take on Francis Ngannou. Ahead of this heavyweight fight, which could have title implications, BJPENN.com reached out to several pro fighters to get their predictions. And, for the first time in the history of this series, the fighters were unanimous in their answers.

Tom Taylor - February 15, 2019

This Sunday, in the main event of the UFC’s debut card on ESPN, former UFC heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez will step into the Octagon for the first time in almost three years, where he’ll look to return to heavyweight prominence with the win over the fearsome Francis Ngannou. While Velasquez is determined to make the most of this comeback, it sounds like this could be his last walk to the cage if things don’t go as planned.

Tom Taylor - February 14, 2019

This Sunday, in Phoenix, Arizona, former UFC heavyweight title challenger Francis Ngannou will face the monumental task of welcoming former champion Cain Velasquez back to the cage. The bout will serve as the headliner of the UFC’s first-ever card on ESPN. Heading into this fight, each fighter seems to have a clear set of advantages. Ngannou is believed to posses a major advantage in the power department (it’s been said that he hits as hard as a Ford Escort, though Velasquez doesn’t seem worried). Cain Velasquez, on the other hand, seems like a clear frontrunner in the wrestling department.

Tom Taylor - February 13, 2019

On Sunday, February 17, the UFC will make its debut on ESPN with an exciting, 13-fight card. In the main event of this debut UFC on ESPN card, former UFC heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez will make his long-awaited return to the Octagon, where he will battle ferocious knockout puncher Francis Ngannou in an cage-shaking showdown.

Tom Taylor - January 14, 2019

Today, Francis Ngannou is one of the UFC’s most fearsome heavyweight contenders. Yet not all that long ago, he was living in poverty in Cameroon. Having established himself in the UFC, Ngannou is now giving back to his community in Cameroon. He’s now opened up the country’s first “first full MMA and combat sport gym” as part of his charitable organization the Francis Ngannou Foundation.

Chris Taylor - January 12, 2019

Cain Velasquez (14-2 MMA) will return from a thirty-month hiatus in the main event of UFC Phoenix on February 17 to take on Francis Ngannou. The former UFC heavyweight champion, Cain Velasquez, has not competed inside the octagon since July of 2016, where he defeated Travis Browne via first-round TKO at UFC 200.

Chris Taylor - December 22, 2018

Former UFC heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez has signed a new four-fight deal with the UFC and will return tot he octagon on February 17 in Phoenix, Arizona. The news of Cain’s new four-fight contract came via ESPN’s Ariel Helwani, who posted the following on Twitter.

Drake Riggs - December 13, 2018

According to essentially everyone at the American Kickboxing Academy (AKA), one of the best fighters to ever walk through their doors has been ready to return to action for the entirety of 2018. And now it looks like he will be finally doing so.

Tom Taylor - November 25, 2018

UFC color commentator Joe Rogan was not on duty for Saturday’s UFC Beijing broadcast, and instead hosted one of his popular Fight Companion podcasts for the card, alongside his friends Brendan Schaub, Bryan Callen and Eddie Bravo. As you can probably imagine, the whole gang was quite impressed by the UFC Beijing main event, which saw former UFC heavyweight title challenger Francis Ngannou rebound from losses to Stipe Miocic and Derrick Lewis with a thunderous, first-round knockout of streaking American wrestler Curtis Blaydes.

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.