Francis Ngannou News

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 25, 2018

There was a time when UFC President Dana White was one of Francis Ngannou’s most vocal supporters. A little less than a year ago, the UFC boss was referring to the Cameroonian-French heavyweight as a future superstar and the next big thing at heavyweight. Yet in the wake of Francis Ngannou’s back to back decision defeats to Stipe Miocic and Derrick Lewis — the latter of which was a particularly disappointing performance — UFC President Dana White has accused the heavyweight of having an ego problem.

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 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 16, 2018

Derrick Lewis and Francis Ngannou’s UFC 226 heavyweight contender bout was expected to produce fireworks. Given the pair’s shared propensity for violent, one-punch knockouts, it seemed almost impossible that the fight would go to a decision. In the end, of course, it did. And, man, it wasn’t pretty.

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.

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.

Tom Taylor - July 9, 2018

Francis Ngannou’s UFC 220 heavyweight title fight against Stipe Miocic didn’t go the way he planned, as he was dominated to a unanimous decision loss. At UFC 226, he looked to rebound from this tough loss with a win over fellow knockout artist Derrick Lewis. Unfortunately, Ngannou’s fight with Lewis was an irrefutable stinker, as he inexplicably threw almost no punches over the course of their 15 minute fight, and lost a decision as a result.

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 between former title challenger Francis Ngannou and perennial contender Derrick Lewis served as the co-headliner of tonight’s UFC 226 pay-per-view event in Las Vegas. Francis Ngannou entered tonight’s contest sporting an 11-2 record, with all eleven of his wins coming by form of stoppage.

Tom Taylor - July 2, 2018

At UFC 226, hulking Cameroonian-French heavyweight contender Francis Ngannou will step into the cage with titan of a similar stature: American behemoth Derrick Lewis. This bout will mark Ngannou’s opportunity to rebound from a tough loss to UFC heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic — an experience he assures he learned from.

Tom Taylor - July 1, 2018

Back in January, in the main event of UFC 220, hulking French-Cameroonian heavyweight contender Francis Ngannou stepped into the cage with divisional champ Stipe Miocic, and promptly attempted to take his head off. Ngannou swung like he wanted to send Miocic’s head to settle amongst the mess of dead satellites in earth’s orbit, and when that failed do so, he swung some more. Then, he got tired — which gave the champ Miocic to opportunity to get to work with his boxing and wrestling, and ultimately, capture a lopsided unanimous decision victory from his exhausted foe.

Tom Taylor - June 29, 2018

Curtis Blaydes has looked unstoppable of late, but his rise through the UFC ranks has not been entirely flawless. In his first UFC bout, Blaydes experienced a tough, doctor stoppage loss to Francis Ngannou — and it’s a fight he’s wanted to get back ever since. “I’m not really a fan of short camps or late notice fights,” Blaydes explained on a recent episode of BJPENN.COM Radio. “I won’t blame my loss to Ngannou on anything besides he was a better man that day, but I do feel I would have been better prepared had I had a full six to eight week camp as opposed to the three weeks I was given.”

Tom Taylor - May 8, 2018

Can’t wait for @ufc July 7th!! @francis_ngannou @syndicatemma @UnbrandedSupply #mma #ufc #monsterenergy #team pic.twitter.com/2OzDQDs2y3 — John Wood (@bigwoodmma) May 4, 2018

Tom Taylor - March 26, 2018

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