All articles tagged with #francis ngannou
Francis Ngannou is returning to MMA on Jake Paul’s MVP Promotions Netflix card, co-headlining the May 16 Ronda Rousey vs. Gina Carano event against Philipe Lins in a five-round bout at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood. The former UFC heavyweight recently parted with PFL, after a stint in boxing against Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua, and this matchup marks his first cage appearance since leaving PFL.
Professional Fighters League has released former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou, ending his multi-sport run with the league after a stint that included high-profile boxing bouts and MMA appearances under a flexible contract.
Ngannou was left out of the PFL's new heavyweight rankings, fueling questions about his future with the promotion. PFL CEO John Martin says the omission wasn’t deliberate and may reflect Ngannou’s inactivity and contract terms, as the fighter has said one fight remains on his deal. He has floated a possible June UFC White House appearance, but there’s been no return announcement, and the PFL is still weighing options for a meaningful matchup.
Jake Paul fought Anthony Joshua and was stopped in the sixth round, admitting his mistakes and learning from the experience. Despite the loss, he claims to have performed better than Francis Ngannou, who previously lost to Joshua, and is now interested in fighting Ngannou next.
Former UFC champion Daniel Cormier warns Jake Paul that fighting Francis Ngannou would be dangerous, as Ngannou has the power to knock him out, and advises Paul to stay away from him amid ongoing fight replacement negotiations.
Chael Sonnen believes Francis Ngannou 'lost' by rejecting a fight with Jake Paul, highlighting the social media exchange and shifting relationships between the fighters, with Ngannou previously supporting Paul but now criticizing him after his Netflix fight with Mike Tyson.
Michael Bisping dismisses rumors of Jake Paul fighting Francis Ngannou, calling them unlikely and calling out the inconsistency in Paul's recent fight choices, while acknowledging the potential promotional benefits if such a fight were to happen.
Joe Rogan praises Tom Aspinall as a potentially dominant UFC heavyweight champion, highlighting his exceptional speed and agility, which he believes surpasses even Francis Ngannou, amid ongoing division and title debates.
Jon Jones announced his retirement from the UFC, leading to discussions about potential matchups and Ngannou's possible return, which Dana White doubts will happen, while Ngannou hints at still holding his heavyweight title.
Francis Ngannou's recent boxing ventures and limited MMA activity have led to perceptions that he is already forgotten by UFC fans and will not be considered among the greatest heavyweights, with critics arguing his legacy has been damaged despite financial gains.
Matt Brown discusses Francis Ngannou's decision to leave UFC for boxing and PFL, highlighting that while Ngannou made significant money and achieved big prizes, his MMA legacy has been negatively impacted, especially after losses in boxing. Brown emphasizes that Ngannou's choices were financially successful and driven by principles and control over his career, even if they affected his standing in MMA history.
Francis Ngannou has expressed interest in fighting UFC champion Jon Jones in a super-fight, despite Ngannou's current contract with PFL and Jones's recent retirement hints. The potential bout has sparked discussions about a winner-takes-all deal, with both fighters boasting impressive records and legacies in MMA.
Francis Ngannou and Jon Jones continue to fuel speculation about a potential fight, despite being in different promotions. Ngannou, now with PFL, responded to Jones' social media comments by suggesting their matchup as the 'right fight' to enhance their careers. While PFL executives support the idea of a cross-promotional fight, UFC CEO Dana White has dismissed the possibility, maintaining the UFC's stance against such collaborations.
Dakota Ditcheva claimed the PFL flyweight world championship with a knockout victory over Taila Santos in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. After the fight, Ditcheva mocked Santos, who had previously dismissed her as "just a barbie," by pretending to apply lipstick and telling her to "shut up." Ditcheva's dominant performance solidified her status as a top female fighter. In the same event, Denis Goltsov won the PFL heavyweight title with a submission victory, calling out Francis Ngannou afterward.
Francis Ngannou supports Jon Jones' decision to potentially pass on a fight against Tom Aspinall, suggesting that Jones has more to lose than gain from such a matchup. Ngannou believes the situation involves negotiation tactics, with Jones having the leverage to choose his fights. Ngannou, who left the UFC as a lineal champion, respects Jones' position and acknowledges that while Aspinall needs the fight to cement his place in the division, Jones does not.