Francis Ngannou shocked fans last night after proving his immense ability in more ways than one.
‘The Predator’ retained his UFC World Heavyweight Championship at UFC 270 against an awkward Ciryl Gane. Ngannou dropped the opening two rounds as he struggled to read his opponent’s sublime footwork.
It looked as if his rival would cruise his way to a unanimous decision. But in the third, everything changed. Ngannou caught one of Gane’s kicks, and he exploded into a terrifying body slam. That moment was the catalyst for the rest of the fight.
The Cameroonian utilised his vastly-improved grappling game to dominate Gane for the next two rounds. With one segment remaining, the two men couldn’t be separated. The challenger took Ngannou down, but his inexperience played dividends. He unsuccessfully attempted a leg-lock leaving him underneath the champion for the rest of the fight.
Ngannou retained the belt via unanimous decision. The 35-year-old’s display was arguably the most impressive of his career. He overcame adversity to secure the victory in a manner nobody expected him to. And he wasn’t even at his best.
Francis Ngannou fights with an injury
In his post-fight interview, the powerhouse admitted to Joe Rogan that preparations for the contest were anything but ideal.
He said: “Three weeks ago I hurt my knee. I tore my MCL completely. I hurt my ACL. I wanted to call off this fight, but I couldn’t retreat. This was my moment to make a statement. I wanted to remind people that I’m the champion. You guys might sleep on me. But I put in work every day.”
Ngannou is a warrior first and an athlete second, and this display of heart will only resonate with fans further. His performance was a testament to the power of dreams. He refused to pull out regardless of the circumstances.
His fight IQ has caught up to his freakish physical attributes, making him an almost unstoppable force. Despite his issues with the UFC, there are still a couple of names that Ngannou needs on his resume if he wants to solidify himself as a legend.
In their last contest, Derrick Lewis defeated the 6ft 4in monster, and Ngannou is desperate to avenge that loss. However, the ‘dream match’ is still ‘The Predator’ versus Jon Jones.
‘Bones’ is the most naturally talented fighter the sport has ever seen. However, MMA enthusiasts have waited for what seems like an eternity to watch the icon make his heavyweight debut. But due to some misdemeanours outside of the cage, it’s unlikely we’ll see him anytime soon.
Therefore, Ngannou might refocus on another one of his targets.
MMA vs Boxing
The Baddest Man on the Planet is still desperate to set foot in the squared circle. And the king of the heavyweight boxing division, Tyson Fury, would happily welcome him over. The two sporting greats engaged in a heated Twitter war last week, with each man claiming he could beat the other.
Read: Five of the most powerful Francis Ngannou knockouts
‘The Gypsy King’ is a bonafide boxing legend. His freakish movement and defensive skill would leave Ngannou chasing shadows. But it only takes one, and Ngannou hits like a train. Therefore, Fury couldn’t take his eye off the ball. Not even for a second.
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