Francis Ngannou has rewritten the rulebook of combat sports stardom in spectacular fashion. While the UFC’s history is littered with tales of fighters who faded into obscurity after parting ways with the promotion, ‘The Predator’ has done the unthinkable – grown his star power outside the Octagon. The Cameroonian powerhouse’s departure in 2023 was a seismic event in combat sports, shattering conventional wisdom.
Unlike the familiar narrative of aging fighters being shown the door after a string of losses, Ngannou walked away on his own terms, with the heavyweight crown still firmly in his grasp – a power move unprecedented in UFC history. This wasn’t just any champion leaving; this was the man who rose from the sand mines of Cameroon to become one of the most feared punchers in combat sports history.
In the aftermath of his departure, Ngannou has continued to command headlines. Whether through his groundbreaking and lucrative boxing matches with Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua or his mouthwatering PFL contract. He’s become living proof that a fighter’s star power can transcend the confines of any single promotion. And this magic has taken over the world of boxing as well! And that is why Joe Rogan feels that ‘The Predator’ stands out from every other MMA fighter in the world.
“If you want to say you’re the best in the world… if you’re not in the UFC, you’re just not the best,” former UFC heavyweight Brendan Schaub said on the UFC 312 Fight Companion show of the Joe Rogan Experience.’
“Unless you do the Francis thing- you go over there and they give you $20 million a fight, like and it’s a big f–k you to Dana because you still get to box,” Rogan quickly pointed out.
“But he’s in a unique position. Like Francis’ position is different than everybody’s. He’s a heavyweight, monster, destroyer, knocks guys out with one shot. Like he’s always going to be thought of as the heavyweight champion until somebody beats him at heavyweight, you know. What he did to Stipe, and then, you know, he beat Ciryl with a blown out knee and then just dips ‘see you later,’” the UFC commentator added.
RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA – OCTOBER 28. Tyson Fury punches Francis Ngannou. during the Heavyweight fight between Tyson Fury and Francis Ngannou at Boulevard. Hall on October 28, 2023. in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)
And Rogan is completely correct here! Ngannou is indeed unlike anyone else in the combat sports world. The archetypical heavyweight, ‘The Predator’ can kill you with one punch. Moreover, he even looks every bit as dangerous as he is. His one-punch knockout power and no-nonsense fighting style always make for exciting fights that many fans are happy to pay for.
But that isn’t true for any other heavyweight (or any other fighter except Conor McGregor) in the sport of MMA. No one has that type of aura or that type of exposure to such a huge fanbase. And this is only going to increase in the near future.
Francis Ngannou eyeing boxing comeback against fellow knockout artist
Francis Ngannou’s boxing debut made some call him the greatest combat sports athlete in history. ‘The Predator’ shocked the world by downing then-WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury in the second round of their October 2023 fight in Saudi. In the end, Ngannou lost a one-point controversial split decision to ‘The Gypsy King’. This led to fans feeling the Cameroonian may become a boxing heavyweight champ in the future. But Ngannou’s second boxing match brought everyone down to earth.
Former unified champ Anthony Joshua absolutely annihilated ‘The Predator’ and knocked him out cold in the second round of their clash last year. And that, many feared, may be the end of Ngannou’s boxing career at least for the time being. Well turns out, it wasn’t. Driven by a burning desire to redeem himself as a boxer, ‘The Predator’ is back for redemption.
MMA: UFC 270-Ngannou vs Gane, Jan 22, 2022, Anaheim, California, USA Francis Ngannou speaks with media following his championship victory at UFC 270 at Honda Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports, 22.01.2022 00:01:41, 17551666, NPStrans, Francis Ngannou, Honda Center, MMA PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxONLY Copyright: Gary.Vasquez 17551666
“I will do boxing next. I want to. I’m not done with boxing. [I want to fight Wilder] because there’s an 80% chance that somebody will go to sleep. It will be one or the other. Deontay Wilder is known as a guy that knocks everybody out or tries to knock you out I’m going against that guy, and I myself can knock someone out. Deep inside me there is a little bit of ego, like I know I hit harder,” Ngannou told ‘Sportsbook Review’ in a recent interview.
What do you think about Joe Rogan’s take on Francis Ngannou? And will we see ‘The Predator’ fight ‘The Bronze Bomber’? Let us know what you think in the comment section below!
The post “It’s a Big ‘F–k You’ to Dana” – Joe Rogan Points Out Francis Ngannou’s ‘Unique Position’ After Leaving UFC appeared first on EssentiallySports.
