Joe Rogan has watched many fighters rise and fall, but even he acknowledges that Francis Ngannou’s career is quite unique in the realm of combat sports. ‘The Predator’ has always been an oddity, working in Cameroon’s sand mines before becoming the UFC heavyweight champion. But what actually distinguishes him from the other fighters isn’t just his knockout power—it’s how he left the Dana White-led promotion, took control of his own career, and still became one of the most well-known figures in the fight business. Now, with his sights set on boxing in 2025, Joe Rogan feels Ngannou has done something no other fighter has.
While most competitors want to make it to the Dana White-led promotion and stay there, the UFC commentator sees Ngannou as an exception. He believes that if one wants to make a splash in the fight world and be famous, they have to make it over to the UFC. Schaub also emphasized the fact, “If you want to say you’re the best in the world, if you’re the champion anywhere else, if you’re not in the UFC, you’re just not the best.”
But Joe Rogan pushed back, claiming that Francis Ngannou had done something no one else had. What was it? Ask Dana White for a release to pursue boxing with the confidence of earning more money.
“Unless you do the Francis thing. You go over there, and they give you $20 million a fight, and it’s a big f— you to Dana because you still get to box.” Ngannou’s ability to earn massive paydays outside of the UFC is what distinguishes him. Unlike other fighters who rely on Dana White’s promotion machine, the former heavyweight champion made himself the focal point. “Francis’s position is different than everybody’s,” the JRE host continued on the recent edition of Fight Companion.
He further added on the show, “Heavyweight, monster, destroyer, knocks guys out with one shot. 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 he beat Ciryl Gane with a blown-out knee and then just dips. See you later.” Well, it looks like Joe Rogan is in awe of what ‘The Predator’ has managed to achieve, despite walking out on the biggest MMA promotion in the world. Now, the PFL fighter wants to take things further by getting himself the most dangerous fight in his fight career so far.
Francis Ngannou to face the biggest threat against Deontay Wilder
Francis Ngannou has faced some of the most dangerous fighters in MMA and boxing, but his next challenge could be the most unpredictable yet. Following back-to-back losses to Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua, the former UFC heavyweight champion is eager to return to the ring. This time, he’s targeting Deontay Wilder, a man whose power has long scared the heavyweight division. Ngannou sees this as an opportunity to show he can compete with boxing’s most powerful hitters; however, Daniel Cormier believes that it could be a really risky move for ‘The Predator.’
Daniel Cormier, the former UFC double champion, has issued a stern warning to Francis Ngannou regarding Deontay Wilder‘s unique fighting style. On his YouTube channel, Cormier explained why ‘The Bronze Bomber’ is a greater threat than Anthony Joshua. “I always said, and I will never change this, I thought that the safest fight was Anthony Joshua because he can be a bit hesitant at times. And I thought the most dangerous fight for Francis was Deontay Wilder,” Cormier said. He stressed that Wilder’s unpredictability and unorthodox striking make him a frightening opponent. “He may throw them from odd angles, but he has this unbelievable power that allows you to go to sleep.”
So, while the Cameroonian giant is confident in his own knockout power, even he admits that Wilder presents a completely different level of danger. “Maybe not in his past two fights, but 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.” For the former UFC champion, the fight is more than just redemption; it’s about establishing who the absolute hardest hitter in combat sports is. What do you think? Will he be able to win the fight? Let us know in the comments.
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