Francis Ngannou News

Tom Taylor - February 18, 2019

Having dispatched UFC heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez in the headliner of the UFC’s Sunday night debut event on ESPN, Francis Ngannou now wants a shot at the UFC heavyweight title. As luck would have it, that title is currently owned by Daniel Cormier, a long-time friend and training partner of Velasquez. “I think what should be next for me is the title shot,” Ngannou said at the post-fight press conference. “I think Cain is the one that the victory against him, after that you deserve a title shot.”

Tom Taylor - February 18, 2019

Last night, in the main event of the UFC’s first-ever card on ESPN, former UFC heavyweight title challenger Francis Ngannou picked up arguably the biggest victory of his career, deflating the returning Cain Velasquez in less than 30 seconds. Post fight, the victorious Francis Ngannou called for a heavyweight title shot opposite reigning champion Daniel Cormier.

Christopher Taylor - February 17, 2019

A highly anticipated heavyweight tilt between former division champion Cain Velasquez and feared knockout artist Francis Ngannou headlined tonight’s UFC Phoenix event. Cain Velasquez returned to action for the first time since defeating Travis Browne via first round TKO at UFC 200 in July of 2016.

Chris Taylor - February 17, 2019

A key heavyweight scrap between former division kingpin Cain Velasquez and former title challenger Francis Ngannou headlined tonight’s UFC Phoenix event. Cain Velasquez returns for the first time since UFC 200 in July of 2016, where he defeated Travis Browne via first round TKO.

Tom Taylor - February 17, 2019

On Sunday night, the UFC will makes its debut on ESPN with a stacked card from Phoenix, Arizona. This card will be headlined by a crucial heavyweight battle between two-time former champion Cain Velasquez and former title challenger Francis Ngannou. Daniel Cormier will be watching this fight very closely — not just because he’s the reigning heavyweight champion, but because he’s a long time friend and training partner of Cain Velasquez.

Chris Taylor - February 16, 2019

The octagon will return to the state of Arizona tomorrow night for UFC Phoenix, a thirteen-bout fight card headlined by Francis Ngannou vs. Cain Velasquez. All 26 fighters participating at tomorrow night’s UFC Phoenix event stepped on the scales this morning, but only 23 made their respective weights.

Cole Shelton - February 15, 2019

The UFC’s first ever event on ESPN is upon us. In the main event, former UFC heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez will be making his long awaited return to the Octagon to take on Francis Ngannou. Ahead of this heavyweight fight, which could have title implications, BJPENN.com reached out to several pro fighters to get their predictions. And, for the first time in the history of this series, the fighters were unanimous in their answers.

Tom Taylor - February 15, 2019

This Sunday, in the main event of the UFC’s debut card on ESPN, former UFC heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez will step into the Octagon for the first time in almost three years, where he’ll look to return to heavyweight prominence with the win over the fearsome Francis Ngannou. While Velasquez is determined to make the most of this comeback, it sounds like this could be his last walk to the cage if things don’t go as planned.

Tom Taylor - February 13, 2019

On Sunday, February 17, the UFC will make its debut on ESPN with an exciting, 13-fight card. In the main event of this debut UFC on ESPN card, former UFC heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez will make his long-awaited return to the Octagon, where he will battle ferocious knockout puncher Francis Ngannou in an cage-shaking showdown.

Tom Taylor - February 13, 2019

This Sunday night, in the main event of the first-ever UFC card on ESPN, former UFC heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez will make his long-awaited return to the cage. His welcome committee will be former title challenger Francis Ngannou. Ahead of this compelling heavyweight showdown, it’s abundantly clear what Cain Velasquez needs to be most wary of: Francis Ngannou hits absurdly hard. Ngannou hits so hard, in fact, that UFC President Dana White once compared the French-Cameroonian’s power to a Ford Escort moving at full speed.

Tom Taylor - January 14, 2019

Today, Francis Ngannou is one of the UFC’s most fearsome heavyweight contenders. Yet not all that long ago, he was living in poverty in Cameroon. Having established himself in the UFC, Ngannou is now giving back to his community in Cameroon. He’s now opened up the country’s first “first full MMA and combat sport gym” as part of his charitable organization the Francis Ngannou Foundation.

Chris Taylor - January 12, 2019

Cain Velasquez (14-2 MMA) will return from a thirty-month hiatus in the main event of UFC Phoenix on February 17 to take on Francis Ngannou. The former UFC heavyweight champion, Cain Velasquez, has not competed inside the octagon since July of 2016, where he defeated Travis Browne via first-round TKO at UFC 200.

Drake Riggs - December 13, 2018

According to essentially everyone at the American Kickboxing Academy (AKA), one of the best fighters to ever walk through their doors has been ready to return to action for the entirety of 2018. And now it looks like he will be finally doing so.

Cole Shelton - November 25, 2018

UFC Beijing featured two heavyweight fights that had major impacts on the divisional rankings. In the main event, Francis Ngannou took on Curtis Blaydes in a highly anticipated rematch. Meanwhile, in the co-main event, veteran Alistair Overeem took on UFC newcomer Sergey Pavlovich. Ultimately, both Overeem and Ngannou won their fights by knockout, which will surely cause both to surge up the divisional rankings. Blaydes and Pavlovich, meanwhile, will have to return to the drawing board.

Tom Taylor - November 25, 2018

UFC color commentator Joe Rogan was not on duty for Saturday’s UFC Beijing broadcast, and instead hosted one of his popular Fight Companion podcasts for the card, alongside his friends Brendan Schaub, Bryan Callen and Eddie Bravo. As you can probably imagine, the whole gang was quite impressed by the UFC Beijing main event, which saw former UFC heavyweight title challenger Francis Ngannou rebound from losses to Stipe Miocic and Derrick Lewis with a thunderous, first-round knockout of streaking American wrestler Curtis Blaydes.

Chris Taylor - November 24, 2018

Former Strikeforce and DREAM heavyweight champion Alistair Overeem snapped his two-fight losing skid at today’s UFC Beijing event. “The Reem” needed less than five minutes to hand promotional newcomer Sergey Pavlovich the first loss of his professional mixed martial arts career.

Chris Taylor - November 24, 2018

Francis Ngannou, Li Jingliang, Alex Morono and Song Kenan each pocketed an extra $50,000 for their respective performances at today’s UFC Beijing event. Francis Ngannou and Li Jingliang took home “Performance of the Night” awards, while Alex Morono and Song Kenan earned “Fight of the Night” honors.

Chris Taylor - November 24, 2018

Francis Ngannou (12-3 MMA) snapped his two-fight losing skid in tonight’s UFC Beijing main event, scoring a first-round TKO victory over Curtis Blaydes. “The Predator” was able to land a beautifully timed right hand just seconds into the opening round which sent Curtis Blaydes crashing to the canvas.