Francis Ngannou is pretty damn good at this whole fighting thing.
Tyson Fury found out firsthand how dangerous Ngannou truly is this past Saturday in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The all-time great heavyweight boxer may have technically won the boxing-MMA crossover clash via split decision but the combat sports world has crowned a new king.
Ngannou’s whole voyage into the boxing realm came after a falling out with the UFC while he was the champion. Fans anticipated a long-awaited dream matchup between him and former two-time light heavyweight titlist Jon Jones but unfortunately missed out on the collision, leading many to speculate and debate who now is the best around. For the UFC, things have fallen apart mightily with Jones recently suffering a torn pectoral muscle, forcing the cancellation of his UFC 295 title bout against Stipe Miocic next Saturday. Because of that, former UFC heavyweight contender Brendan Schaub can’t help but see the whole ordeal as a big miss for the promotion.
“UFC messed up,” Schaub said on his YouTube channel. “Jon is out, Stipe is waiting for Jon and those two are going to retire, that’s a legendary fight. Chael [Sonnen] said this as well: I don’t know if we ever get that fight now. We might, but now we have Tom Aspinall and Sergei in there now. … But the greatest heavyweight is not in the UFC. The greatest heavyweight at boxing and mixed martial arts is not in the UFC. Who’s going to beat Francis?”
Ngannou’s likely next move will take place in the boxing ring thanks to his success against Fury. PFL will happily await him, guaranteeing a 2024 bout in MMA against a name to be determined.
It will be interesting to see what the PFL can offer at this juncture, considering its Founder Donn Davis admitted Jones is the best possible and worthy candidate at present in MMA. As long as “Bones” is under the UFC’s watch, however, the fight won’t happen anytime soon but if it did, Schaub is now all in on “The Predator.”
“To piggyback on what ‘D.C.’ (Daniel Cormier) said, and ‘D.C.’ knows tough men, ‘D.C’ said bar none, Francis Ngannou is the baddest man on the planet,” Schaub said. “Who’s going to beat him, Jon Jones? I’m on record saying this: I thought Jon Jones would smoke Francis after watching him do what he did against Ciryl Gane. Watching Francis vs. Fury, I’m like, ‘Oh, he’d beat Jon.’ He’d beat Jon in MMA. I think he knocks him out.
“I didn’t realize how good he was. I knew he was good, but I didn’t realize he was this talented. I knew he was a freak athletically but I didn’t know he was world-class-boxing-beat-the-breaks-off-the-greatest-of-all-time good. Who did? This is nuts.”
Moves. Francis Ngannou manager: Decision for next fight is ‘probably 90 percent made’
Unexpected. Ariel Helwani, Chael Sonnen erupt into shouting match over Francis Ngannou pay
Dream. Francis Ngannou’s head coach still wants Jon Jones next, tells UFC and PFL to ‘set your egos aside’ to make it happen
Development. Zuffa denied appeal in UFC anti-trust case
Beast. Derrick Lewis offers hilarious response when addressing recent arrest on reckless driving charges
Rough. Joe Rogan: 96-93 scorecard for Tyson Fury over Francis Ngannou ‘f****** outrageous,’ judge ‘should go to jail’
Tease. Paul Felder officially back in UFC anti-doping program for ‘just in case’ return from retirement
The MMA Hour.
Bonfim vs. Dalby preview.
Ultimate 30: The Dominator.
UFC’s last visit to Sao Paulo.
Free fights.
Coach Bo.
The knee.
No Bets Barred. MMA Fighting’s Jed Meshew and Conner Burks discuss if Jailton Almeida keeps rolling against Derrick Lewis at UFC Sao Paulo.
Animals.
Last Saturday I was a lion fighting a pack of hyenas - Tyson Fury, the referee for allowing an illegal elbow, and the judges for their score cards. #FuryNgannou
— Francis Ngannou (@francis_ngannou) November 1, 2023
One more for the Iron Lung.
Paul Felder officially back in the UFC anti-doping program with his first test showing up from USADA.
— Damon Martin (@DamonMartin) November 1, 2023
Just like Conor McGregor, he'll have to undergo 6 months of testing before he's cleared but he's officially back in the testing pool. #UFC pic.twitter.com/ZVY1LsIsq9
Elbow.
I watched the elbow video tens of times and I don't understand why the referee didn't take a point from him.
— Francis Ngannou (@francis_ngannou) November 1, 2023
Cool.
UFC 295 Brushwork pic.twitter.com/UPLdba4qi8
— Warrick Wong (@warrickwong) November 1, 2023
Elves Brener (15-3) vs. Kaynan Kruschewsky (15-1); UFC Sao Paulo, Nov. 4
Lucas Alexander (8-3) vs. Jeka Saragih (13-3); UFC Vegas 82, Nov. 18
Thanks for reading!
If you find something you’d like to see in the Morning Report, hit up @DrakeRiggs_ on Twitter and let him know about it. Also, follow MMAFighting on Instagram and like us on Facebook.
