Heavyweight title contender Francis Ngannou is confident about his chances in a fight against Brock Lesnar.
Francis Ngannou has been granted the next shot at Stipe Miocic’s heavyweight title, after scoring a ruthless first-round knockout over Alistair Overeem last weekend at UFC 218. But if it were up to him, he would also get a chance to fight another UFC heavyweight notable: Brock Lesnar.
In an interview with the Top Turtle podcast, Ngannou explained why he considers Lesnar as a dream opponent of his.
“I’d always like to see the match between me and Brock Lesnar. Two big dudes. I like that matchup,” Ngannou said (transcript via MMA Fighting). “I’m excited for that kind of match as a fan. … I want to see that match.”
The 31-year-old Ngannou has won all six fights since his UFC debut in 2015, all of which never went past the second round. The confidence he is riding on is understandable, but he also sees himself making easy work of the former heavyweight champion.
“He’s big. Huge, as you say,” Ngannou said of Lesnar. “But he’s not stronger than me. I’m stronger than him. I’m the best striker in the heavyweight division and the more powerful guy. I’m also a talented guy and I will deal with that very easy.”
Lesnar, now 40 years of age, retired from MMA competition last February. If he were to come back, he would have to serve out the remaining five months of his one-year USADA suspension after failing two drug tests at UFC 200.