PAtient and more powerful, the Cameroonian Francis Ngannou showed that he remained the best among the heavyweights by retaining his title of UFC world champion at the expense of the French Ciryl Gane. The latter did not go far from the feat, in Anaheim (California), Saturday, January 22. The winner knew it: Ciryl Gane would be “a very tough opponent”. “He was very good, difficult to manage, but I did what I had to do by remaining calm and confident,” commented the winner.
It was following five rounds, very close and not always spectacular, that Francis Ngannou won by unanimous decision of the judges (48-47, 48-47, 49-46). He thus adds a 17e victory on his record (3 defeats) and inflicts on Ciryl Gane her first setback in 11 fights. For the 31-year-old Frenchman, the mountain was too high. And this, despite the wise advice of his coach, Fernand Lopez, who launched Ngannou’s career in 2013. “I am very disappointed, I want revenge”, reacted the Frenchman, specifying that “the future” belongs to him.
Mike Tyson en guest-star
Announced as one of the biggest clashes in the history of the prestigious world league of mixed martial arts, this clash between two fighters who knew each other rather well, for both being from the MMA Factory, the factory for champions located in Paris, has not really kept all its promises. No K.-O. nor a series of blows to shake the Honda Center, copiously garnished with Mike Tyson as a guest-star, except for this counterattack by Francis Ngannou who turned Ciryl Gane in the air and tackled him to the ground by falling on it with all his weight, in the 3rd round, 115 kg of a fury then found for the Cameroonian.
Ten months following taking the world championship belt from American Stipe Miocic, Francis Ngannou has proven that he remains the best current fighter in his weight class. The big question now is what his future will be in the UFC, as his contract expires following this fight. And it is uncertain whether it will be extended as Francis Ngannou has a strained relationship with league boss Dana White, who feels he is not getting paid enough as he contributes to his growing popularity around the world. He also reiterated in the octagon his “desire” to turn to English boxing at the age of 35, his first passion, which also offers higher fees.