Francis Ngannou: "It would be a great fight" against Jon Jones

Text by: David Kalfa Follow

On May 9, Francis Ngannou won his fourth consecutive quick victory in the heavyweight category of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), the most prestigious mixed martial arts (MMA) league. The Cameroonian now hopes to face Jon Jones, the current king of the light heavyweights, while waiting for the UFC to finally give him his chance for the title of heavyweight champion more than two years after a failure against Stipe Miocic. Interview.

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RFI: Francis Ngannou, how do you feel ten days after your quick victory, in 20 seconds, against Surinamese Jairzinho Rozenstruik, during UFC 249?

Francis Ngannou  : I feel very good. The pressure has dropped. There, I return to my daily life where the recurring question is: "What is next? This victory did not stop my little frustration from enduring. A frustration which is to know what my position really is [among the heavyweights of the UFC, Editor's note] . It must be remembered that this fight was somehow something that the UFC wanted to put on my mouth to distract me. Because what I really expected, namely a fight for the title, they did not intend to give it to me right away. So the fight is over, with a knockout victory. But what is next?

It's actually more than two years since you faced the American Stipe Miocic, current title holder, for the heavyweight champion belt of the Ultimate Fighting Championship. Since then, the UFC hasn't seemed in a hurry to give you a second chance. How do you explain this situation?

It is already due to the fact that they decided to make a trilogy between Stipe Miocic and Daniel Cormier. That is the first factor. After that, as for the rest, I don't know ... The problem is that the UFC does what it wants. There are no rules or justice. You, as an athlete, you can only follow.

In my opinion, after my victory against Junior Dos Santos [in June 2019, Editor's note] , I should have fought for the title. But they said, "  Let's wait and see the outcome of the fight between Stipe and DC.  I was convinced that, whatever the outcome of this fight, I was going to face the winner.

Of course, if they want to organize the trilogy, there is no problem: but they do it afterwards! There are people waiting. This situation has been going on for two years between Stipe and DC. When are we going to stop? We have been talking about a third act for almost a year. So far, we still don't have a date.

Daniel Cormier has declared himself open to a fight against you if Stipe Miocic is not available. Do you think that this confrontation against Cormier is possible? Or, on the contrary, that it is not in the projects of the UFC?

He talked about a contingency and not something that was in talks ... He said that if Stipe Miocic was not available, he would look for another solution. I think Daniel Cormier too must be a little tired of waiting. No one knows yet when Stipe will return to fight. That is the problem. We are in a weight category where the champion's belt is monopolized for one year. And that seems normal… Whereas as a number one competitor, I am affected by this situation. Hence my frustration ...

Some athletes refused to fight because of the Covid-19. You have always played the game of the UFC, which was trying at all costs to organize fights in spite of the pandemic and the critics. Do you expect an elevator referral from the UFC regarding this famous 'Title Shot', for service rendered?

I did what I thought was necessary. I wanted to fight. It's been about 11 months since I last fought. I also wanted to rebalance my financial situation a bit. In short, I wanted to be active! Before the pandemic, I had been training for two months already. So, I didn't want these two months to be useless. I wanted to exploit this effort. That's why I was always up for it.

I do not expect a lift referral from the UFC. Once again, the UFC does things for it, in its own way. […] I expect nothing. What I think I deserve, I still don't get.

In recent months, you've been in a movie ( Fast And Furious 9 ) and we've seen you with sports stars (Shaquille O'Neal, David Beckham, Mike Tyson, etc.). Is this all the result of a communication strategy aimed at making you more of a seller in the eyes of the UFC? Or is it all a bit by chance?

( Laughs ) Do you think that while walking down the street, I was called to play in Fast And Furious  ? It's obvious that this kind of thing, we went to get it. There is an agent, you had a casting… The film didn't happen like that.

For the rest, I ran into Shaquille O'Neal at the UFC Institute one day, by chance, as I ran into many other people, like David Beckham. There too, it was a coincidence. As for Mike Tyson, I always wanted to meet him. However, I had been invited in his podcast. It was therefore an opportunity for me to meet him.

There is much talk of your possible fight against Jon Jones, the champion of the lower weight category, that of the heavy-light. Are we at the simple stage of incentives through social networks? Or are there discussions in which the UFC participates?

For now, it's just that we are heating up a bit. He had an idea to move into the heavyweight category. And, I know that if he passes in this category, it will be to fight directly for the belt or something like that. It would be to take what I think legitimately comes to me. I have to get over it first.

For now, we're just tickling a little. But I think this fight will take place at all costs. Maybe not now, but in the future yes. Because several people have shown interest in this fight. And even if the other day I saw an interview with Dana White [the boss of the UFC, Editor's note] where he said that "  yeah, I don't know, sometimes people speak to speak  ", the UFC will find interest in this fight. So, once again, I think it's going to happen. But, as I said on social networks, then the numbers will have to be aligned, because it would be a Super Fight!

MMA: Francis Ngannou working his brakes at the UFC

In January 2018, Francis Ngannou lost to Stipe Miocic for the title of heavyweight champion. The Cameroonian, who then remained on six brilliant victories in the UFC , then struggled to recover from this failure. The one we nicknamed "The Predator" then bowed pitifully to Derrick Lewis, in July 2018. But, for two years, the one who started mixed martial arts in 2013 only has resumed his march forward, pulverizing his four opponents following from the first round.

Despite these exceptional sporting results, the UFC has not given the “Indomitable Lion” a chance for the belt. The Ultimate Fighting Championship favors clashes between Stipe Miocic and another MMA icon, Daniel Cormier. Cormier won the first act in November 2018, before his compatriot took his revenge in August 2019.

Since then, speculation has been rife around a third game between the Americans. And, suddenly, Ngannou must desperately wait for his turn. This is why a fight against Jon Jones, king of the lower weight category (heavy-light) and who is thinking of moving to the heavy, would be a good palliative while waiting for a new Title Shot, a fight for the title.

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