Francis Ngannou believe say im be the real heavyweight MMA world champion as im dey prepare to return to fighting against Philipe Lins for Saturday for California.
The 39-year-old left the UFC as their reigning heavyweight champion and don win one MMA fight for the PFL since im leave the promotion for 2023.
While MMA no get official lineal championship line like boxing, Ngannou dey considered by many as the best heavyweight for the world – despite Jon Jones and Tom Aspinall become champions for the UFC for im absence.
When dem ask am if im agree with that view, Ngannou say “of course” and say im dey defend the position against Lins. “I never lost the UFC title but I didn’t lose the PFL title either,” im tok.
Ngannou be among many ex-UFC stars wey dey fight for the MVP–Netflix card, with Ronda Rousey headlining for her first MMA bout for 10 years.
The Cameroonian left the UFC for the height of im powers for a highly unusual move but don prosper outside the mammoth MMA promotion, earning millions for boxing and now fighting on Netflix.
Ngannou hope say MVP, fronted by Jake Paul and Nakisa Bidaria, fit offer a lucrative alternative for fighters.
Ngannou say the end of im time for the UFC be “horrible” as im fall out with the top brass and Dana White. “It’s very important that fighters have an alternative. I’ve been out there for a little while now and I understand why so many fighters are scared,” Ngannou tell BBC Sport.
“The [UFC] contracts are not fair – they give all the rights to the promoter and don’t protect the fighter. The fighters are just an asset and they can get rid of you when they want. If you don’t fight you don’t get paid and you have no right to do anything else.”
Leaving the UFC allow Ngannou to earn significantly higher fight purses and pursue boxing. When dem ask am wetin im advice go be to younger fighters, Ngannou say: “If someone asks my advice I would say ‘stand your ground and believe in yourself’. When making your decision you have to consider the worst case scenario and as long as you are OK with that scenario then you can live with that decision.”
Rousey v Carano go ‘smash’ women’s fight pay record. Jake Paul reveal earlier this week say im boxing career dey for balance as im dey continue to recover from a broken jaw im sustain against Anthony Joshua last December. The American say im dey currently unsure if im fit fight again, but that no stop speculation and fighters calling am since.
Ngannou be among those wey don express interest, though im don turn down a fight with the YouTuber-turned boxer last year. The Cameroonian get two boxing fights for im record, a knockout loss to Joshua and a points defeat to Tyson Fury.
“I didn’t say I want to fight Jake Paul. I said if he keeps insisting then maybe I will end up beating him up,” Ngannou say on the prospect of a fight. “He is a good boxer. I saw him from the beginning when no one believed in him and that he could become a professional – we thought he was just a content creator. But he managed very well to prove he is a legitimate boxer. I just don’t think we are the same weight class.”
Ngannou dey return to the cage for just the second time for three years after im sojourn into boxing. “The Predator” fare well for those bouts, display adept striking ability for competitive matchups with superstars Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua. Ngannou also keep im foot on the pedal with a violent finish of Renan Ferreira for PFL Super Fights for October of 2024, but im no don enter the ring or cage since.
On the other side of the cage, Philipe Lins be such a huge underdog say most bettors go likely discount im skills. Despite dey on a four-fight win streak, Lins dey priced as a bottom-feeder for this bout. Lins don fight for the UFC and PFL, and im recent wins include Ovince St. Preux. Granted, those fights come at 205-pounds, but Lins get 18 wins for 23 professional bouts and dey train for American Top Team. Im no be slouch.
Lins also no be stranger to face heavy hitters for the cage, as im don dey pitted against the likes of Andrei Arlovski, Jared Rosholt and the aforementioned OSP and live to tell the tale. Im no don finish since June of 2020 and get the length to keep Ngannou off am for early stages.
E dey important to note say neither of these men don compete for over two years. Both Ngannou and Lins dey very likely to show signs of ring rust, and fail to be nearly as accurate as most bettors expect. The timing go also dey off for both men, and Lins fit use im length, strength and veteran savvy to at least survive for the seven and a half minutes we need to cash this bet. Make no mistake, we dey bet say Ngannou vs Lins go still be a violent war, but the real fireworks no go show up until at least round two.
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