ANAHEIM, Calif. — Francis Ngannou is perhaps the most frightening power-puncher in UFC history. But he reminded everyone Saturday night that he is not only that. Ngannou showed off a well-rounded game — and immeasurable heart — befitting the champion he is.
Down on the cards early and dealing with a knee injury, the hardest-hitting man maybe ever in MMA went to his wrestling and Brazilian jiu-jitsu to gut out a unanimous decision (48-47, 48-47, 49-46) win over Ciryl Gane in the main event of UFC 270 at Honda Center.
With the victory, Ngannou unifies the UFC undisputed heavyweight title. Gane came in as the interim champ.
“My ground game is evolving,” Ngannou said in his postfight interview.
The fight had a rich back story, outside of the high stakes. Ngannou and Gane were sparring partners at MMA Factory until Ngannou had a public falling-out with their coach, Fernand Lopez. The two overlapped on and off at the Paris gym from 2017 to 2019, when Ngannou moved his training permanently to Las Vegas. Lopez was in Gane’s corner Saturday night.
Ngannou and Lopez have feuded over money and recognition. Ngannou believes Lopez has taken too much credit for his success, while Lopez thinks Ngannou has stopped acknowledging MMA Factory as a key cog in his development. Ngannou and Gane embraced after the fight, but Ngannou and Lopez did not interact.
“They’re trying to use him,” Ngannou said of Gane and MMA Factory. “He’s a good guy and I have nothing against him.”
ESPN has Ngannou tied for No. 4 on its pound-for-pound top MMA fighters list. At heavyweight, ESPN has Ngannou at No. 1 and Gane at No. 2. Ngannou won Saturday’s fight as a +125 underdog, according to Caesars Sportsbook.
Afterward, Ngannou said he tore his right MCL and damaged his ACL ahead of Saturday’s bout, but could not see himself withdrawing because he wanted to “remind people I’m the champ.” Ngannou said in the postfight news conference that he saw a doctor Tuesday and the physician advised him not to…
Source : espn
