Adesanya Calls Ngannou Best Heavyweight Fighter
Israel Adesanya Praises Francis Ngannou as the World's Top Heavyweight After Knockout Victory
Former UFC middleweight champion, Israel Adesanya, has declared Francis Ngannou as the best heavyweight fighter globally after Ngannou’s knockout win over Renan Ferreira at the PFL Super Fights.
Ngannou, making a triumphant return to MMA and debuting in the PFL, delivered a devastating first-round knockout against Ferreira. This victory not only highlighted Ngannou’s unmatched power but also solidified his position as a dominant force in the heavyweight division.
Adesanya, who closely followed the fight, expressed admiration for Ngannou’s performance, particularly given the personal obstacles the Cameroonian-French fighter has overcome recently.
“That was beautiful,” Adesanya remarked. “I feel that man. That’s for Kobe… Y’all must have forgotten, bro… Flawless, that was a beautiful performance. He took one leg kick, dodged the flurry, timed his right hand, shot for a double, kept him there, and knocked him out.”
The Nigerian-born New Zealand fighter praised Ngannou’s resilience and determination, noting that many had doubted him after his departure from the UFC and his venture into professional boxing.
“I’m proud, inspired, and just happy to watch him do his thing,” Adesanya continued. “He’s faced so much in his career, even after the whole boxing thing. People doubted him… People are prisoners of the moment, but they forget who this man is… I’m glad he reminded everybody why he’s the best, why he’s the one, why he’s Francis Ngannou.”
Adesanya also suggested that Ngannou might have surpassed Stipe Miocic as the greatest heavyweight fighter of all time. However, he acknowledged that such claims are subjective, especially with Jon Jones now holding the UFC heavyweight title and Tom Aspinall rising rapidly in the division.
“People still regard Stipe as the greatest of all time in the heavyweight division; I think he’s one of the greatest. He beat Francis, but Francis beat him back in the worst way. It’s all subjective; it’s all art; it’s all about who you like. Personally, I think Francis is the greatest heavyweight of all time. But again, now that Jon Jones is the heavyweight champion, he’s only fought once… Tom Aspinall’s in the mix too, and he’s just getting started,” Adesanya explained.
Ngannou’s remarkable performance at the PFL has reignited discussions about potential cross-promotional fights, opening doors to matchups with other top heavyweights.
As the landscape of heavyweight MMA continues to evolve, Ngannou’s victory has once again positioned him as one of the most feared and respected fighters in the division.
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