“Even I don’t do that one”- Kamaru Usman was blown away by Francis Ngannou’s performance at UFC 270

“Even I don’t do that one”- Kamaru Usman was blown away by Francis Ngannou’s performance at UFC 270

Francis Ngannou(L), Kamaru Usman(R)

Kamaru Usman is a fan of “The Predator!” Francis Ngannou defended his heavyweight title for the first time against Ciryl Gane at the main event of UFC 270. Gane was a favorite moving in this fight, but Ngannou shocked everyone with his improved wrestling. Gane was getting the better of Ngannou in the striking department early on in the fight. But Ngannou turned the tide with his powerful wrestling, and he got the unanimous decision victory to retain his belt.

Ngannou had a tough time preparing for this fight, he was dealing with all the contracts negotiations with the UFC, and he also revealed that he was dealing with a really bad knee injury. He was asked by the doctors to pull out from this fight, but Ngannou insisted on staying on the card, and it couldn’t have turned out better for him.

The welterweight champion, Kamaru Usman was in Ngannou’s corner, and he talked about this fight in an interview with BT Sport, he said, “Feels amazing to be able to witness yet another victory for Francis. This one was hard-fought. This one was a hard one because he had to deal with a lot of different situations, a lot of different things that could have prevented, could have hindered this fight even taking place. So for him to persevere through that, get into a tough fight like this, that dude is no joke. Gane is the real deal and Francis proved why he is the undisputed heavyweight champion of the world. So I’m beyond proud. That belt stays in Africa!”

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“You’re seeing the evolution “- Kamaru Usman saw major improvements in Francis Ngannou’s game

Kamaru Usman on Francis Ngannou
Kamaru Usman on Francis Ngannou

Kamaru saw an improvement in Ngannou’s game and he believes this shows the entire heavyweight division is evolving. He said, “Francis, that’s the thing about him, he’s one of those special athletes that he takes everything as it comes. He was gonna be able to deal with whatever was coming at him. He didn’t initially engage in the clinch or the wrestling in the first round, that came from Gane, which I though was an excellent game plan. But we’re just seeing the evolution of heavyweights. Did you see that sweep in the fifth? Damn! Even I don’t do that one! So you’re seeing the evolution of the game and Francis is a scary man.”

“When you become the champion of course you are the champion, the number one guy, but everybody in the world is gunning for you,” Usman said. “So to be able to defend that belt and hold them off, truly depicts the mark of a champion,” Usman concluded.

Also read – “Asking what a free man can ask”- Francis Ngannou highlights what he expects from his new contract