Francis Ngannou made clear how he thought a 'dream' fight with UFC Heavyweight Champion Brock Lesnar would play.
Ngannou left the UFC as a heavyweight champion at the beginning of 2023, with a contractual dispute that brought his time in the Octagon to a sudden end.
Prior to breaking down conversations, 'The Predator' had enjoyed one of the most brutal runs of all time on the way to a strong heavyweight inheritance. After four consecutive knockouts of the first round, Ngannou ended malignant Stipe Miocic on UFC 260 to win the title.
But even before fans saw the dominance that Ngannou led to the throne, the Cameroonian powerhouse made daring claims about his status in the weight class.
Photo by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images
Francis Ngannou told Brock Lesnar, the heavyweight division 'he needed to end the pension in 2018
In March 2018, Ngannou came from a disappointing loss of five laps for Miocic in his first title shot.
While it spoke about a long -awaited collision with colleague -out artist Derrick Lewis was brewing -and eventually led to their moderate July competition that won 'The Black Beast' -Ngannou briefly had his sights elsewhere.
During an interview with Ariel Helwani at the MMA Hour, 'The Predator' introduced a surprise plant for Brock Lesnar to return. The former UFC Heavyweight King and WWE star had only fought once in the last seven years after they have returned to Face Hunt at UFC 200.
'It's up to what [the UFC] I want to give myself, “said Ngannou.” There are many people who want to fight me. … Only, I want Brock, Brock Lesnar.
“Please Brock, come back. Come back, my friend. We need you here,” Ngannou continued. “We need you to place the pleasure in this division. I want you to give me that f -ing fight that I've been waiting for a long time, I have dreamed.”
'The Beast Incarnate' made another UFC appearance months later. Lesnar and Daniel Cormier had a heated faceoff on UFC 226 after the first stormed the cage, but that did not lead to an octagonal comeback.
Francis Ngannou predicted a 'very easy' victory over Brock Lesnar
That was not the first time that Ngannou said he wanted to fight Lesnar in the UFC.
Only the previous year, during the run-up to his first fight against Miocic, had assessed 'The Predator' how he would do it in the cage against Lesnar during an appearance at the Top Turtle MMA podcast.
Driving high on confidence after his brutal Ko of Alistair Overeem – who was able to stop Lesnar via TKO in 2011 – predicted Ngannou that he would have a comfortable night in the office.
“I would always like to see the game between me and Brock Lesnar,” said Ngannou. “Two big guys. I am enthusiastic about that kind of match as a fan.
“I am stronger than he is. I am the best striker in the heavyweight division and the more powerful guy. I am also a talented man and I will treat that very easily.”
Like many attacks that are often discussed in MMA circles, Ngannou vs Lesnar remained in the field of fantasy. Fans will probably never know the accuracy of the prediction of the Nu-PFL star.