Predictions

Francis Ngannou landed devastating one hitter quitter on opponent in terrifying UFC fight

Admin 4 days ago

13 1 minute read

Francis Ngannou is best known for his crushing power and killer instinct, earning him a formidable reputation as one of the fiercest MMA stars of all time.

His ruthlessness in the heat of battle should never be underestimated, with four of his last six UFC outings ending in the opening round.

But now the 38-year-old is preparing for his PFL debut against Renan Ferreira this Saturday, which represents his first MMA bout since leaving the sport's flagship promotion.

And while the heavyweight showdown – billed as 'Battle of the Giants' – should provide an exciting spectacle, it's hard to imagine Francis Ngannou surpassing his UFC accolades.

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Francis Ngannou showed his destructive power in the victory over Alistair Overeem

One fight on Ngannou's resume that sent shivers down most people's spines was his stunning knockout victory against Alistair Overeem in 2017.

Prior to their showdown, Overeem made his UFC debut in 2011, taking on WWE star Brock Lesnar after a decorated kickboxing career.

After knocking out Lesnar in emphatic fashion, the Dutchman racked up a number of victories against the likes of Frank Mir before challenging Stipe Miocic for the UFC heavyweight title.

Despite losing to one of the division's all-time greatest champions, Overeem remained at the highest level of his sport and was seen as a solid gatekeeper for Ngannou.

But unfortunately for the former title challenger, his opponent's dominance would never be threatened.

And so Ngannou quickly caught Overeem with a vicious uppercut and scored a first-round knockout in what should have been a relatively tough test.

Photo by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images

Francis Ngannou's path to defeating Stipe Miocic

Ngannou's spiteful stoppage against Overeem was the springboard that in turn propelled him to his first title shot.

However, long-reigning champion Miocic became the first man to humiliate the electric knockout artist in 2018.

But then, after losing a unanimous decision to the American, Ngannou walked straight into another crushing defeat, this time against Derrick Lewis.

And yet, as hopes began to fade, 'The Predator' finally earned his rematch with Miocic after scoring four rebound victories, stopping his veteran opponent in the second round to become the 2021 UFC Heavyweight Champion .