With MMA’s lineal heavyweight champion taking on boxing’s lineal heavyweight champion this Saturday, it’s the perfect time to take a look back at the rise of Francis Ngannou before he steps in the ring with Tyson Fury.
Ngannou, whose incredible story of perseverance, spans across three continents, originally set out to be a boxer oddly enough.
However, after circumstances brought him to the MMA Factory in France, Ngannou ended up starting his professional combat sports career in mixed martial arts. Ngannou’s rise hasn’t been without his fair share of stumbles, but MMA’s “Baddest Man on the Planet” has continued to prove his doubters wrong, all while providing us with some spectacular highlight-reel moments along the way.
With that in mind, below is a look back at his 10 greatest (and most vicious) knockouts that put Ngannou on the map.
10
Francis Ngannou knocks out Bilal Tahtahi at 100% Fight 20 (April 5, 2014)
Despite this selection coming from Ngannou’s early days on the regional circuit, it more than deserves to be on this list.
Aside from the fact that Ngannou nearly sends Bilal Tahtahi flying through the ropes, the Cameroonian goliath demonstrates a solid double-jab setup before delivering the death blow.
Francis Ngannou dropped and finished Bilal Tahtahi R1 at 100% Fight 20 – Comeback (2014) #UFCPhoenix pic.twitter.com/DO1U7RgiLo
— HONKY EXTRAORDINAIRE (@Mr_Honky) February 13, 2019
The world may not have known Ngannou’s name at this time, but this was certainly a sign of things to come.
9
Francis Ngannou stops Curtis Blaydes via doctor's stoppage at UFC Fight Night 86 (April 10, 2016)
Although doctor’s stoppages can definitely be anti-climactic, I still thought Ngannou’s first win over Curtis Blaydes deserved a shout on this list.
Nagnnou, who was up against his first big (American) wrestling test, was the odds-on underdog heading into this fight. Not only did Ngannou demonstrate some underrated takedown defense in exchanges, but he also showed the ability to work and counter effectively from a southpaw stance.
In fact, Ngannou’s counter-cross from southpaw was so effective that it ended up swelling Blaydes’ right eye completely shut.
10 April 2016
UFC Fight Night: Rothwell vs. dos Santos
Francis defeats Curtis Blaydes in Croatia.
It was a huge win, as Curtis was a highly regarded prospect at HW.
Francis showed solid TDD in this fight.
Wins due to Doctor Stoppage at the end of Round 2 pic.twitter.com/rjYsLCrSK7
— Ocelot MMA (@Ocelot_MMA) October 23, 2023
8
Francis Ngannou knocks out Cain Velasquez at UFC on ESPN 1 (Feb. 17, 2019)
After completing his series with Blaydes, Ngannou was set to challenge the old guard of heavyweight wrestling greats in Cain Velasquez.
Unfortunately for the UFC and Velasquez alike, this promotional debut on ESPN – akin to the UFC’s debut on FOX (which also involved Velasquez) – ended early with an injury in tow.
Francis Ngannou finishes Cain Velasquez in just 26 seconds!pic.twitter.com/z8LBBX7tuN
— Action Network (@ActionNetworkHQ) February 18, 2019
That said, Velasquez, who was all class in the post-fight interview, credited Ngannou’s power and the initial short shot that put him down.
7
Francis Ngannou knocks out Curtis Blaydes at UFC Fight Night 141 (Nov. 24, 2018)
In what was Ngannou’s first career rematch, he made good by stopping Blaydes in just 45 seconds.
24 November 2018
UFC Fight Night: Blaydes vs. Ngannou 2
Francis begins his revenge streak in China.
TKOs Curtis Blaydes again
This time in 45 seconds pic.twitter.com/14nXwcekon
— Ocelot MMA (@Ocelot_MMA) October 23, 2023
Blaydes may have been just as mad about the stoppage this time around, but it’s hard to blame a referee for being triggered to stop a fight when a man as dangerous as Ngannou is sending you face first to the mat.
Marc Goddard gave Blaydes some solid chances to stay in the fight, but the onslaught was ultimately too much.
6
Francis Ngannou knocks out Junior Dos Santos at UFC on ESPN 3 (June 29, 2019)
Serving as his second consecutive test opposite a former UFC heavyweight champion, Ngannou was set to face a fellow striker in Junior Dos Santos.
Despite being past his prime by this point, Dos Santos was quietly riding a three-fight winning streak heading into this contest. Unfortunately for Dos Santos, the Brazilian got his clock cleaned early after missing big on a strafing run.
Francis Ngannou dropped Junior Dos Santos early pic.twitter.com/u684V8ItLD
— Rob Lopez (@r0bato) June 30, 2019
Not only was this yet another example of how Ngannou doesn’t need to land cleanly, but the countering exchange is also reminiscent of the next knockout on this list.
5
Francis Ngannou knocks out Andrei Arlovski at UFC on FOX 23 (Jan. 28, 2017)
Despite being a pro fighter for just over three years at this point, Ngannou already found himself being booked against former UFC heavyweight champions.
And for Ngannou’s first big test, he drew the division’s old guard of explosive athlete in Andrei Arlovski.
Although Arlovski was well past his prime and riding a three-fight skid heading into this contest, the fan favorite was more than suitable enough to provide an appropriate test for Nagnnou – at least on paper.
Sadly for Arlovski and his fans alike, that test did not last long.
28 January 2017
UFC on Fox: Shevchenko vs. Peña
Ngannou blasts through Andrei Arlovski
via TKO in 1:32Arlovski was a former champion and veteran.
This win sends him to the top of the division. pic.twitter.com/FOsz9GKSHp
— Ocelot MMA (@Ocelot_MMA) October 23, 2023
The reason why I rate this knockout slightly higher than his Dos Santos stoppage is that Ngannou – despite having to punch against the momentum on his body – still delivers enough power to lift Arlovski off the mat before he immediately comes crashing down.
4
Francis Ngannou knocks out Jairzinho Rozenstruik at UFC 249 (May 9, 2020)
Even though this is probably the sloppiest of the selections, there’s no denying that Nagnnou’s knockout over Jairzinho Rozenstruik is also one of the most devastating on this list.
I got Eric Nicksick to break down Francis Ngannou’s knockout of Jairzinho Rozenstruik at UFC 249 using Airr
Enjoy pic.twitter.com/CjxEc48ZYc
— Alex Behunin (@AlexBehunin) February 8, 2023
This was one of Ngannou’s first fight camps with the Xtreme Couture team, and – as Eric Nicksick explains above – there was actually a method to their madness here.
However, once Ngannou sees the trigger he was looking for, all hell breaks loose.
— Dom (@Frittenpate) February 21, 2021
3
Francis Ngannou knocks out Luis Henrique at UFC on FOX 17 (Dec. 19, 2015)
Notching the No. 3 spot is a 2015 knockout that I can remember like it was yesterday.
Not only was I eating at my favorite brunch spot in Waikiki with a balcony view, but this was also the first event where I realized that the (at that time) newly launched UFC Fight Pass app allowed you to watch live fights from your phone.
Realizing this late in an inebriated state, I quickly popped my app open to immediately witness Ngannou – who has a debuting fighter that I was unfamiliar with – nearly decapitating poor Luis Henrique on live television.
19 December 2015
UFC on Fox: dos Anjos vs. Cowboy 2
Ngannou debuts in the UFC.
KOs Luis Henrique in Round 2
Destructive Power like no other
Commentary botch his name. pic.twitter.com/SvInTkFS4c
— Ocelot MMA (@Ocelot_MMA) October 23, 2023
This shovel hook variation and hammer fist follow-up, which ended up becoming a staple of Ngannou’s game, was so terrifying that he had a shaken Joe Rogan interviewing him like a kid offering “Mean” Joe Greene a Coke.
2
Francis Ngannou knocks out Stipe Miocic at UFC 260 (March 27, 2021)
Although this was Ngannou’s second rematch of his career, this was the first time he had the opportunity to avenge a loss.
And between the ignominious defeat he sustained to Stipe Miocic at UFC 220 to all the criticisms that Ngannou and his camp took from everybody from the pundits to the UFC president alike, there were a lot of people to prove wrong.
After displaying some impressive counter-wrestling in Round 1, Ngannou demonstrated the improvements of his striking process since working with renowned MMA coach Eric Nicksick.
27 March 2021
UFC 260
Ngannou exacts revenge vs Miocic.
Claims the HW Belt
Much more patient performance from Ngannou.
Leading up to a devasting KO in Round 2.
I wish we had seen more of these performances from Francis. pic.twitter.com/tQv4pN5uro
— Ocelot MMA (@Ocelot_MMA) October 23, 2023
Not only did Ngannou utilize upgraded footwork and range management, but his centerline shot selection proved problematic for the level-changing sensibilities of Miocic.
Add in the eery quietness of the UFC Apex during this point of the COVID-19 pandemic, and this knockout feels extra brutal to take in.
1
Francis Ngannou knocks out Alistair Overeem at UFC 218 (Dec. 2, 2017)
Earning the top slot is perhaps one of the most scariest knockouts of MMA’s modern era.
I don’t know if it surpasses all-time classics like Quinton Jackson’s knockout of Ricardo Arona, but it’s definitely among the ranks of fights like Yoel Romero vs. Chris Weidman where I seriously worry about the fallen fighter’s immediate health.
#OnThisDay in 2017…
🇨🇲 @Francis_Ngannou delivered an ALL-TIME GREAT KO vs Alistair Overeem. pic.twitter.com/4wYWsKQPxt
— UFC (@ufc) December 2, 2020
Fresh off his first win over a former UFC champion, Ngannou nukes one of the most decorated heavyweight competitors in combat sports when he blasts Overeem into orbit.
Aside from this knockout being an instant classic that could be atop anyone’s list, it’s also one of my more proud calls as an analyst considering that I correctly called the Floyd Patterson vs. Sonny Liston vibes ahead on this collision.
Forgive my self-indulgence, but seeing this is another reminder that history parodies itself brutally in combat sports.
(Liston vs. Patterson, 1962 and Ngannou vs. Overeem, #UFC218) pic.twitter.com/sD2g0jEjFC
— Dan Tom (@DanTomMMA) December 3, 2017
