Francis Ngannou, a Cameroonian, becomes the first African to win the world heavyweight champion of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), the most prestigious Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) league in the world.
The Cameroonian Francis Ngannou became the world heavyweight champion of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), the most prestigious Mixed Martial Arts league (MMA) in the world, on the night of 27 to 28 March 2021, in Las Vegas, United States, by knocking out the American Stipe Miocic. Great revenge for the Indomitable Lion of Batié in Cameroon, who becomes the first African to wear this world crown.
The new world boss of the heavyweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), the most prestigious mixed martial arts (MMA) league in this category, is 34-year-old Francis Ngannou from Cameroon. An unimaginable feat, as the Cameroonian’s path, has been strewn with obstacles. But his dream became a reality on the night of 27-28 March 2021 in Las Vegas, USA, when he knocked out the American Stipe Miocic. An act of very nice revenge for the one affectionately nicknamed the “Predator”.
The path of the Cameroonian has not been easy at all. Indeed, in January 2018, Francis Ngannou failed in his first attempt against the American Stipe Miocic. A defeat, which marks a stop in his already very dazzling career in the UFC, against an opponent who had managed to thwart his offensive style. But the native of Batié, in West Cameroon, analyzed his setback well before challenging Stipe Miocic again, three years later.
It felt very good. The now world boss of MMA was, indeed, very expeditious. His last four outings were all completed in one round, notably with 2 minutes and 32 seconds spent in the octagon! It should be noted that the Cameroonian was patient so as not to give Miocic a second chance to take him to the ground or to shake him up. Ngannou’s power spoke for itself when the opportunity presented itself.
In the second round, the verdict fell. The “Predator” then engulfed Stipe Miocic, unable to respond. The Croatian-American resisted once on the ground in a first attempt, but Ngannou’s last round got the better of him. He fell backward and was saved by the referee who, logically, stopped the fight. “I can hardly find the words, I had made this promise to myself to win. To achieve this, when no one thought I could, is such a powerful feeling. To prove wrong, those who doubted me gives me immense satisfaction,” said the “Predator” after his victory.
Francis Ngannou now has 16 wins and 3 losses in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), making him the man to beat in this category. A real fight for this colossus (1m93 for 113 kg) who left his native Cameroon in 2013 for Paris, where he slept for a time in the street as a homeless person
