The Republic of Cameroon in West Africa touts a population of roughly 25 million. And each time its native son Francis Ngannou steps into the Octagon, he serves as a beacon of hope to the country; a six-foot-four, 260-pound figment of the imagination when it comes to his hulking power in an oh-so-palpable package of personality that they could feel.
Now, just imagine if “The Predator” knocks Stipe Miocic out at UFC 260 on Saturday night to become the heavyweight champion of the world. Taking that a step farther, the very thought of a reigning world heavyweight champion Ngannou defending his newly-won crown to headline a UFC Africa card on the continent gives the 34-year-old shivers.
“That would mean a lot,” Ngannou begins telling DAZN News. “I think that would mean hope for the next generation just to see the UFC in Africa. Not only for Cameroonians but for the whole Africans, to have the UFC in Africa would mean putting them on the map and getting a consideration for them, giving them hope and chance.”
If it wasn’t for the global pandemic, Ngannou thinks the timing for a UFC Africa card would be perfect, but would rather see it roil toward that in a groundswell of stages. He has even pinpointed just the right pilot program for the UFC to get its footing in Africa.
“For now, my biggest sight right now is to make the UFC at least bring to Africa, maybe not the Dana White’s Contender Series yet, but at least like Dana White: Lookin’ For a Fight,” Ngannou explains. “That can be a motivation for Africans to at least know that they can be seen at some point and be noticed and to keep working hard.”
White says he’s all for bringing Ngannou’s idea to fruition, noting that Africa as a fight destination has been on his mind dating back to “The Rumble in the Jungle” epic clash between Muhammad Ali vs. George Foreman in October 1974.
“I love the idea of going to Africa for a fight,” said White in a statement sent to DAZN News. “Ever since the fight in Zaire as a kid, it’s been a dream of mine to bring a fight to Africa.
“There has never been a better time than now with the exception of COVID. When everything opens up again and everybody starts traveling again, I would love to go to Africa. And I would love to do Lookin’ For a Fight there.”
Ngannou affirms that Africa is already a hotbed for mixed martial arts talent, even going as far as to say that the continent houses fighters far superior than himself, UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman and middleweight titleholder Israel Adesanya — who are both Nigerian.
“I would say right now Africa is a base for MMA talent,” Ngannou says. “They don’t have opportunity as other people, but they have fruitful talent. They have raw talent all day long.
“Look at the UFC roster. Less than 20 Africans. But with a little bit of chance, by March 28, we’ll have three African champions in the UFC, which is very, very high representation regarding the number of Africans in the UFC.
“Imagine all those Africans having as fair a chance as others in a competition. I think they’re just going to take over the sport, completely dominate the sport. I know a lot of people out there doing way more better than us — meaning better than me, better than Usman, better than Adesanya — but they don’t have the opportunity to showcase their talent.”
That makes Ngannou’s mission to bring the UFC to Africa all the more urgent. He’ll have Usman in his corner Saturday night in what’s being dubbed as the “Biggest Baddest Rematch” against Miocic, who scored a sound unanimous decision over Ngannou in their original meeting back in January 2018.
Following a loss to Derrick Lewis in July of the same year, Ngannou has demolished his competition in the form of four first-round knockouts against Curtis Blaydes, Cain Velasquez, Junior dos Santos and Jairzinho Rozenstruik.
Ngannou says he has learned a lot by watching videos of vintage Mike Tyson, especially the way the boxing legend would shift his body weight to leverage his lunging punches in the ring. The benefits of that film study were put on display last May, when the Cameroonian-French slugger missed on a lunging overhand left, right and left, before putting Rozenstruik to sleep with the kind of right that can detach a man’s soul from his senses. And he did it in a terrifying 20 seconds for his quickest knockout ever. (Tyson’s quickest KO was 30 seconds).
Now, the possibility of headlining a UFC Africa card as heavyweight champion is what intrigues Ngannou most. Not for his own homecoming glory, but for the avenues of opportunities that he can open. And keep open.
“It can open more hope and stand as a motivation for all the potential fighters out there to dedicate themselves more in order to become professional fighters and maybe make it in the UFC if that’s their dream,” Ngannou says. “If they have that (opportunity), they’re going to showcase and show the world.
“I think Africa,” he adds with emphasis, “is the place.”