Cameroon’s Francis Ngannou is dreaming the impossible as the African-born UFC winner is eyeing a fight in Africa featuring Isreal Adesnaya, Kamaru Usman with or without the UFC Management, and also a possible battle against Tyson Fury, the Gypsy King.
The UFC heavyweight champion faces Ciryl Gane in his first title defense next Saturday in what is the most anticipated fight in the division for years.
However, the 35-year-old is already eyeing a brighter future with the new ground to break and challenges for the ‘Predator’ to feast on.
Perhaps it is no surprise that a man who escaped the salt mines of Cameroon to reach Europe on a dinghy and transformed himself from homeless in Paris to become a global star – has his gaze on another horizon.
He labels himself and Nigerian-born champions Israel Adesanya and Kamaru Usman the ‘Three Kings’ of the UFC and told Sportsmail of his desire for all three African stars to feature on a card on the continent.
‘It is a big dream. Very hard to happen at this point but you know, with time we’ll figure out a way to make it happen, to fight for our people,’ he said.
‘It is very important for each of us (Usman and Adesanya too), and yes, with the UFC preferably but even without the UFC, that’s going to happen.’
Ngannou’s grand ambitions also stretch to the boxing ring, where he is desperate for a huge cross-over clash against Tyson Fury.
The pair have been going back and forth on social media and Ngannou has insisted that any new UFC contract he signs must allow him to box on the side.
He suggested Fury should fight him with MMA rules wearing boxing gloves in the cage.
When asked how the ‘Gypsy King’ would fare in those conditions, Ngannou surmised: ‘Tyson Fury can last very long, he has proved himself he can last a very long time.
‘I don’t know how long he would last but for sure I would throw some bombs at him!’
But thoughts of Fury and a historic event in his motherland must be shelved for now. Ngannou enters UFC 270 as the betting underdog and knows he is facing one of the most exciting talents at heavyweight for some time. ( Dailymail Culled).
