Francis Ngannou made a triumphant return to MMA, dispatching Philipe Lins with a first-round knockout. The former UFC heavyweight champion showcased his renowned punching power, finishing Lins at 4:31 of the first round. The bout was part of the Ronda Rousey vs. Gina Carano card.
Ngannou’s Quick Finish
Ngannou (19-3) demonstrated his striking prowess early in the fight, bloodying Lins (18-6) with hard shots. A left hook ultimately sealed the victory for Ngannou. “I’ve got to give a lot of respect to Philipe, because he was tougher than I thought,” Ngannou said after the fight, acknowledging his opponent’s resilience.
Ngannou Calls Out Jon Jones
Ngannou used his post-fight interview to address Jon Jones, a former UFC two-division champion. The two heavyweights had previously been linked to a potential superfight during Ngannou’s UFC tenure. Ngannou urged Jones to leave the UFC and join him under Jake Paul’s Most Valuable Promotions banner.
“Jon Jones is a great fighter, probably the best that has ever done MMA, but in terms of business, he still has some things to learn. And he should be watching what I’m doing and learn,” Ngannou stated. “And if he gets it now, he should be able to figure it out and come [here] and we’ll make this fight, because this fight can happen before he retires.” He added, “I believe [he wants to fight me], but I believe he’s caged. He’s caged [with the UFC]. He doesn’t know how to get out of the cage yet.”
Jones Responds to the Challenge
Jones, who was working as a broadcast analyst, responded to Ngannou’s comments. “I need to focus on getting out of my UFC contract, that’s going to be the difficult part if this fight’s going to happen,” Jones said. “I don’t think Dana [White] is interested in doing business with Francis — doing it with MVP would probably be the only way to make it happen. If we can get out of my contract, that’d be great.”
Ngannou’s Recent History
Despite recent inactivity, Ngannou, 39, is considered a top heavyweight in MMA. He captured the UFC heavyweight title in 2021 with a knockout of Stipe Miocic and defended it against Ciryl Gane. Ngannou departed the UFC in January 2023 as the reigning heavyweight champion. He then signed with PFL and earned a first-round knockout of Renan Ferreira.
- Ngannou defeated Lins via first-round knockout.
- Ngannou called out Jon Jones after the fight.
- Jones responded by discussing his UFC contract.
Ngannou’s victory over Lins marks another highlight-reel finish for the former UFC champion, and his challenge to Jones adds intrigue to the heavyweight landscape.