Boxing legend Mike Tyson was left in awe after Francis Ngannou delivered a nasty finish at the UFC 249 pay-per-view event on Saturday.
The one-time heavyweight title contender clashed with fellow knockout artist, Jairzinho Rozenstruik, in the main card of UFC 249 in Jacksonville, Florida, with a potential title shot on the line.
Fresh off the longest training camp of his career, Ngannou made short work of Rozenstruik, finishing him just 20 seconds into the opening round with vicious strikes to earn the Performance of the Night honor.
“When I heard he called me out, I knew he didn’t know what he was doing,” he said of his opponent in the post-fight interview with Joe Rogan.
“He’s not ready. He has a lot of potential obviously but I think he has to take a step back and get ready before fighting against someone like me.”
Making A Statement
Now on a four-fight winning streak, the 31-year old Cameroonian wants to fight for the heavyweight title for the second time but it remains uncertain as the UFC looks to pursue the Stipe Miocic vs Daniel Cormier trilogy bout.
Regardless of his next opponent for his next fight, Ngannou vows to deliver and make a statement just like what he did last night.
“I had fun out there, it wasn’t something I was chasing. When I chase the knockout, it doesn’t work, so I don’t chase anymore. When he called me out, I’m like, ‘This guy doesn’t know what he’s doing,” he continued.
“He just came here and had a few knockouts, but I didn’t see anything impressive, but I don’t mind people calling me out.”
“I don’t know what it takes to have a title shot in the UFC. To be honest, I’ve made my peace with that. It’s not that I don’t care, but I don’t want to feel like something is controlling me. With or without a title shot, I’m still a fighter and still have what I have and can make a statement.”
Future Champ
‘The Predator’ expects he will be out of action for at least a year if he waits for his shot at a UFC gold.
“I’ll end up with maybe nine months or one year again, this time. It’s something I didn’t like at all. I don’t want to be in that space again,” he said.
If there is one person who believes Ngannou will be the future king of the UFC heavyweights, that is boxing legend Mike Tyson.
‘Iron Mike’ took to Twitter to praise the Cameroonian, calling him a future champion after his 20-second knockout at UFC 249.
“Resounding … vicious …. future champ. #FrancesNyngonu 20 second knockout 2nite #UFC249,” Tyson wrote in a tweet.
(Featured Image Source: Instagram/ Mike Tyson and Francis Ngannou)