Francis Ngannou UFC knockouts ranked

Francis Ngannou is a combating phenomenon: the honorary ‘baddest man on the planet’ as UFC heavyweight champion, and probably the most ferocious power-puncher within the promotion’s historical past.

The French-Cameroonian’s skilled combined martial arts document stands at 16-3, whereas his UFC document is 11-2 since his debut in 2015 – with 10 of these wins coming by way of knockout or TKO.

Ngannou, 35, in actual fact went 6-0 within the firm, with 5 of these victories achieved by way of KO/TKO and one coming by way of submission, earlier than he suffered back-to-back choice losses.

The primary of these two defeats was a humbling by then-champion Stipe Miocic, however Ngannou labored his method again to the American with 4 straight-first spherical KO/TKO wins, earlier than knocking out Miocic within the second spherical final March to say the gold finally.

Ngannou’s first title defence will are available in the primary occasion of UFC 270 this month, towards interim champion and former teammateCiryl Gane. Forward of that unification bout, here’s a rating of all of Ngannou’s UFC knockouts. All KOs besides No2 will be seen within the video under, whereas TKOs usually are not included.

10. vs Curtis Blaydes – UFC Battle Evening (April 2016) – 5:00 of Spherical 2

That is one to get out of the way in which in all honesty, as a TKO as a result of physician stoppage between rounds. Ngannou places sufficient of a beating on Blaydes over two rounds that the American’s eye swells shut and impairs his imaginative and prescient. As such, it’s deemed that Blaydes can not proceed. A reputable victory for Ngannou, however not as emphatic as most on this listing.

9. vs Cain Velasquez – UFC Battle Evening (February 2019) – 0:26 of Spherical 1

One among Ngannou’s 4 wins towards a world or former world champion – all of which have been secured by way of KO/TKO. That is the second quickest stoppage win of Ngannou’s whole skilled MMA profession, however it is usually the strangest. Velasquez, returning after practically three years out, suffers a knee harm that sees the American collapse to the canvas and shell up as Ngannou beats down on him till the combat is stopped. It does appear that Ngannou might need prompted Velasquez to stumble within the first place with a punch, although it’s tough to inform.

8. vs Bojan Mihajlovic – UFC Battle Evening (July 2016) – 1:34 of Spherical 1

Ngannou lands two large left hooks as a panicked Mihajlovic runs alongside the cage earlier than dropping to the mat. Mihajlovic momentarily tries to maintain Ngannou at bay by kicking out from under, however the “Predator” is undeterred and lands a collection of unpolluted hammer fists. He then pours on punches as Mihajlovic shells up and referee Herb Dean steps in.

7. vs Curtis Blaydes – UFC Battle Evening (November 2018) – 0:45 of Spherical 1

In his second assembly with Ngannou, Blaydes fails to outlive anyplace practically so long as within the first. Ngannou throws a clubbing proper hook across the outdoors of the American’s jab, touchdown behind the ear and collapsing Blaydes. The wrestling specialist appears to be like to briefly be out already, however he gathers his senses simply sufficient to attempt a single-leg takedown – to no avail. Blaydes tries to face, all of the whereas absorbing heavy punches off each side, earlier than referee Marc Goddard decides he has seen sufficient (a lot to Blaydes’ incredulity…).

6. vs Junior dos Santos – UFC Battle Evening (June 2019) – 1:11 of Spherical 1

Dos Santos, for all his expertise, makes an enormous error only one minute into this bout. The previous champion massively overcommits to an overhand proper, and Ngannou leans again simply sufficient to keep away from it earlier than catching JDS with a brief proper hook. Dos Santos turns and tries to run away however is held by Ngannou, who drops the Brazilian with one other hook earlier than pummelling him on the mat. Herb Dean shortly decides sufficient is sufficient.

5. vs Andrei Arlovski – UFC Battle Evening (January 2017) – 1:32 of Spherical 1

Ngannou’s first win towards a world or former world champion. The up-and-comer leans again to keep away from a proper overhand from Arlovski, earlier than countering with a winging proper hook that appears to take the Belarusian-American off his toes barely. Arlovski then falls to the canvas and turtles up as Ngannou pounces directly, pouring on large punches to power the stoppage.

4. vs Luis Henrique – UFC Battle Evening (December 2015) – 2:53 of Spherical 2

A fascinating begin to Ngannou’s UFC profession – begin as you imply to go on. The debutant appears to be like to discover a method by way of or round Henrique’s guard with uppercuts and hooks, earlier than one will get by way of. It’s a left uppercut that does it, sending Henrique sprawling dramatically to the bottom. Ngannou’s intuition is to observe his opponent to the mat and slam down a hammer fist, and the job is finished.

3. vs Jairzinho Rozenstruik – UFC 249 (Could 2020) – 0:20 of Spherical 1

That is in all probability the least technical of Ngannou’s UFC knockouts, however it is likely one of the most emphatic. Rozenstruik enters the bout undefeated at 10-0, with 9 of these wins coming by way of KO/TKO. As such, it seems like this combat gained’t final lengthy and that there’s a real threat Ngannou would possibly get taken out, in what can be a contemporary visible. Nicely, the primary of these two finally ends up being true. There’s no actual feeling-out course of, with the heavyweights buying and selling punches virtually immediately.

Ngannou presses ahead with wild, winging punches as Rozenstruik backs up whereas making an attempt to return hearth. He even appears to catch Ngannou with a left hook, however milliseconds later he crumples below the very same shot from his opponent. With “Bigi Boy” slumped limply towards the fence, Ngannou provides a pair extra brutal punches and it’s throughout. The sight of Ngannou bull-rushing his opponent like that is scary.

2. vs Stipe Miocic – UFC 260 (March 2021) – 0:52 of Spherical 2

Three years after a humbling choice defeat by Miocic, who outwrestled Ngannou over 5 rounds whereas surviving the occasional energy punch in an absolute masterclass, the French-Cameroonian exacts his revenge. In a powerful first spherical, Ngannou reveals a lot improved takedown defence and in addition hurts Miocic on the toes. Within the second spherical, he drops the defending champion with an influence jab on the again finish of a form of reverse one-two. Miocic will get again to his toes however eats an uppercut for his troubles, then manages to briefly disengage.

The American unwisely rushes again into the pocket, nevertheless, the place he’s met by a counter left hook. It folds Miocic, whose physique sags to the mat in sickening trend. Ngannou provides a hammer fist – simply to ensure – earlier than Herb Dean intervenes. Ngannou calmly walks away, as new UFC heavyweight champion.

1. vs Alistair Overeem – UFC 218 (December 2017) – 1:42 of Spherical 1

That is primarily Ngannou’s trademark KO, probably the most brutally picturesque of all of them. In reality, it would simply be probably the most viral knockout in UFC historical past. You’d swear Overeem’s head is for certain to detach from his neck, the way in which his chin is propelled upwards from the power of Ngannou’s devastating uppercut. What makes the end much more spectacular is the way in which by which Ngannou first evades a hook from Overeem, earlier than utilizing that evasion as a form of spring.

The “Predator” subsequently twists again in direction of his opponent, the torque aiding in a vicious punch that switches off Overeem’s lights directly. Nonetheless, Ngannou manages to get in a signature hammer fist on his unconscious, floored opponent earlier than the referee’s intervention.