UFC legend reveals three reasons why AJ would BUY Francis Ngannou in an MMA fight

Sports

UFC icon Demetrious Johnson has made a stunning claim that Anthony Joshua could beat Francis Ngannou in a mixed martial arts match.

AJ possibly ended the former UFC heavyweight champion’s foray into boxing last week with a brutal knockout in their crossover clash in Saudi Arabia.

Francis Ngannou fought Anthony Joshua in a lucrative Saudi showdown last weekCredit: REUTERS

Ngannou was brutally knocked out by AJ in the second round of their Riyadh rumbleCredit: GETTY

Ex-UFC flyweight champion Demetrious Johnson fancy AJ's chances against Ngannou in MMA fight — Ex-UFC flyweight champion Demetrious Johnson fancy AJ’s chances against Ngannou in MMA fightCredit: GETTY

It took the Watford warrior less than two rounds to separate the MMA superstar from consciousness in their lucrative Riyadh rumble.

And after seeing the way he dismissed Ngannou, Johnson believes Joshua could have the same success in the cage – provided The Predator tries to stick with him alone again.

The former long-reigning UFC flyweight king said YouTube channel: “Will Anthony Joshua beat Francis Ngannou in an MMA fight? I think so.

“It would just be another eye-catching match. AJ understands his distance. He understands the emptiness.

“He has better hands than Francis, and he can even make Francis smell and miss again.

Unless Francis is going to change his tactics and start grabbing and wrestling him. But AJ is very athletic.

“He’s smaller and more agile. I think he could fill the shot and give it to Francis Ngannou.”

Ngannou, 37, starred in his professional boxing debut against WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury last October.

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The Cameroonian clubber cut and dropped The Gypsy King in the third round of their match, which he lost via split decision.

Johnson, like many others, was impressed by Ngannou’s performance on the night but believes he showed all his cards against the Brit.

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He said: “Another thing that could have been Francis’ downfall was that he had that boxing match with Tyson Fury.

“So Anthony Joshua got the chance to see Francis fight boxing.

“What did he take away from the Francis-Tyson boxing match? He probably said, ‘Okay, Francis isn’t moving his head.’

‘He doesn’t really move his head. He’s not very light on his feet’, where Tyson Fury is a little light on his feet and Tyson tries to avoid the fight.

“This time Anthony Joshua went straight to work, and that’s usually not a good sign if the other opponent doesn’t respond.”

Ngannou is a devastated and forlorn figure after the loss, but is convinced his journey is far from over.

He told SecondsOut: “Absolutely [I still plan to box].

“Right now I feel like I have an obligation to keep going because I’m owed something now.

“I think boxing owes me now and I really intend to collect.”