Israel Adesanya was in awe of Francis Ngannou‘s performance in his boxing debut against Tyson Fury, believing that Ngannou should put boxing on hold and return to MMA for his next fight.
Israel Adesanya, the two-time UFC middleweight champion, was in awe of Francis Ngannou’s performance in his boxing debut against Tyson Fury. Adesanya had a front row seat for the fight and even accompanied Ngannou to the ring in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. He was so engrossed in the bout that he couldn’t give a detailed round-by-round breakdown of the scoring. Adesanya described his experience watching his friend fight as being in a tense state, comparing it to watching a loved one compete. He was thrilled when Ngannou knocked Fury down in the third round, and despite Ngannou’s loss in a narrow split decision, Adesanya believed he had won the fight based on the vibes in the arena.
Two of the judges scored the fight in favor of Fury, with one judge giving Ngannou a close 95-94 score. Adesanya acknowledged that some rounds could have been tossups, but he firmly believed that, as a spectator, you can simply tell who won a fight. He had reservations about the judges’ decision due to his past experiences in combat sports, particularly in boxing. Adesanya expressed his doubts that boxing bureaucrats would appreciate an undefeated MMA fighter with no prior boxing experience defeating the reigning lineal champion.
Adesanya is currently taking a break from competition after losing his UFC middleweight title to Sean Strickland. When asked about Ngannou’s future plans, Adesanya stated that he would like to see Ngannou return to the MMA cage. While he acknowledged the excitement of Ngannou’s boxing skills, Adesanya emphasized his preference for mixed martial arts. He wanted to see Ngannou utilize all his limbs in the octagon, showcasing his powerful legs and arms. Adesanya expressed his love for boxing but asserted his desire to witness Ngannou’s multidimensional fighting style.
In conclusion, Israel Adesanya was captivated by Francis Ngannou’s boxing debut against Tyson Fury. Despite Ngannou’s loss, Adesanya believed he had won the fight based on the energy in the arena. Adesanya had doubts about the judges’ decisions in boxing due to his own experiences in combat sports. He expressed a desire to see Ngannou return to MMA and showcase his skills in the cage, emphasizing his preference for mixed martial arts.