UFC vs. Francis Ngannou: Kamaru Usman's Censored Act Sparks Controversy
UFC vs. Francis Ngannou: Kamaru Usman’s Censored Act Sparks Controversy
UFC seemed determined to mute Kamaru Usman’s show of support for Francis Ngannou during a recent episode of UFC 294 Embedded. The episode delved into Usman’s preparations for his imminent showdown with Khamzat Chimaev in a middleweight clash set to unfold this weekend in Abu Dhabi.
Francis Ngannou’s departure from the UFC has been anything but amicable. After months of negotiations for contract renewals hit an impasse, Ngannou bid farewell to the promotion earlier this year, leaving as an active titleholder. Following his exit, the Cameroonian powerhouse inked a deal with the Professional Fighters League (PFL) and is now poised to make his debut in the world of boxing against the reigning WBC heavyweight champion, Tyson Fury, on October 28 in Riyadh.
Given the close friendship and personal bond shared between Francis Ngannou and Kamaru Usman, it was only natural for ‘The Nigerian Nightmare’ to express his solidarity with ‘The Predator’ by sporting a specially designed t-shirt. However, it appears that the UFC was having none of it.
The MMA-focused Twitter handle @BloodyElbow brought the issue to light, sharing screenshots from the UFC 294 Embedded episode. These screenshots clearly depicted a segment of Usman’s t-shirt deliberately blurred out, seemingly in an effort to stifle any promotion of Ngannou’s upcoming boxing showdown. This move by the UFC sparked a wave of reactions from fans and the MMA community.
One fan astutely pointed out the UFC’s lingering bitterness towards Francis Ngannou, succinctly noting, “They are super salty.” Another fan didn’t hold back, stating, “UFC is hating hard on Ngannou.”
The social media post from @BloodyElbow on Twitter quickly attracted more fan comments, all echoing a similar sentiment of surprise and disapproval towards the UFC’s response.
The controversy surrounding Kamaru Usman’s censored act underscores the ongoing tension between Francis Ngannou and his former employer, setting the stage for a dramatic lead-up to Ngannou’s high-stakes boxing debut against Tyson Fury. To delve deeper into the unfolding drama, watch the full episode below.
Tyson Fury has been told Mike Tyson is doing a great job of sharpening Francis Ngannou’s skills ahead of their crossover fight.
Heavyweight champion Fury is in the final stages of preparing for his fight against Ngannou, which takes place next weekend in Saudi Arabia. Fury’s WBC belt won’t be on the line in the fight because Ngannou, a former UFC heavyweight champion, is making his boxing debut on the night and is therefore not ranked by the organisation.
‘Iron Mike’ is training Ngannou for the fight alongside his MMA coaches Eric Nicksick and Dewey Cooper. Fury’s promoter Bob Arum tweeted about the boxing legend’s coaching role: “Mike Tyson is doing a great job training and advising Francis Ngannou. I’ve cautioned Tyson Fury to be very careful, particularly of Ngannou’s incredible right hand.”
Fury has already signed a deal to face fellow heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk in an undisputed title clash that could take place as soon as December 23. ‘The Gypsy King’ will first have to get past Ngannou before thinking about his pencilled-in fight with Usyk, which is more likely to take place in the first quarter of next year.
Tyson was recently called out for a fight by Fury’s dad John but the boxing legend has ruled out any chance of a ring return. ‘Iron Mike’ admitted that Ngannou will have to knock Fury out cold to win their fight as he praised the resilience of the heavyweight champion who was named after him.
“I am helping Ngannou. I am learning what he is able to do. He’s able to do so much more than I anticipated. He has what it takes to knockout anything or anybody standing in his way. Once he lands a punch on Tyson Fury’s jaw he is going to knock him out too. Nobody can survive that.’ He’s making some money for his family,” Tyson told Mail Online.
“Let me do what I need to do and then when it’s time to box I will box. Boxing people need to keep out of my personal business. Fury’s not the all-time great but he’s one of the all-time greats. He’s really high up. He can do greatness right now. He’s always going to bring a good night of boxing, fight hard. You’ve got to try and hit him with a shot to knock him cold out because he always gets back up and fights hard.”
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