Francis Ngannou Scores Brutal Knockout Win and Calls Out Jon Jones
Francis Ngannou put on another stunning display by knocking out Philipe Lins before swiftly moving on to the prospect of a super-fight against Jon Jones. The former UFC heavyweight champ returned to MMA after a long layoff and proved himself as one of the most feared knockout artists in the sport. Ngannou defeated Lains in the first round with a devastating right hand, continuing his winning streak.
Ngannou’s Journey Continues
With his incredible punching power, Ngannou has become one of the most potent heavyweight opponents in MMA history since his first professional fight in 2013. Ngannou won the UFC heavyweight title before leaving the promotion as champion and went on to compete in boxing against elite-level opponents. He left former boxing champ Tyson Fury looking for a fight, and then lost to Anthony Joshua. Despite those setbacks, Francis remained one of the biggest draws in combat sports heading into his return to competition.
Lins came into the fight with the advantage of a diverse skill set with a blend of striking and Brazilian jiu-jitsu, and years of international MMA experience. He went into the bout with a four-fight winning streak; his last win was against Ion Cuțelaba in March 2024. Many viewed Lins as a dangerous challenge because of his durability and well-rounded grappling skills.
Ngannou’s Power Ends Fight Quickly
The first round started with both being cautious, exchanging kicks and positioning. Ngannou moved in on Lins as soon as he could and took shots at him from a distance while he tried to combine attacks with takedowns.
Lins managed to push Ngannou toward the fence in the first round and repeatedly searched for takedowns, but he defended effectively while threatening submissions and landing heavy punches during exchanges.
The battle raged on, and over time, his strength prevailed. The former UFC champion started taking clean right-hand and body shots and pressured Lins. Francis found himself in a great position again on the fence and then found the perfect right hand, which sent Lins flying. The brutal finish was enough to get the crowd up and jumping, and made another highlight-reel-worthy knockout for Ngannou’s already Hall-of-Fame-worthy resume.
Jon Jones Superfight Becomes Main Focus
Following the win, the focus was immediately on whether Ngannou and Jon Jones would start a feud. Ngannou spoke directly to Jones, who was installed at the Netflix broadcast desk during the post-fight interview. He praised Jones as a great fighter but noted that business complications were preventing the matchup from happening.
Ngannou also discussed Jones’ contract dilemma and urged him to get to a point where it’s possible to make the fight happen outside of UFC. During the broadcast, Jones later acknowledged his interest in the matchup and said he would explore ways to make it happen in the future.
Other Choices For Ngannou
While the Jones fight looks like the fight that’s on the radar, there are still other opportunities for Ngannou. Having competed on the first MMA event streamed on Netflix, he is expected to remain one of the biggest stars connected to future crossover events promoted under the MVP banner. He has also remained open to returning for major crossover boxing matches, including a potential fight with Jake Paul.
Rising heavyweight contender Robelis Despaigne also called out Francis after defeating Junior dos Santos, opening another possible scenario for a matchup. But for the moment, Ngannou is considering focusing on the heavyweight boxing world again after yet another savage display.
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