Francis Ngannou may already have his next MMA opponent lined up following a successful return to action at MVP MMA 1.
The former UFC heavyweight champion delivered another brutal finish on Saturday night at Intuit Dome, stopping Philipe Lins in the opening round during the inaugural MVP MMA event streamed live on Netflix.
Francis Ngannou added another violent highlight to his reel on Saturday night at Intuit Dome, flattening Philipe Lins in the very first round..
Earlier in the card, fellow ex-UFC heavyweight Robelis Despaigne made headlines of his own after flattening former UFC champion Junior dos Santos with a first-round knockout.
Moments after the win, Despaigne wasted no time calling for a showdown with Ngannou.
Ngannou Interested In Despaigne Matchup
Speaking during the post-fight press conference, Ngannou appeared open to making the fight happen.
“I’m down to fight. And if you think he can handle (it), OK, why not?”
Ngannou also praised Despaigne’s performance after the Cuban heavyweight scored one of the night’s most violent finishes.
“He did make a statement. He had a great finish. So, I mean, after a finish like that, it’s hard to argue to take something (from) somebody.”
The matchup would pit two dangerous knockout artists against each other. Ngannou remains one of the most feared punchers in MMA history, while Despaigne continues to build momentum with his explosive striking style.
Jon Jones Still On Ngannou’s Radar
After stepping away from MMA to pursue high-profile boxing matches, Ngannou has made it clear he still wants to stay active inside the cage.
The former UFC champion admitted he does not have a specific opponent in mind, although a long-discussed fight with Jon Jones still interests him.
“I mean, I really have nothing special. If not, maybe that Jon Jones fight, some big fight, but I really have nothing special.”
Ngannou also acknowledged the complications surrounding a potential Jones matchup, especially with Jones still tied to the UFC.