Francis Ngannou continues to dominate opponents since leaving the UFC, but Ben Askren believes the former heavyweight king is running into a major problem outside the promotion.
Ngannou added another quick finish to his résumé on Saturday night at MVP MMA 1 in Inglewood, California. The former UFC champion stopped Philipe Lins in the opening round at Intuit Dome. Before that, he also scored a rapid finish over Renan Ferreira.
While the victories have been dominant, Askren thinks Ngannou lacks the level of competition needed to build bigger momentum.
Askren Compares Ngannou’s Situation To His ONE Championship Run
Askren discussed the topic during an appearance on Daniel Cormier’s YouTube channel. The former Bellator champion said he experienced a similar issue after leaving Bellator for ONE Championship while still undefeated.
“Actually, you know, that was one of my big issues: when Dana wouldn’t sign me in 2013, and then I went to ONE Championship.”
“And when I left Bellator and went to ONE Championship, I just didn’t have anyone who could really fight with me.”
Askren explained that dominant fighters still need recognizable opponents to help elevate their careers and maintain fan interest.
“So, I was thinking of this of Francis, and this has been Francis’ problem ever since he left the UFC.”
“You need dance partners.”
Ngannou Still Searching For The Right Opponents
According to Askren, Ngannou’s dominance may actually be hurting his ability to find compelling matchups outside the UFC.
“And Francis is in the exact same situation where he’s got no one that can really fight with him, and you need that to build a star.”
Askren’s analysis matches our own. After all, how can Ngannou build his reputation if MVP does not have a roster of high level heavyweights?
Ngannou walked away from the UFC in early 2023 while holding the heavyweight title. His final appearance inside the octagon ended with a victory over Ciryl Gane.
Ciryl Gane, meanwhile, is heading into a career-defining showdown, with a blockbuster clash against Alex Pereira for the interim heavyweight championship booked for UFC Freedom 250 on June 14.
Gane will be able to compete for the fame and prestige of being a UFC champion, while Ngannou may face UFC reject Robelis Despaigne next.
And that is telling in itself.