UFC

DILLIAN WHYTE has thrown his name into the hat to welcome former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou to the boxing ring.The Cameroonian clubber officially became a free agent this month after he failed to agree a new deal with mixed martial arts’ premier promotion.
Francis Ngannou is a free agent after failing to agree a new deal with the UFCCredit: GETTY
The former UFC heavyweight champ is hoping to box later this yearCredit: GETTY
Brit Dillian Whyte is willing face The Predator in both boxing and MMACredit: MATCHROOM BOXING
Ngannou, 35, has had several boxing and MMA promoters reach out to him following his UFC departure but is leaning towards competing in the former.
And recent WBC heavyweight title challenger Whyte is keen to throw down with the vicious knockout artist, who he’s also willing to trade leather with in the cage.
The Body Snatcher told Sky Sports: “I would love to fight him.
“Obviously he is a champion, a dangerous guy, but I think I would bash him up.
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“It would be a very interesting fight, because we both have got a martial arts background and he’s up for jumping in at the deep end, fighting someone like me. It would get lots of interest and eyeballs.”
Whyte, 34, is no stranger to the confines of the cage having fought under the UCMMA banner nearly 15 years ago.
So he’s certainly not afraid to put himself in harm’s way and face The Predator at his own game.
He said: “A lot of these boxing guys pick on these MMA and martial arts guys and beat them up in a boxing ring.
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“But they are not brave enough to get in the cage.
“I would happily fight him in boxing and in the cage as well.”
Ngannou’s seven-year stint in the octagon was filled with brutal and viral knockouts, although his highlight reel doesn’t strike fear into the hear of the heavy-handed Whyte.
The Brit said: “It is much easier to knock people out with four-ounce gloves that have next to no padding.
“Can he do the same with a 10-ounce boxing glove? I know I can.”
“Obviously he’s a good fighter, he’s strong, but there are a lot of holes in his game.
“He is throwing from far away, he is a slugger.
Francis Ngannou’s ferocious striking doesn’t intimidate Dillian WhyteCredit: Alamy
“In MMA, that style runs, because you have small gloves and you just need to connect anywhere with someone to do damage.
“But this is boxing. You need skills and good timing.
“He can’t just come out and start slugging and think he can knock people out.
“A guy standing in front of him can make him miss. All those punches he throws.
“He’s dangerous and a big strong guy, but it’s a great fight for me, to be honest.”
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Brixton banger Whyte hasn’t fought since his controversial decision victory over Jermaine Franklin last November.
A summer trilogy fight with Anthony Joshua is in the pipeline for the fan favourite, provided Joshua gets past American Franklin on April 1. More

DEONTAY WILDER’S manager has opened the door to a massive fight with ex-UFC champion Francis Ngannou. Ngannou has walked out on the UFC – being stripped of the title – after failing to agree a new contract.
Deontay Wilder’s manager has opened the door to a fight with Francis NgannouCredit: Reuters
Francis Ngannou has left the UFCCredit: Getty
And already the Cameroonian has talked up a lucrative switch to the boxing ring.
Wilder’s manager Shelly Finkel once held tentative talks with UFC president Dana White for a fight between the American and Ngannou.
And he is willing to revisit the idea now the heavyweight is a free agent following his UFC exit.
Finkel told SunSport: “I’d be open to it, I’d be foolish to say. ‘I’m not interested, don’t talk to me.’ 
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“As a matter of fact, Dana White and I had some conversations but it just never went anywhere. Dana actually wanted it. 
“Then Deontay met Ngannou when he was training for Robert Helenius, while he was out in Vegas and they got along fine.”
Wilder, 37, was welcomed to the UFC’s training facility last year before he brutally knocked out Helenius, 38, in round one of his October return.
And he bumped into Ngannou, fuelling speculation of a blockbuster bout between the two famed punchers.
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And Wilder recently welcomed the fight when asked about Ngannou’s decision to leave the UFC.
He told ESNews: “I would love to. Another African brother. I respect his decision on what he’s done.”
Wilder and his team have pursued a fight with Anthony Joshua, 33, following years of failed talks in the past.
But Joshua is on a rebuilding job following consecutive points losses to unbeaten Oleksandr Usyk, 36.
AJ looks set to return on April 1 at the O2 Arena against Jermaine Franklin, 29, who lost a disputed decision to Dillian Whyte, 34, in November.
So Wilder has turned his attention to Andy Ruiz Jr, 33, after the WBC ordered them into a final eliminator for the title.
Finkel said: “Deontay is in good spirits, right now we’re looking at a couple of options and most likely we’ll be fighting Ruiz, I hope in the second quarter of the year.
“In the next couple of weeks I’ll know if that can be made. Ruiz is not a second-class opponent, so he’s asking for a good payday also, which makes it all the more difficult.” 
Deontay Wilder pictured with Francis Ngannou More

TYSON FURY has been slammed for the “dumbest idea in sports history” after calling out Francis Ngannou to a hybrid-rules fight. Ngannou is now a free agent having walked out on the UFC, while still heavyweight champion, after failing to agree a new contract.
Tyson Fury has called out Francis NgannouCredit: Rex
Francis Ngannou left the UFC after failing to agree a new contractCredit: Getty
And it has cleared the pathway to realising his long-standing dream of a career in boxing.
Fury, 34, proposed a hybrid bout against Ngannou, 36, including a fight with smaller 4oz gloves in the cage but under boxing rules.
Although ex-UFC title challenger Chael Sonnen, 45, has ridiculed the idea.
He said on his YouTube channel: “I see Tyson Fury come out over the weekend and finally clear up first what we’re going to do first with Francis.
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“They’ve always said they’re going to make up a sport. These two were going to do a game, but they were going to do something combat related.
“For reasons unknown, they weren’t going to box. Francis offered to box, and for reasons unknown, Tyson did not accept that invitation, and they were going to make up rules.
“Tyson finally laid out for us what they are. They were going to fight in a cage. I have no idea why. They’re going to fight in a cage. OK, fine.
“They’re going to wear 4oz gloves. I have no idea why, but OK, fine. They are then going to follow boxing rules, the rules of Queensberry.
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“I put this out there because of how disappointing it is to see these boxers as beggers.
“Guys that are hot to fight to go out there and get it on your own, that have physical capabilities that other men can only dream of.
“But they don’t know how to go out there and get it on their own. They just don’t know how.
“I bring it to you because to watch Tyson Fury beg, it was surprising. I don’t want to call it disappointing.
“It was really close to calling it that, but I don’t want to call it that.
I bring it to you because to watch Tyson Fury beg, it was surprising. I don’t want to call it disappointing. Chael Sonnen on Tyson Fury calling out Francis Ngannou
“So Tyson comes to us with perhaps the dumbest idea in sports history, perhaps. He knows it is.”
Fury is currently in talks for the heavyweight division’s first four-belt undisputed title decider with Oleksandr Usyk, 36.
But as negotiations drag on, the Gypsy King is lining up Ngannou as a blockbuster alternative.
He told Seconds Out: “Francis Ngannou, I know you’re out of contract with the UFC. You want to earn some big boy money?
“Come see the Gypsy King and let’s do a big, big fight for the baddest MF on the planet.
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“Let’s kick it up spicy, in a cage, four-ounce gloves under Queensbury [rules] and let’s have a badass referee like Iron Mike Tyson.
“Did I just sell that to the world? If the contract doesn’t get signed with Usyk next for the fight of the century in boxing then we’ll do the Ngannou fight.”
Tyson Fury and Francis Ngannou at WembleyCredit: BT SPORTS More

EDDIE HEARN has opened the door to a “fascinating” fight between Anthony Joshua and Francis Ngannou. Ngannou is free to make a switch to boxing after walking out on the UFC while champion after failing to agree a new contract.
Eddie Hearn opened the door to a ‘fascinating’ fight between Anthony Joshua and Francis NgannouCredit: PA
Francis Ngannou has left the UFCCredit: Getty
The Cameroonian called out Joshua, 33, and Tyson Fury, 34, with the prospect talked up by promoter Hearn.
He told DAZN: “I think AJ is all about the biggest fights and the biggest challenges.
“I think AJ has got his mind on becoming a three-time world champion, but a fight against Francis Ngnannou is fascinating.”
Ngannou, 36, has been stripped of the UFC heavyweight title and confirmed he is eyeing a move into boxing.
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He said on The MMA Hour: “I still want to achieve something in boxing and I want to stay in MMA as well.
“I discovered MMA first in my life and I feel like I have some mileage to give in my sport.
“In a perfect world, I go out there get some boxing match then get some MMA, depending on the challenges that are out there.
“If they are out there, I want to fight the top guys in boxing. I don’t know, I think Fury has retired and come back.
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“I don’t know where Fury is right now, but now it is time. Before, we could not do anything concrete beyond the social media stuff.
“Whatever it is, if it is with Tyson Fury, I will take it. I have no problem doing boxing with 4oz gloves, we will figure it out.
“Tyson Fury or Anthony Joshua would be my first ideal opponent.”
Francis Ngannou pictured with UFC president Dana WhiteCredit: Getty More

FRANCIS NGANNOU has paved the way for a move over to boxing after walking out on the UFC. Ngannou leaves while still the UFC heavyweight champion after failing to agree a new contract extension.
Francis Ngannou has left the UFCCredit: Getty
And the Cameroonian confirmed realising his long-standing dream of entering the boxing world is on the cards.
He said on The MMA Hour: “I still want to achieve something in boxing and I want to stay in MMA as well.”
So here, SunSport takes a look at five massive options awaiting Ngannou in the ring.
Tyson Fury
The obvious choice would be the No1 in the world, unbeaten WBC champ Fury, 34, who has called out Ngannou before.
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They even faced off against each other in April 2022 at Wembley when the Gypsy King knocked out Dillian Whyte, 34.
Fury’s US promoter Bob Arum has given the fight the green light before, making it an easy one to make on paper.
Tyson Fury with Francis Ngannou at WembleyCredit: BT SPORTS
Deontay Wilder
Wilder, 37, is another option Ngannou has talked up in the past and it is a guaranteed blockbuster for fans.
They are considered two of the biggest punchers in the world, making for an explosive prospect.
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And Wilder even claimed Premier Boxing Champions boss Al Haymon had discussed the Ngannou fight with him behind the scenes.
Anthony Joshua
Joshua, 33, has also been named by Ngannou as a potential boxing opponent alongside Fury.
He said: “Whatever it is, if it is with Tyson Fury, I will take it. I have no problem doing boxing with 4oz gloves, we will figure it out.
“Tyson Fury or Anthony Joshua would be my first ideal opponent.”
Anthony Joshua has been called out by Francis NgannouCredit: GETTY
Dillian Whyte
Whyte in the summer of 2020 recorded an unaired virtual face-off interview with Ngannou and claimed to have got the better of him.
Promoter Eddie Hearn proposed a two-fight deal, with a bout in boxing and MMA, with ex-kickboxer Whyte having fought in the cage before.
The Professional Fighters League have also just launched a pay-per-view super-fight division on DAZN, the same app Hearn works with.
Dillian Whyte has exchanged words with Francis Ngannou beforeCredit: PA
Derek Chisora
Chisora, 38, has teased a move to MMA before and recently called Ngannou out.
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He said: “I’m trying to fight Ngannou. I want to do it in the UFC and boxing.”
Chisora was beaten by Fury in ten rounds in December but has ruled out retirement.
Tyson Fury beat Derek Chisora in DecemberCredit: Not known, clear with picture desk More

FRANCIS NGANNOU has called out Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua after leaving the UFC. The heavyweight has walked out as UFC champion after failing to agree a new contract with the MMA powerhouse.
Francis Ngannou has called out Tyson Fury and Anthony JoshuaCredit: Getty
Tyson Fury after beating Dillian Whyte in April 2022Credit: Reuters
Anthony Joshua before his first fight with Oleksandr Usyk in September 2021Credit: Getty
Now Ngannou, 36, is ready to realise his long-standing dream of making it as a professional boxer.
And he is wasting no time in calling out two of sport’s best in Fury, 34, and Joshua, 33.
Ngannou said on The MMA Hour: “I still want to achieve something in boxing and I want to stay in MMA as well.
“I discovered MMA first in my life and I feel like I have some mileage to give in my sport.
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“In a perfect world, I go out there get some boxing match then get some MMA, depending on the challenges that are out there.
“If they are out there, I want to fight the top guys in boxing. I don’t know, I think Fury has retired and come back.
“I don’t know where Fury is right now, but now it is time. Before, we could not do anything concrete beyond the social media stuff.
“Whatever it is, if it is with Tyson Fury, I will take it. I have no problem doing boxing with 4oz gloves, we will figure it out.
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“Tyson Fury or Anthony Joshua would be my first ideal opponent.”
Fury faced off against Ngannou in April after he knocked out Dillian Whyte, 34, at Wembley.
But at the time, the Cameroonian was injured and still in talks to extend his UFC deal.
The UFC prohibit their stars from fighting outside of the promotion, unless given special permission.
Conor McGregor, 34, was given so in 2017 for his loss to American legend Floyd Mayweather, 45.
But Ngannou was told he would not be allowed to replicate McGregor’s move, leaving him unwilling to be tied down to one promotion.
He said: “In that contract, I’m not free. I’m not an independent contractor. I have no rights.
“I hand over all the power to you guys. I’ve seen in the past how you guys can utilise your power against me, and I don’t want that.”
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Francis Ngannou with UFC president Dana White in January 2022Credit: Getty More