Champion Ngannou after the win: I was close to calling the fight off, I tore my ligaments

Francis Ngannou was a slight underdog in his fight with Cyril Gano, but he managed to bring the fight to a victorious end and defended his heavyweight title. After the fight, however, he explained that it didn’t have to happen at all.

Many had already written off Francis Ngannou and believed that his opponent, Ciryl Gane, would become the new UFC heavyweight champion.

But the opposite was true. The evenly matched fight was eventually won on points by the Cameroonian fighter, but he suffered a serious injury a few weeks before the tournament.

“Three weeks ago I destroyed my knee. I completely tore my MCL and with it my anterior cruciate ligament. I was close to cancelling the fight, but I couldn’t. I couldn’t imagine pulling out of this fight,” he said after the fight.

Considering this statement, his performance is even more admirable, he came into the match with bandages, without which perhaps it would not have been possible after such an injury.

What did he say about his opponent, who has now suffered the first defeat of his professional MMA career? “I knew he was going to be a tough opponent. I didn’t doubt that for a moment because I know him. But I was surprised that he lasted until the very end.

He was very good and he knew how to handle each situation. Fortunately, my coach kept reminding me to stay calm. It was useless to chase him,” he added.

Source: UFC, MMA Shorties