Francis Ngannou (12-3) is back.
The power-hitting heavyweight made quick work of Curtis Blaydes (10-2) in the main event of UFC Fight Night 141 from Beijing, China. The bout only lasted 45 seconds as Ngannou landed a huge right hand that put Blaydes on the canvas. He then began to pound him out until the referee called the fight off.
Two years ago these men met with the same outcome: Ngannou walked away a TKO winner following a doctor’s stoppage. But leading up to their rematch, everything seemed to be in favor of Blaydes. Since the loss, the 27-year-old American went undefeated over his next six fights.
Ngannou, 32, was coming off back-to-back losses to Stipe Miocic and Derrick Lewis. He looked finished as a heavyweight contender following the losing skid after once being labeled the Next Big thing.
In hindsight, though, the rough stretch of 2018 Ngannou was forced to endure may actually have helped him:
“I found myself,” Ngannou said during the post-fight interview inside the cage. “I had to grow as a fighter. I have learned more in this year then I have in my whole career.”
Ngannou’s return to the win column was impressive. His losses only made him better and that means nothing but bad news for opposing heavyweights.
