Former UFC flyweight champion Demetrious Johnson is not backing down from his controversial take on Francis Ngannou’s potential in MMA. Despite receiving backlash for his comments following Ngannou’s knockout loss to Anthony Joshua in a boxing match, Johnson stands by his belief that Joshua would defeat Ngannou in an MMA fight.
In a recent interview on The MMA Hour, Johnson defended his stance by pointing out Ngannou’s lack of world-class kickboxing skills and highlighting Joshua’s athleticism and understanding of range and distance. Johnson argued that with proper training, Joshua could easily defeat Ngannou in an MMA bout.
While Johnson acknowledges Ngannou’s success in the boxing world of MMA, he believes that Joshua’s boxing skills surpass those of Ngannou’s previous opponent, Stipe Miocic. Johnson emphasized that MMA is a sport where individuals can excel in one area while having deficiencies in others, making it easier to become a world champion.
Ngannou’s head coach, Eric Nicksick, somewhat agrees with Johnson’s assessment, acknowledging that adjustments would need to be made in an MMA fight against Joshua based on their performance in the boxing match.
While it is unlikely that Joshua will ever transition to MMA, the debate over his hypothetical matchup with Ngannou continues to spark discussion among fans and experts in the fighting world. Despite the controversy, Johnson remains steadfast in his belief that Joshua would have the upper hand in an MMA showdown with Ngannou.