Francis Ngannou has emphatically declared himself the 'lineal heavyweight champion' of mixed martial arts, stating he views his upcoming bout as a defence of that coveted title. The Cameroonian-French fighter, who departed the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) in January 2023 after failing to agree new terms, has consistently maintained his belief that he remains the sport's premier heavyweight, despite not currently holding a belt in any major organisation.
Ngannou's last professional MMA fight was in January 2022, where he successfully defended his UFC Heavyweight Championship against Ciryl Gane via unanimous decision. This marked his sixth consecutive victory and solidified his reputation as one of the most fearsome punchers in the sport. His subsequent departure from the UFC, citing contractual disputes and a desire for greater freedom, left the heavyweight division without its undisputed champion.
Since leaving the UFC, Ngannou has ventured into professional boxing, notably facing WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury in October 2023. Despite losing that bout via a controversial split decision, Ngannou earned widespread praise for his performance, even knocking down Fury during the fight. He is now set to return to the boxing ring against Anthony Joshua in March, before any potential return to MMA.
His assertion of being the 'lineal champion' stems from the traditional boxing concept where the title belongs to the fighter who defeats the previous champion, regardless of organisational belts. Ngannou believes that by defeating Ciryl Gane, who was the interim champion, and subsequently not losing his title in the cage, he retains the legitimate claim to the top spot.
This statement adds significant intrigue to Ngannou's future in combat sports, particularly concerning a potential return to MMA. While he is currently focused on his boxing career, his desire to be recognised as the sport's top heavyweight suggests that a return to the octagon, and potentially a clash with current UFC Heavyweight Champion Jon Jones, remains a strong possibility in the long term.