What would happen if two combustible forces in the heavyweight division met?
That’s what most people wondered when Anthony Johnson (22-6 MMA, 12-6 UFC) announced his return to the UFC, and that it would be at heavyweight.
One of the fighters who could match the knockout power “Rumble” posseses is Francis Ngannou (14-2 MMA, 9-2 UFC). With a combined 26 knockouts on their resumes, each has made a career of turning the lights out on their opponents.
When asked about a potential fight with Ngannou, Johnson said he’d be interested only if the stakes were high, and that a fight that big would have to have implications like a title on the line.
Ngannou echoed that sentiment.
“I listened to what he said, and he said it well,” Ngannou told MMA Junkie. “I couldn’t say it better than that. If they put it in the right context and they put the right elements for that fight, then it should happen. But it won’t just be like, ‘OK, just go fight. Entertain people. Just go do some main event,’ or whatever, or some special fight. That doesn’t interest me.”
Ngannou is currently chasing gold, and has had to sit on the sidelines waiting for the right fight. He is on a three-fight winning streak with finishes over Curtis Blaydes and former heavyweight champions Cain Velasquez and Junior Dos Santos.
