INGLEWOOD, Calif. – It looks like Francis Ngannou might have his next opponent in MMA.
Ngannou was called out by fellow former UFC heavyweight Robelis Despaigne on Saturday night during the inaugural MVP MMA card. Both Ngannou (19-3) and Despaigne (6-2) competed on the main card of MVP MMA 1, which took place at Intuit Dome and streamed live on Netflix. Ngannou knocked out Philipe Lins in the first round, and Despaigne slept former UFC champion Junior Dos Santos, also in the first.
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After Despaigne’s win, he called out Ngannou, saying, “Francis, let’s do it.” Ngannou was asked about the callout at the MVP MMA post-fight press conference, and he seemed interested in the matchup against the Cuban.
“Okay, then let’s talk about it,” Ngannou said. “I’m down to fight. And if you think he can handle, OK, why not? He did make a statement. He had a great finish. So, I mean, after a finish like that, it’s hard to argue to take something (away from) somebody.”
More: MVP ‘more than willing’ to co-promote Francis Ngannou vs. Jon Jones with UFC
Ngannou, who took a hiatus from MMA to pursue boxing, wants to continue fighting in the sport that made him a champion in the UFC. He has no strong preference on a rival, although a fight with Jon Jones does call his attention. He just sees many hurdles to the bout with Jones happening, given Jones has several fights left in his UFC contract.
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“What do I want? Whatever is out there,” Ngannou said. “I mean, I really have nothing special. If not, maybe that Jon Jones fight, some big fight, but I really have nothing special. I just wanna keep doing it as long as we go. If I have something, I do it. I think I have done what could have been done.”
This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: Francis Ngannou entertains idea of fighting heavyweight KO artist next
