Does Francis Ngannou belong to the top 5 HW GOAT?

If he beats Jon Jones and than Tom Aspinall. Than were talking possible overall GOAT even.
 
lerobshow said:
With everything going on with the PFL and Francis Ngannou showing up in Usman’s corner, people are starting to talk again about a possible UFC return — and honestly, I just want to say it up front: I think it’s the right move.

The UFC needs to re-sign Francis, even if it means Dana has to swallow his ego. You simply can’t pass on Francis vs. Jon or Francis vs. Tom — these are massive fights that could save a heavyweight division that, let’s be real, is in the toilet right now.

Seriously, look at the division today — who are the real up-and-coming threats? Almeida? Gane? Lol.

But I’m making this post because I want your opinion. I saw a heated debate recently and I really want to hear from the Sherdog crowd on this. I won’t say where I stand because I don’t want to seem biased — but here’s the question (true or false):

Francis Ngannou does not belong in the top 5 greatest heavyweights of all time.

For example, would you put Francis over any of these guys in terms of career?
  • Fedor
  • Cormier
  • Stipe
  • Cain
  • JDS
  • Werdum
I’m honestly curious what you guys think. Just had a long back-and-forth with someone on this and want to get the take from the old school fans here.

Does Francis really belong in the top 5 all-time HWs? Let’s hear the arguments.
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Nah, it's like they are trying to find someone who can beat Jon Jones lol .... The Luke Thomas "I don't think anyone can beat Merab, his cardio is insane" , Tom analysing Merab vs Sugar saying "Merab is that guy in the last round, 23 minutes, all cut and still landing elbows on you, I can attest to that" ... JJ and Merab raising the belt together in a video captured in a bar like stuff.

This Ngannou tall is more like Dana thinking "if JJ vacates, then he will have beaten everyone in HW who could beat him. Can Ngannou do it? Nah. Let JJ retire, I guess when I said he was the baddest ever it was really true" ...

JJ and Ngannou maybe do a UFC x PFL crossover. Chael even said "ok, I'd be up for this match, but as long as both disappear later. JJ will retire after that, one more and done".

When a reporter asked Dana past year, when Dan wasn't even thinking about doing JJ vs Tom, a reporter said JJ would retire ... Dana was even happy like "did he really say that?" ... Then the reporter "he said ppl are talking about him being scared of Tom, and that if UFC offers him a good deal, he'd stick" .... Dana — "There you go. It's always the same with JJ. You fucking crazy heads just complicate things by saying he's scared of Tom. It's always the same. Just so everyone knows, JJ is not scared of Tom and he wants that fight. If you all think he's afraid, you're wrong. " ... Before that, Dana was totally whatever if JJ retired. He was basically hinting — oh fans are again buying the JJ is scared narrative. Actually, Dana knows JJ and knows he can even act pretending to be scared but that when he is about to fight, he's a badass stone cold killer....
 
Doughie99 said:
They already HAVE one.
His name is Tom Aspinall and he's gonna be around for quite a long time.
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But who is he gonna fight? lol. As I said the division is in the toilet now.

Realistically, you have Jones, Almeida and Gane that can fight him. After that there's literally nothing.
 
Nagannou's legacy at HW is >>> than Jon's HW run. Ngannou beat Stipe for the belt (this was before Stipe was retired and 40) and then beat up Gane for the defense. Plus we saw Jon duck Ngannou and the HW division until Ngannou left the UFC. Then we see Jon duck Tom and the rest of the HW division.
 
humdizzle said:
His overall record has aged like milk unfortunately. He beat prime Blaydes and Rozenstruik. But JDS, Cain, Arlovski, and Overeem wins were all very old versions of former champs.

He is 1-1 with Stipe. Losing the first fight 50-45

Lost to Derrick Lewis.

Jones beat Gane super easy. Francis squeaked out a decision.

Did very well against Fury... but since he lost nobody will ever remember it.
Joshua annihilated him.
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Prime Rozenstruik is not an actual thing.
 
I mean his KO's are spectacular. And winning the title is neat and all. Butt fuck no.
 
I don't think its that crazy of a question all of the non Fedor HWs have imperfect resumes. I could make the case for him top 5 but i think he is more comfortably in the 6-12 range somewhere in there.
 
Not exactly the deepest of pools, so maybe Top 10. It might just be me, but his career(at or near the top) seems a bit brief to be including him in those talks.
 
Francis had a great career but he doesn’t belong among top 5 HW GOAT’s his lack of title defenses and longevity hurts him doesn’t have the quality of wins to rank that high. Francis is borderline top 10ish HW all-time.
 
No way he's top 5.

Fedor, Stipe, Big Nog and Werdum are a lock for top 4. Then you got JDS, Cormier who would also be ahead. He would be 7-10
 
In terms of ability he has a case for being top 5, but in terms of resume? nah.

Fedor, Nog, JDS, Stipe, Reem, Cain, Werdum, DC, AA, Barnett, Mir, Cro Cop etc all did more of note.
 
Rampage_Jackson said:
I don't think its that crazy of a question all of the non Fedor HWs have imperfect resumes. I could make the case for him top 5 but i think he is more comfortably in the 6-12 range somewhere in there.
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Francis goes immediately behind Fedor and everyone who defended a UFC HW title two times or more, so there isn't really a case for him to make top 5. He simply doesn't have the quality of victories needed to overcome a lack of title defenses, especially considering that he beat a corpse for the title and looked pretty awful in his one successful defense.
 
He’s not the GOAT but I bet he can KO the GOAT.
 
JKS said:
No way he's top 5.

Fedor, Stipe, Big Nog and Werdum are a lock for top 4. Then you got JDS, Cormier who would also be ahead. He would be 7-10
Click to expand...

Cain was the best HW, but had injury issues.
 
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