How has your POV on Francis changed recently?

[Lee_]

Honestly, no, and I think this idea that he has huge testicular fortitude for leaving the UFC is kinda silly. The dude escaped the worst world conditions where he was basically human trafficked. He like, floated across on ocean on a stale crouton to escape human trafficking and people are citing him leaving the UFC to fight in Bellator/PFL/OneFC/boxing as him being "brave."

If you didn't know Francis had life perspective and bravery before leaving the UFC after making millions you weren't paying attention.

Of course he was brave, but that background makes it that much more meaningful that he would not settle for what he was given by Dana, even though it would have been his wildest dream to have that kind of money in his earlier life. He held out for what he was worth and did not settle for less as many of his background might; it would be a security they never imagined after coming from an insecurity that most of us could never imagine to fight UFC.

Let's not forget also that boxing was a lifelong dream for him, and kicking Dana to the curb was necessary to make that happen. He chased his dreams and found them.

 

[Lee_]

I actually think Fury will let him gas out the first couple rounds and carry him just like Mayweather did to sell the show, then people can take the match as a moral victory for Ngannou hanging in with Fury.

Not so sure about that. Francis is not Conor; playing with big Frank could get him knocked out even if there is a huge skill gap. I think he will finish the fight in the early rounds; I don't see him doing what Floyd did. I would go wild if Frank caught him with something.

I'll be happy if there is another Pride level org that rivals the UFC, but I'm not sure that's whats coming from this.

Not directly or immediately, but this is opening the door to fighters and promotions outside the UFC getting top talent signed. They need a well-managed, well-financed and well-run organization; if they had that, they could compete with the UFC

 

[Dbreiden83080]

Francis is getting some great money and a contract for the PFL you can be sure, so I am thinking he gives us some good fights before he gets too old.

Good article with Randy talking about Francis standing up for the sport:
Randy Couture praises Francis Ngannou scoring Tyson Fury fight: "He stood up for our sport" | BJPenn.com

Good fights with who?

He signed a deal with the minor leagues..

 

[Lee_]

Good fights with who?

He signed a deal with the minor leagues..

Minor leagues that are paying good for talent right now, so we will see. We haven't seen an opponent, so we don't really know either way.

 

[Sasha]

Just to suck my own dick for a second I was one of the folks getting into long debates right after Francis left the UFC arguing that he made the right choice.

A lot of people on here would eat crow if they were honest

Maybe people are not familiar with the best American Crow© hunting places. I'm always here to help.

 

[don't ask]

As a symbol what he did, prove that you can stand up to the UFC was awesome, but viewing this as a fan, kinda sucks.
We get a great fighter in his prime/early end of career sparring Fury and crushing cans.
Win for Francis, loss to us, imho.

People keep saying this is a loss for fans, but the way the UFC is run there's no guarantee Francis would ever fight who you want him to fight. Dana has other priorities than having the best fight the best. This is a win for the fans if it forces changes in the UFC or leads to more fighters walking away to have better careers.

 

[don't ask]

Francis has king-sized balls in walking away from that.

I don't know how to say this without diminishing Francis, but that's not my intent when I say that i don't think it took as much balls as it looks from the outside. The way Dana runs the UFC and the way fighters get screwed over and their careers damaged, I don't think Francis had the option to stay. He had been through their bullshit once and was determined not to let it happen again. The fact that he wound up this incredibly successful because of it is just glorious icing on the cake, but I think he genuinely would have been happy to leave the UFC even if none of this was happening.

 

[L0ki]

Never wavered in support of Francis, and that would also include if things didn't work out for him.

 

[2004 account]

Good thread

MMA NEEDS MORE FRANCIS NGANNOU'S AND LESS CONOR MCGREGORS


ONE IS TRYING TO CREATE CHANGE FOR FIGHTERS WHILE THE OTHER IS JUST A SELFISH MANLET THAT IS STILL SUCKING OFF THAT DANA/UFC TEET

one is honrable the other is trash

 

[Poatan Power]

Of course he was brave, but that background makes it that much more meaningful that he would not settle for what he was given by Dana, even though it would have been his wildest dream to have that kind of money in his earlier life. He held out for what he was worth and did not settle for less as many of his background might; it would be a security they never imagined after coming from an insecurity that most of us could never imagine to fight UFC.

Let's not forget also that boxing was a lifelong dream for him, and kicking Dana to the curb was necessary to make that happen. He chased his dreams and found them.

I mean I suppose. He's already made millions in the UFC, so I'm not sure I'm following how this made him particularly brave to become financially secure and then leave to make some generational wealth. Francis has made enough money now that he can just go run a gym the rest of his life and suffice. Maybe I'm just drawing the wrong conclusions, but it seems to me that Francis made a calculated financial decision and personal decision because his life is already 100x better than it ever had been before. This decision is far better than getting toppled out of the UFC HW champion status in your late 30's and then continuing to try to be marketable/well paid by the UFC.

Anyway, my point being is the larger arch of Francis' life has great story power and marketability to me and I'm glad he's accomplishing his dreams -- but I honestly thought this was the easiest leg of the journey, save the public scrutiny that he's probably not use to. I think when you've mined blood diamonds you probably give a lot less credence to the opinions of journalists impacting your life. Good for him.

 

[Carrotman23]

Maybe people are not familiar with the best American Crow© hunting places. I'm always here to help.
View attachment 992247

Sasha I didn't know you were so willing to commit Birdocide
As a random side note crows are super cool and smart, but I guess so are pigs and cows so fook it lets go kill some crows

After that its dog hunting season

 

[Lee_]

I mean I suppose. He's already made millions in the UFC, so I'm not sure I'm following how this made him particularly brave to become financially secure and then leave to make some generational wealth. Francis has made enough money now that he can just go run a gym the rest of his life and suffice. Maybe I'm just drawing the wrong conclusions, but it seems to me that Francis made a calculated financial decision and personal decision because his life is already 100x better than it ever had been before. This decision is far better than getting toppled out of the UFC HW champion status in your late 30's and then continuing to try to be marketable/well paid by the UFC.

Anyway, my point being is the larger arch of Francis' life has great story power and marketability to me and I'm glad he's accomplishing his dreams -- but I honestly thought this was the easiest leg of the journey, save the public scrutiny that he's probably not use to. I think when you've mined blood diamonds you probably give a lot less credence to the opinions of journalists impacting your life. Good for him.

I don't know how to say this without diminishing Francis, but that's not my intent when I say that i don't think it took as much balls as it looks from the outside. The way Dana runs the UFC and the way fighters get screwed over and their careers damaged, I don't think Francis had the option to stay. He had been through their bullshit once and was determined not to let it happen again. The fact that he wound up this incredibly successful because of it is just glorious icing on the cake, but I think he genuinely would have been happy to leave the UFC even if none of this was happening.

Yeah, there is truth in these posts. What I was more getting at was that he was leaving the security of the known for the unknown; he didn't have any confirmation of what he actually could get until he left. But yeah, he could well have been so fed up with their bullshit that he was ready to walk away.

 

[Carrotman23]

Good thread

MMA NEEDS MORE FRANCIS NGANNOU'S AND LESS CONOR MCGREGORS


ONE IS TRYING TO CREATE CHANGE FOR FIGHTERS WHILE THE OTHER IS JUST A SELFISH MANLET THAT IS STILL SUCKING OFF THAT DANA/UFC TEET

one is honrable the other is trash

A secure man with a moral conscious:

A narcissist high off his own supply:

 

[teamfox223]

The guy at least stand for something, UFC offered him loads of money to stay everyone around him advise him to take it as is the safe thing to do but he said if he took the deal he'll become a sellout and decides to walk away.

 

[HHJ]

The guy at least stand for something, UFC offered him loads of money to stay everyone around him advise him to take it as is the safe thing to do but he said if he took the deal he'll become a sellout and decides to walk away.

How can a prize fighter sell out??

They are supposed to get the best pay they can

 

[cmw43]

I'm glad he's getting paid.

But as a fan I don't care about him losing an exhibition to Fury.

I would've liked to see him fight Jones or the trilogy fight with Stipe, just building a bit more of his MMA legacy, don't have any interest in his boxing freak show fights.

 

[cmw43]

Good thread

MMA NEEDS MORE FRANCIS NGANNOU'S AND LESS CONOR MCGREGORS


ONE IS TRYING TO CREATE CHANGE FOR FIGHTERS WHILE THE OTHER IS JUST A SELFISH MANLET THAT IS STILL SUCKING OFF THAT DANA/UFC TEET

one is honrable the other is trash

Francis doesn't care about the other fighters he's just trying to get paid.

That stuff about healthcare for fighters with UFC was BS to give him a fake moral high ground because he doesn't have those same demands for his boxing card or for PFL who he's now signed with.

 

[Sasha]

Sasha I didn't know you were so willing to commit Birdocide
As a random side note crows are super cool and smart, but I guess so are pigs and cows so fook it lets go kill some crows

After that its dog hunting season

Gotta love that couple of crows living in Northern Canada. Probably just said, fuck it, that world is too dumb for us.

Seriously though, I'm extremely fond of animals. I'm one of those weirdos that would admit thinking that a human life doesn't necessarily have more worth than an animal life (a non-human animal obviously).
I think it, and I feel it, and it's not meaning that I feel contempt for humans, we're a formidable species, capable to do the most despicable things (I obviously dont need to explain that point further), but this is matched by our incredible creativity, our genuine caring nature, our neverending quest for knowledge, wisdom. I know these are often well hidden though, and not promoted enough)

What I do mean, is that I love fauna (and flora) with a passion, human or not.

I know you were joking but I really wanted to clarify this lmao.
I actually read about crows' intelligence, they're amazing. Cephalopods seem to be very peculiar too when it comes to intelligence. This is fascinating.

Squids are probably tastier though lmao

 

[Megatronlee]

I’m not a sucker so I always knew he was right

 

[Megatronlee]

Francis doesn't care about the other fighters he's just trying to get paid.

That stuff about healthcare for fighters with UFC was BS to give him a fake moral high ground because he doesn't have those same demands for his boxing card or for PFL who he's now signed with.

Nah he cares. He’s really a great guy. He’s not like Conor or cowboy