The Heavyweight Division's Future After Ngannou vs Gane

[Miokink026]

Francis Ngannou and Ciryl Gane are our two premier athletes. They're what would happen if truly good heavyweights took up MMA, even though both started late. These two are about to fight and one of them will lose (unless it's a draw but what are the chances of that happening lol). Whoever it is, it will mean the UFC and by extension, MMA as a whole will be perceived in a bad way.

If Ngannou loses, the fans will shit on him and Dana will have achieved his goal; to ground the name of their biggest most terrifying champion into the dust. Imagine being a young heavyweight debating whether to pursue MMA as a career or not; you see such a dominant, marketable fighter lose and instantly gets fucked over just for asking for more money, you'll be more certain than ever before that MMA is not something you'd want to do. I doubt Ngannou will help promote the sport or company in Africa anymore either. What if Ciryl Gane loses? You lose the French market.

But that's a very negative view. If we switch it around, Ngannou wins and we'll still have our terrifying champion... albeit in a feud with his boss over money. If Gane wins, we'll have our first French champion.

What do you guys think? I'm actually fine either way.

 

[Fioretti]

Nope. Is normal.

 

[JustOnce]

I think if Ngannou beats Gane, he is undoubtedly top 3 UFC HW of all time, if not the best. He would have wins over Cain, JDS, Stipe, Gane and Blaydes. I don't think ANYONE comes close, including Stipe. He could line himself for the big pay day against Jones if Jones got balls enough to do it, I think Jones is shook tbh by Ngannou, and if he beats Jones, he would arguably have one the GREATEST, if not the best resume of all time, across ALL weight classes.
Cain, Jones, Stipe, JDS, Gane and Blaydes. That six wins would be very, very tough to top.

If Gane wins, then well he got a long way to go, but I think he might lose to Jones and not last long. I favour Gane, but I think Ngannou has a good shot at winning also.

And about the whole money thing, I don't care to support a millionaire complaining about an extra ten million they feel they deserve to get paid. IF he leaves, then he leaves. I'm not sure if Dana will not agree to his demands if he wins though

 

[spinup]

Unless it turns out to be a shitshow (DQ, NC) or a very boring fight, there will be a star at the end of the fight and exciting fights to make (Jones, Stipe, or rematch).
Most likely, it will be very good for the division.

 

[JustOnce]

Personally, I'm not a big fan of Ngannou going into this fight against the toughest match up for him in my opinion at heavyweight with an expiring contract.

I mean, I'm sure Ngannou can connect and starch Gane, but I think Gane is the worst match up at heavyweight for Ngannou.

I suppose you can never blame the guy for betting on himself, but if I was his manager, betting on your guy to come through whereas your stock drops by a ton against a guy who even most reasonable fans of Ngannou have as a 50'50 fight when you can try to negotiate much better contract when your stock is pretty high, doesn't sound like the smartest idea.

 

[JustOnce]

I personally think Ngannou will try to wrestle a bit but end up losing a clear decision.

 

[Fergelmince]

I think Ngannou will try to KO Gane (yeah, I know...no shit), BUT he will hold out AFTERWARD and be gone in a year, UNLESS the UFC pays him what he wants. And the UFC has no incentive to give him what he's asking for. He's just not a draw and probably never will be. the "Champion's Clause" is now a "Sunset Clause" and they won't have control over ngannou forever. They also release image rights (for video games more than anything else) after 2 years of. Also, they now only hold contracts for 5 years maximum from the time a fighter signs. Ngannou first fight under his latest contract was January 2018, so the UFC can't hold him beyond December of 2022. This has all been done because of pressure from the ongoing anti-trust lawsuit.

 

[JBJ was here]

I mean, I'm sure Ngannou can connect and starch Gane, but I think Gane is the worst match up at heavyweight for Ngannou.

And Ngannou is clearly the worst match-up for Gane at heavyweight - People keep forgetting to say that second part. That mostly means that they're the top two in the division and no one else is close for now It also means that each of them need to adjust their usual game plans to optimize win probability, which mostly favors Ngannou - he should expand his reach with sharp jabs and leg kicks, while Gane will have to be quicker than ever to land crisp strikes while avoiding Ngannou's superior reach.

Hot take of the day - Ngannou wins if it goes to decision because Gane's the one who tires out in the championship rounds due to moving significantly more and more quickly than he's used to.

 

[Viper2]

The most likely outcome is that Ngannou KOs Gane in Round One. Then Ngannou goes on to rematch against Stipe this year and KOs Stipe in Round One as well. And Jon Jones never ends up fighting in the Heavyweight Division.

 

[Ares Black]

The most likely outcome is that Ngannou KOs Gane in Round One.

I really don't think that's the most likely outcome.

 

[accolyte1022]

I really don't think that's the most likely outcome.

No, this is.

<45>

 

[650lb Sumo]

Cain, Jones, Stipe, JDS, Gane and Blaydes.

The Blaydes wins were legit, Gane will beat him, JDS was well out of his prime, he's 1-1 with an old Stipe, the Jones fight will probably never happen and Cain was well out of his prime.

 

[JustOnce]

The Blaydes wins were legit, Gane will beat him, JDS was well out of his prime, he's 1-1 with an old Stipe, the Jones fight will probably never happen and Cain was well out of his prime.

JDS was well, well out of his prime.

 

[STAY GOLD]

I like both, but I think Gane wins. Lewis wants to fight Miocic, so make that fight happen and the winner gets a title shot while Ngannou can negotiate a new contract with the company.

 

[wwkirk]

The most likely outcome is that Ngannou KOs Gane in Round One. Then Ngannou goes on to rematch against Stipe this year and KOs Stipe in Round One as well. And Jon Jones never ends up fighting in the Heavyweight Division.

How does Ngannou boxing fit into this?