Francis Ngannou’s Recent Activity and What Lies Ahead for the Cameroonian Heavyweight
Francis Ngannou, the former UFC Heavyweight Champion, remains one of the most talked‑about figures in combat sports. While his last official mixed‑martial‑arts (MMA) appearance came in January 2022 at UFC 270, Ngannou has stayed in the public eye through high‑profile boxing bouts and frequent talk of potential future match‑ups. This article examines what is known about Ngannou’s recent fights, evaluates the credibility of rumored bouts, and outlines the realistic possibilities for his next steps in the sport.
Verified Fight History Since Leaving the UFC
After vacating the UFC Heavyweight title in early 2023, Ngannou pursued a boxing career. His verified bouts include:
- October 28, 2023 – Tyson Fury (Saudi Arabia): Ngannou lost by split decision after eight rounds. The fight was promoted as a “crossover” event and drew significant global attention (ESPN, Oct 2023).
- March 8, 2024 – Anthony Joshua (Saudi Arabia): Ngannou suffered a unanimous‑decision loss over ten rounds (BBC Sport, Mar 2024).
Both contests were sanctioned boxing matches; Ngannou has not competed in an MMA bout since his UFC 270 victory over Ciryl Gane.
Assessing the “First‑Round Knockout at Intuit Dome” Claim
Recent social‑media chatter suggested that Ngannou scored a first‑round knockout at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California, on a Saturday night. As of the date of this article (September 2025), there is no verifiable record of such an event:
- The Intuit Dome, home of the LA Clippers, opened its doors for NBA play in October 2024 and has not hosted any sanctioned MMA or boxing events to date (NBA.com, Intuit Dome overview).
- Major MMA news outlets—including MMA Fighting, Sherdog, and the UFC’s official news feed—have no articles or fight‑report entries referencing a Ngannou bout at that venue (MMA Fighting archive search).
- Ngannou’s own social‑media channels (Twitter/X and Instagram) have not posted any confirmation of a fight or victory at the Intuit Dome.
Given the absence of corroborating evidence from reputable sources, the claim appears to be unsubstantiated rumor rather than fact.
Potential Future Opponents: Jon Jones and Jake Paul
Despite the lack of a recent MMA fight, Ngannou has repeatedly expressed interest in two high‑profile match‑ups:
- Jon “Bones” Jones: The former UFC Light Heavyweight and Heavyweight Champion has been retired from active competition since 2020, though he remains under contract with the UFC. Ngannou has stated in interviews that he would welcome a clash with Jones “before we both hang up the gloves” (MMA Fighting, May 2024). However, because Jones is still contractually tied to the UFC, any bout would require either a contract release or a special promotion agreement—a hurdle that has yet to be cleared.
- Jake Paul: The YouTuber‑turned‑professional boxer has called out several MMA fighters, Ngannou among them. Ngannou acknowledged the possibility in a 2024 podcast, noting that a boxing‑rules contest could be intriguing (The Fighter & The Kid, Episode 212). Paul’s record includes victories over former MMA athletes such as Ben Askren and Tyron Woodley, making the matchup a commercially attractive prospect.
What Ngannou’s Next Move Might Look Like
Considering his recent boxing losses, Ngannou’s immediate options appear to be:
- Return to MMA: A comeback fight in a promotion such as ONE Championship, Professional Fighters League (PFL), or a potential UFC return (if contractual issues are resolved) would allow him to showcase his grappling and striking evolution.
- High‑profile boxing bout: Another crossover boxing match—perhaps against a heavyweight contender like Deontay Wilder or a rematch with Fury/Joshua under different stipulations—could generate substantial purse and visibility.
- Exhibition or special‑rules event
