Did Francis Ngannou Tear His ACL? Everything You Need To Know About Ex-UFC Star’s Knee Injury

Francis Ngannou last fought nearly two years ago. He last fought Ciryl Gane in January 2022 at UFC 270. The bout was close and technical, unexpected for a Ngannou fight. The Cameroonian, the then heavyweight champion, impressed with his improved wrestling and grappling, repeatedly taking Gane down and controlling him on the ground.

Gane attempted to keep Ngannou at bay with his speed and striking, but he could not inflict any meaningful damage. Ngannou, on the other hand, landed some powerful strikes, wobbling Gane at times. The judges scored it 49-46, 48-47, and 48-47 in favor of Ngannou, who defended his title for the first time against the interim champion and became the undisputed heavyweight champion of the UFC. The reasons for this hiatus were his departure from the UFC and a significant injury he suffered.

Francis Ngannou’s ACL and MCL injury

The then UFC heavyweight champion, Francis Ngannou, had a ruptured MCL and a damaged ACL in the build-up to his bout against Ciryl Gane at UFC 270. Marquel Martin, his manager, revealed that he would need surgery to fix the injuries before he can train or compete again. The procedure was successful, and there was no meniscus damage.

Ngannou is expected to make his next Octagon appearance next year. This, of course, will be at PFL, with whom he signed in March this year after exiting the UFC early this year. Ngannou and the UFC had disagreements over issues ranging from fighter pay and medical insurance to personal sponsorships. While he has managed to bag a lucrative contract with the UFC rival, who he will face is uncertain. However, the Cameroonian is set to face boxing heavyweight champion Tyson Fury in his boxing debut days from now.

Francis Ngannou faces an uphill task against Tyson Fury

Tyson Fury is a historically great boxer. He is undefeated and has defeated boxers such as Wladimir Klitschko and Deontay Wilder. His size, strength, and skill level for that size are unprecedented. On the other hand, Ngannou has never boxed professionally and has only recently begun training in boxing.

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The Cameroonian has an MMA record of 17 wins and 3 defeats, with the majority of his victories coming via knockout in the first round. In MMA, he hasn’t encountered many elite strikers or tough opponents. Along with this, terrible open workout and workout videos have not helped matters. This is why most do not think Ngannou has a chance of winning.

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