Francis Ngannou called out for title fight by fellow heavyweight on Ronda Rousey vs Gina Carano undercard

Robelis Despaigne envisions a heavyweight title fight against Francis Ngannou if they both win in California this weekend.

Both men feature on the Ronda Rousey vs Gina Carano Netflix bill at the Intuit Dome, which is being promoted by Jake Paul‘s Most Valuable Promotions (MVP).

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Ngannou hasn’t competed in MMA since October 2024, when he knocked out Brazilian Renan Ferreira in his only appearance for the PFL.

‘The Predator’ left the UFC in 2022 following contractual disputes with its CEO, Dana White, and contested two lucrative boxing bouts against Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua before returning to the cage.

He is still widely viewed as the greatest MMA heavyweight on the planet right now, with super fights aplenty should he get past fellow ex-UFC fighter Philipe Lins on Saturday night.

Jon Jones, Alex Pereira and Tom Aspinall are all in conversations about who Ngannou could meet in the future, but Despaigne believes there’s a world where he gets his hands on the Cameroonian.

Despaigne eyes Ngannou title fight

“I do see the possibility,” the Cuban heavyweight, who fights former UFC heavyweight champion Junior dos Santos on the Rousey vs Carano card, told Habelmos MMA in Spanish.

“At the beginning, it wasn’t even something that crossed my mind, but over time, many people have asked about it.

“There are people talking about that potential fight, and me possibly facing Francis Ngannou after this fight.

“If I come out winning in this fight, and he wins his fight, I think it would be a great opportunity for me to let the world know who I am by fighting Francis Ngannou.”

Ironically, Despaigne’s last MMA fight came on the same day as Ngannou’s.

It was the 37-year-old’s final appearance in the UFC, having since signed with Karate Combat and gone seven fights undefeated in the promotion.

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Like many other fighters on the Rousey-Carano bill, including Mike Perry, Despaigne has signed a one-fight deal with MVP.

However, ‘The Big Boy’ hopes to be part of more events going forward, ahead of Netflix’s first-ever MMA show.

“I don’t know what’s going to happen,” Despaigne concluded.

“We haven’t talked about that. I don’t know if there will be more events.

“I hope there will be. I think with all the attention this event has been getting, we’ll see more events this year.

“I think if [Ngannou and I] both win, we could fight each other, maybe with a belt on the line.

AFP

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“That would be even better.”