Following the highly-anticipated bout between Francis Ngannou and Tyson Fury, the world of combat sports is buzzing with excitement. Former WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder, inspired by Ngannou’s venture into boxing, has set his sights on the world of mixed martial arts and is eager for a crossover.
Ngannou’s recent clash with Tyson Fury on October 28 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, exceeded all expectations. The event was a back-and-forth battle between the UFC veteran and arguably the best heavyweight boxer today, Fury.
Ngannou even had a spectacular moment when he delivered a powerful blow that sent Fury to the canvas in the third round. Despite a controversial split decision loss, Ngannou’s performance has opened doors to numerous potential big events in his future.
Many fans are eager to witness a showdown between Ngannou and former WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury, both known for their extraordinary knockout power. Ngannou himself has expressed interest in such a match and revealed that they have discussed the possibility. Moreover, the idea of a fight in MMA is being considered, especially since Deontay Wilder has been actively training in MMA for several months.
Francis Ngannou commented on the potential crossover match, saying, “I think that’s a good idea. In fact, we have spoken about that. In fact, that has been in the discussion. So, that’s something that can potentially happen. Deontay Wilder for a couple of months, for a little while now, has been training MMA because there’s an option here. Nothing is set, but some things have been coming to my ear, to my attention, so that’s something that makes sense.”
However, Deontay Wilder’s MMA aspirations aren’t limited to Ngannou alone. In a brief interview with Inside Fighting, ‘The Bronze Bomber’ expressed his willingness to face UFC veteran Nate Diaz in an MMA match. Despite his boxing background, Wilder is open to the idea of a crossover bout against a mixed martial artist.
Wilder enthusiastically stated, “Hell yeah. You better believe it. Nate… I’ll be down to get in there with Nate for sure. You think you can take him in the cage, man, we are going to see. There is only one way to find out.”
It’s worth noting that Nate Diaz served out his UFC contract September of the previous year. He also had a boxing match against Jake Paul in August, which he lost via unanimous decision. While Diaz’s fame could make him an attractive opponent for a boxer, some fans find it intriguing that Wilder is considering the matchup, given the considerable size difference between them.