Recently, former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou captured the internet’s attention in an unexpected way. This time it wasn’t inside the ring, as Ngannou unintentionally broke a glass door at a convenience shop in Las Vegas.
Ngannou has solidified his status as one of the most formidable heavyweights in the MMA world. He has a history of defeating many of the best competitors in the UFC with his striking skills.
In the days of a more amicable relationship between Ngannou and UFC CEO Dana White, White had some weird ways of promoting him.
White once said, “Francis has the world record for the most powerful punch. His punches are equivalent to 96 horsepower. That’s equal to getting hit by a Ford Escort going as fast as it can. And it’s more powerful than a 12-pound sledgehammer from full force overhead. Holy s***.”
Yet it appears that even simple tasks like opening a convenience store door, can pose a challenge for someone like Ngannou.
We’ve all been there, mistakenly trying to pull a door that should be pushed. Typically, a “Pull Only” sign comes to the rescue. However, no such sign came to Ngannou’s aid.
Surveillance footage captured Ngannou’s casual approach to the store’s entrance, where he tried to push the door open with a single hand.
When that failed, he applied a two-handed effort that resulted in the shattering of the glass doors. This left Ngannou in disbelief.
Swiftly recognizing his error, Ngannou pulled the door open and made his way into the store. Meanwhile, the store owner was far from pleased. He stormed out, pointing at the shattered glass and giving Ngannou a piece of his mind.
It’s not an everyday occurrence for someone to stand up to Ngannou. After Ngannou agreed to cover the damages, the tension subsided. This led to a lighthearted moment where the two posed for a photo in front of the shattered door.
However, some Reddit users speculate that this incident might be too good to be true, potentially a meticulously planned marketing stunt. The “security footage” was shared by a newly created Reddit account that posted across various MMA-related subreddits.
Whether real or staged, the video undeniably sparked discussions just in time for Ngannou’s much-anticipated bout with Tyson Fury in Riyadh on October 28.