MMA: Francis Ngannou KOs Philipe Lins for his comeback
In the night from Saturday to Sunday, in Los Angeles, Francis Ngannou signed a smashing return in the cage. For his first appearance since the termination of his contract with PFL, the Cameroonian made short work of the Brazilian Philipe Lins, who was struck by lightning in the first round. A clear message to the fighting sports world: the Predator is not finished.
Philemon MBALE · Author profile ·
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It took only one round, 4 minutes and 31 seconds precisely, to remind the planet MMA the very definition of the word "power". Sitting on the XXL map of the inaugural MMA MVP event, broadcast live worldwide on Netflix from the Intuit Dome, Francis Ngannou faced a hell of a client: Philipe Lins, a former PFL heavyweight champion known for his endurance and aggressiveness.
Yet, the Brazilian’s resistance was shattered by Ngannou’s lightning. After an early tactical fight where Lins tried to impose his grappling and put pressure, the "Predator" remained of an imperial calm, managing the distance with impressive maturity. The opening came at the very end of the reprise: a devastating left hook on the counter, followed by a surgical burst at the exit of a clinch. Lins collapsed heavily, forcing the referee to intervene urgently. Swift. Brutal. Ngannou in full.
The perfect answer to the skeptics
This return to the front of the stage carried heavy stakes within him. Since the surprise announcement of the end of his collaboration with the PFL, doubts had piled up around the 39-year-old Cameroonian. Between his lucrative parentheses in boxing, a certain inactivity in the cage and the inevitable rumors of the end of the cycle, many wondered if the child of Batié still had the sacred fire or the level to reign.
The answer was given by the force of his fists. By pulverizing Lins in this way, Ngannou effaces the question marks with a backhand. As he had wisely slipped it before getting into the ring:
The shadow of Jon Jones hovers more than ever
This triumph instantly puts Francis Ngannou at the center of the world heavyweight chessboard. Freed from the constraints of closed leagues and more attractive than ever thanks to this immense media showcase, the Cameroonian once again stands out as the undisputed "linear champion", the man who has never lost his world belt in the cage.