UFC Beijing results: Francis Ngannou beats Curtis Blaydes by TKO in 45 seconds and roars ‘I’m back’
- ‘The Predator’ snaps two-fight losing streak with quick win
- China’s Song Yadong, Li Jingliang and Zhang Weili shine
It had always felt like the UFC’s debut in Beijing would need an exclamation point, a final flourish to announce the world’s leading MMA fight promotion had finally come to town.
Cue Francis “The Predator” Ngannou (12-3) and a 45-second destruction of American Curtis “Razor” Blaydes (10-2, one no contest) that places the Cameroonian-Frenchman front and centre in terms of world heavyweight title contention.
“I’m f****** back,” Ngannou could be overheard saying on the broadcast as he pounded his chest. And so UFC Fight Night 141 came to a stunning and complete finish.
It was a swinging right that did the damage, putting Blaydes on his knees and then the follow-ups ended the affair.
“It feels really good,” Ngannou said in the Octagon. “I have come up from the bottom of the world to be here.”
Ngannou had come to the Chinese capital with the shadow of two losses hanging over his head, and the word – among his rivals at least – that his brain space wasn’t quite where it should be.