Francis Ngannou recently uploaded a video of himself destroying the mitts with his surgically repaired leg. Subsequently, UFC veteran Chael Sonnen has questioned the heavyweight champion's decision to start kicking with his newly healed leg. The 45-year-old recently said on his YouTube channel:
"If you just had a leg surgically repaired, why are you using it?... If you went out there and you just had surgery on a leg, would you go to the gym and start kicking with that leg? If you did, would you understand where I would have the right to come out and tell you, 'You are a fool.'"
Watch Sonnen's comments below (1:56):
Get the latest updates on One Championship Rankings at Sportskeeda and more
Ngannou's video was released amidst talks of the UFC plotting his next title defense against Jon Jones in March 2023. The heavyweight champ's coach Eric Nicksick also posted a cryptic tweet hinting at 'The Predator's return to the octagon in March.
According to Sonnen, Ngannou is being peer pressured to show that his leg is fully recovered as he prepares for a return. 'The American Gangster' also questioned the video as he believes Ngannou's leg was never a potential fight-ending weapon in his arsenal.
What Francis Ngannou was thinking while fighting Ciryl Gane with an injured knee
Francis Ngannou unified the heavyweight title with a unanimous decision win over the-then interim champion Ciryl Gane at UFC 270 in January. It was later revealed that 'The Predator' decided to step inside the octagon despite injuring his knee weeks prior to the fight.
Ngannou underwent surgery immediately afterward and has since been nursing his leg back to recovery. The UFC heavyweight champion recently revealed what was going on in his mind while fighting Gane with an injured knee. 'The Predator' was admittedly hesitant about his footwork and balance, which led to him dropping the first two rounds. It was then that the Cameroonian star decided to give it all. The 36-year-old said on YouTube:
"After the second round, I knew that I was losing. Then, I'm like, 'Okay, this can be it. If this is my last fight, then let's f***ing fight,' and then, maybe retire because I don't have a knee anymore or whatever it is. But let's fight."
Watch Ngannou's comments below (9:25)
Francis Ngannou unveiled his previously unseen wrestling game to out grapple 'Bon Gamin' for the rest of the fight, earning him an emphatic decision win.