Joe Rogan explains why meeting Francis Ngannou left him feeling terrified: "I'm like, what the f**k, man?"

Joe Rogan recently recalled his first time meeting Francis Ngannou, admitting that he was intimidated at the sheer size of the MMA star.

Ngannou is considered by many to be among the greatest heavyweights to have stepped foot in the octagon. Known for his power, the 38-year-old has finished 12 of his 17 wins via knockout.

Alongside his finishing ability, the Cameroonian is also marvelled for his physique, as he boasts a 6 foot 4 frame, an 83-inch reach, and he typically walks around at almost 260 pounds.

Due to the combination of his size, speed and power, many people have gone on record to state that they felt uneasy when first meeting 'The Predator'. However, after speaking with Ngannou, it's often the case that they are pleasantly surprised to find out he is one of the most genuine people in the sport.

With that in mind, Speaking on episode #163 of the JRE MMA Show, Rogan recalled what it was like meeting Francis Ngannou for the first time. According to the UFC commentator, he couldn't quite believe just how big he was in person:

"If you're meeting Francis Ngannou. How f*cking terrifying is that? You're a regular did and you shake that guy's hand, you're like, 'What the f*ck?' I remember the first time I interviewed him. I was standing next to him and I'm like, 'What the f*ck, man?' That guy is so powerful."

Check out Joe Rogan's comments here (5:10):

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Anthony Joshua breaks down boxing victory over Francis Ngannou

Anthony Joshua recently reflected on his knockout victory over Francis Ngannou back in March, revealing he had to make one change to his strategy in order to get the victory.

After 'The Predator' put on a valiant performance against Tyson Fury in Oct. 2023, Ngannou was handed another chance at pulling off the upset when he agreed to face Anthony Joshua.

Unfortunately for the MMA star, however, 'AJ' proved a step too far as he was dominated by the Brit and dropped multiple times before being knocked out cold in the second round.

Joshua looked back on his bout against Ngannou during a recent interview with DAZN Boxing. According to the former unified heavyweight champ, he was only able to get the victory by fighting smart rather than going toe-to-toe with the power of the Cameroonian. He said:

"I always look at the Ngannou fight. The guy was a juggernaut. He was massive. I thought to myself, 'If I only depended on strength it would have been a lot tougher fight,' but due to the fact I went through a process where I tried to improve my IQ, I was able to dispatch of goliath in quick fashion."

Check out Joshua's comments here (2:32):