5 fighters the UFC should book to face Francis Ngannou

#4. Curtis Blaydes

As has been highlighted in the previous entry, the UFC heavyweight division has very few worthy challengers to Francis Ngannou's throne.

The Cameroonian has defeated 3 of the current heavyweight top 5. While he's yet to face the other 2, Tai Tuivasa recently failed to defeat Ciryl Gane to earn himself a title fight, and Sergei Pavlovich remains untested against fighters of 'The Predator's caliber.

Former foe Curtis Blaydes is ranked as the No.3 heavyweight in the division.

He has not faced Ngannou in 4 years and is currently helming a 3-fight win streak. While his latest win over Tom Aspinall was due to a freak injury, Blaydes could not be blamed for its unfortunate ending. With recent improvements in his overall game, and Ciryl Gane's refusal to face him in a matchup after claiming victory over Tai Tuivasa, 'Razor' ranks as a past opponent that the promotion should consider reintroducing into the title mix.

He's ranked high enough and is on a win streak in a division that is notoriously thin. Lastly, a trilogy bout could be sold as Blaydes' very last chance at capturing UFC gold as a compelling narrative for a potential matchup.

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#3. Ciryl Gane

Once defeated, Ciryl Gane was one of the 3 top 5 heavyweights whom Francis Ngannou bested.

However, as the heavyweight division is one of the shallowest in the promotion, it is not unthinkable for the former UFC interim heavyweight champion to earn himself a title fight with his former training partner after a single win. Colby Covington famously earned a 2nd title fight against Kamaru Usman with a single win over Tyron Woodley.

While Woodley is a former champion, he was also on a 2-fight losing streak. Meanwhile, Gane defeated Tai Tuivasa, who was previously ranked as the No.3 heavyweight and was riding a 5-fight win streak, having knocked out all of his foes. Furthermore, like Covington, Gane is the only fighter to have troubled the new-and-improved version of Ngannou who thoroughly dominated Stipe Miocic.

Given their history and the animosity still felt for Ngannou by Gane's head coach, Fernand Lopez, there is a built-in narrative for a rematch. Additionally, another interim title fight is possible due to how much time Francis Ngannou might spend nursing his knee injury.