When Joe Rogan suspected foul-play in a high-profile Francis Ngannou fight: "The fix was in"

Joe Rogan once raised concerns about potential fight-fixing in a prominent bout featuring Francis Ngannou. In October 2023, 'The Predator' finally realized his long-cherished dream of competing in a boxing match.

In his debut fight, Ngannou faced off against former WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury. Although he scored a knockdown and tested 'The Gypsy King' throughout the match, the former UFC heavyweight titleholder fell short by a split decision. However, his impressive performance led many, including Rogan, to believe he was the true victor overall.

During an episode of The Joe Rogan Experience (JRE MMA Show #159) featuring Quinton 'Rampage' Jackson in July, the UFC veteran commentator speculated that the Fury vs. Ngannou fight may have been predetermined.

Rogan expressed his belief that Ngannou truly deserved to win, suggesting that any foul play could have been linked to Fury's undisputed title fight against Oleksandr Usyk, which took place this May:

"I thought he won that fight. But, you know, they were setting up that Usyk fight. They were not gonna let it happen; it just seemed like the fix was in a little bit. It was close enough that they could pull it off. You could go, 'Okay, maybe. Maybe you could see him winning that,' but I don’t think so. I thought Francis won it. A lot of people thought Francis won it."

Check out Joe Rogan's comments below (1:29:57):

'The Predator' is set to clash with Renan Ferreira in the main event of PFL Super Fights: Battle of the Giants, competing for the heavyweight title this Saturday at The Mayadeen in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

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Joe Rogan recalls the first time he met Francis Ngannou

Francis Ngannou is often hailed as one of the most powerful heavyweights to ever grace the octagon. 'The Predator' exemplifies his sheer strength through a career record of 17-3, with 12 of those victories secured by knockout.

In addition to his knockout power, Ngannou commands attention as a towering figure standing at 6'4'' tall, boasting an impressive 2.11-meter reach and a walk-around weight exceeding 260 pounds.

In episode #163 of the JRE MMA Show last month, Joe Rogan reflected on his initial encounter with Ngannou. The famed podcaster admitted that he was taken aback by just how imposing 'The Predator' appeared up close:

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

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