Ngannou says Kamaru Usman is champion as Thompson challenges Nigerian Nightmare

Ngannou says Kamaru Usman is champion as Thompson challenges Nigerian Nightmare

UFC legend Francis Ngannou has sent words of encouragement to Nigeria, born former champion Kamaru Usman following his UFC 286 loss to Leon Edwards.UFC 286 took place this past weekend at The O2 Arena in London, England.

The main event featured a welterweight battle between Kamaru Usman (20-3 MMA) and Leon Edwards (21-3 MMA). It was Edwards who scored a majority decision victory (48-46, 48-46, 47-47) and retained the welterweight belt.

The two originally met in December of 2015 where is was Usman who defeated Edwards by a unanimous decision.

Seven years later, Edwards got his revenge, defeating Usman via KO in August of 2022 at UFC 278 and ultimately claimed the UFC welterweight title. Following the trilogy fight last Saturday, Edwards does indeed remain on top of his game.



Edwards, speaking to reporters at the post-fight interview, had this to say when asked about getting in the cage with Usman a 4th time:

“Probably not. Probably not. It’s been three fights now. I want to move forward in my career. I look toward different fights.”

Although a definite blow for the 35-year-old ‘Nigerian Nightmare’, he’s getting some love from Francis Ngannou following his most recent loss.

‘The Predator’ took to ‘Twitter‘ posting a picture and the following message for Usman:

“You are a champion with or without a piece of metal my brother. Your legacy is already cemented in the history of the sport. @USMAN84kg”

“We are always behind you #3kings.”

Of course, Ngannou (17-3 MMA) knows the feeling of being without a belt. The 36-year-old parted ways with the UFC earlier this year and in the process was stripped of his own heavyweight belt.

Ngannou is now a free agent and has left the sports world wondering what his next move will be. Rumours are swirling and it looks like a boxing match is imminent, but nothing has been confirmed to date.

As for Usman, we’ll have to wait and see who he’ll get into the Octagon with next. One thing is for sure, Usman will be looking to get back in the win column soon, in an attempt to put those back-to-back losses to Edwards behind him.

Meanwhile, Stephen Thompson who has fought for the welterweight title twice in his career, at UFC 205 in 2016 and UFC 209 in 2017,  the South Carolina native has been working hard towards another shot at the title and made callouts to Usman back in 2021. The two have yet to meet in the Octagon.

Ahead of UFC 286, which took place this past weekend, Thompson made his prediction on the Usman (20-3 MMA) vs Edwards (21-3 MMA) trilogy match-up saying:

“I think you’ve got to ask yourself, is his (Usman) mindset there and is his drive still the same after the way he lost? But from the last fight and the way he was winning it, on paper I’ve got Usman winning it”.

Well, we now know the outcome of UFC 286, it was Edwards, not Usman, who scored a majority decision victory to retain the welterweight title.

Although Usman, 35, failed in his attempt to recapture the belt, Stephen Thompson is making it clear that he still wants to fight ‘The Nigerian Nightmare’ even though it wouldn’t be for the title.

Asked on ‘Twitter‘ if he’d be interested in fighting Usman next, Thompson, 40, responded:

“100%” – Thompson replied.