Francis Ngannou Responds to Jake Paul, Talks Rousey-Carano Card, Jon Jones and More in B/R Interview

Francis Ngannou once scoffed at the idea of fighting Jake Paul, but he's since had a change of heart.

Even as Ngannou prepares to make his long-awaited return to mixed martial arts on Saturday against Philipe Lins in the first MMA event ever to be streamed live on Netflix, Paul has continued to call him out for a future fight. To make matters even more contentious, Paul's Most Valuable Promotions is promoting Ngannou's comeback on Saturday's fight card, which is headlined by the highly anticipated showdown between women's MMA pioneers Ronda Rousey and Gina Carano.

Now, Ngannou would welcome the opportunity to silence Paul in a fight of their own.

"I think maybe he wants to get beat up," Ngannou told Bleacher Report, smiling, about Paul. "That's the short response I will have for him. I don't really underestimate him, but I think he's gonna get beat up."

When Ngannou turned down the opportunity to face Paul on short notice in December, the YouTuber pivoted to two-time unified champion Anthony Joshua, who had defeated Ngannou by second-round knockout in 2024. Paul suffered the same fate and sustained a broken jaw in the process, but he feels that lasting six rounds against Joshua gives him an edge over Ngannou if they were to fight. The 39-year-old had a succinct response to that assertion.

"I think if there wasn't a ring, he could've lasted even longer, because he seemed to be practicing his running skills," Ngannou said of Paul's performance against Joshua. "That's what I saw in that fight."

For now, Ngannou is focused on what's in front of him, which is his first MMA fight in nearly two years. The former UFC undisputed heavyweight champion explained that he rediscovered his love for MMA during his time away from the sport.

"Just like a wine, getting better in time," he said with a laugh when asked how he's changed as a fighter. "Not that my love has changed, but I enjoy it. I'm in the position that I really enjoy what I'm doing and fighting. I have no stress, nothing to worry about, just train, just focus, and then enjoy it. There's really a part of enjoyment inside, even though there's gonna be a fight and it's hard, the training and everything, but there's a part of me that feels enjoyment. After being away for so long, coming back like this, you feel relief. I have nothing else to really be worried about. It's great, really."

Despite his lengthy layoff, Ngannou is confident in his chances to be successful on Saturday against Lins, who is a former PFL heavyweight tournament champion in his own right.

"The only prediction that I have for sure is that I'm winning that fight," Ngannou said. "Regardless of where it goes, on the ground or in the stand up, I'm walking out getting my hand raised."

Ngannou's return adds to the star power of Netflix's first MMA event, which also features former UFC stars Nate Diaz and Mike Perry facing off in a fight that is guaranteed to produce some fireworks. Ngannou said he feels "it's quite obvious" that Saturday's fight card will overshadow the UFC's Freedom 250 event at the White House on June 14.

Now that he's back in the MMA sphere, Ngannou is ready to welcome all challengers, including longtime rival Jon Jones. Since Jones remains under contract with the UFC following his retirement from MMA, Ngannou isn't holding his breath for a future matchup, but he would be more than open to it if it comes.

"I am the one who has been calling him out. I've been calling this guy out for five, six years now. I think the question is supposed to be addressed to him, I've been calling him out day and night," Ngannou said of Jones. "And if it was possible, of course, yes, I would still be down for it. But I'm not holding up my life because of that. If it doesn't happen, it doesn't happen. There's so many things in life that we want that won't happen, and we still have to move on, you know? We are having great opportunities, there are a lot of opportunities out there. Life is going on."

While Ngannou made it clear that he isn't getting too far ahead of himself, he said he's looking forward to continuing to pursue big-money fights after facing Lins on Saturday.

"What's next is the opportunity that shows," he said. "I have no idea of what the next could be, I have no idea what could happen a month from now. So I will just be around and be ready for whatever can be possible."