Conor McGregor gives Francis Ngannou a chance against Tyson Fury

Former two-division UFC champion Conor McGregor will be ringside for the upcoming boxing match between Tyson Fury and Francis Ngannou on Saturday.  “The Notorious” was invited by Saudi Arabia to attend and leaves out first thing in the morning.  

“MMA ventures over to boxing once again,” said McGregor in audio posted to Twitter.  “I’m so excited to be there.  I can’t wait to touch down in Saudi Arabia, see what the country has to offer.”

McGregor pointed out that Ngannou is more of a striker than a mixed martial artist and the striker’s mentality could help Ngannou against Fury.

“Francis Ngannou, for me, is more of a kickboxer/boxer than he is a mixed martial artist in my opinion.  He’s more of a standup fighter than he is a mixed martial artist,” McGregor said.  “You start throwing in grappling with Francis, it’s never good for him.  He has a striker’s mentality.  This will stand him in this bout.  He has a tall ask with Tyson Fury, but any man can land a shot.  Tyson does get hit.  It’s going to be a tough ask.  I’m excited to see it unfold.

“Tyson looks great in the buildup.  He’s fast, light, elusive.  It could be a seriously stellar performance from Tyson Fury here.”

McGregor likes to storyline created with Mike Tyson being in Ngannou corner and training the former UFC champion. 

Related: Francis Ngannou wants ‘baddest man on the planet’ label after beating Tyson Fury

 

“What’s the variables?  The Mike Tyson influx into this in Francis Ngannou’s corner is very interesting.  Francis has power.  Francis has big power…. With power, anything can happen.  Mike Tyson in the corner, that type of style could be a kryptonite of a long, rangy, distance type of fighter in Tyson Fury.  I don’t think Tyson is going to want to let him test, let Francis test his power on him.

“Has Mike Tyson given him some tips to get inside, to change an angle, to bang a shot that clips the top of the temple to make it into an interesting bout?  You wouldn’t know.  Also, Tyson Fury is named after Mike Tyson.  Mike Tyson, the former youngest heavyweight champion of all time, icon in boxing and Tyson Fury’s father, John, named his son after Mike Tyson, Tyson Fury.  Fast forward a few years, Mike Tyson himself is now training a man to beat his son.  That casts so much emotions into it, and adds so much on to it.  It heaps so much onto the story.  

“What type of energy will be in the building and what type of energy the Fury’s going into the bout with particularly John and particularly Tyson?  It is a very interesting bout with all these things considered.”

The Notorious heads to The Kingdom 🇸🇦👑 #furyngannou pic.twitter.com/dZOCQMXvkI

— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) October 26, 2023