Ngannou apologizes for UFC 226 performance
Francis Ngannou: “I completely understand the frustration and anger that it has caused to my fans, coaches, teammates, family, and friends, and I am truly sorry for that.”
Francis Ngannou appeared to be the next big thing heading into a title fight vs. Stipe Miocic at UFC 220 on January 20, 2018. His previous fight, vs. Alistair Overeem, was as close to a decapitation as the sport had ever seen. Ngannou lost to the champ, but he was less than five years into the sport.
Anticipation was high heading into his co-main event on Saturday vs. Derrick Lewis.
“Probability of someone going to sleep? Very high. Very, very high,” tweeted UFC. “About as high as it can possibly get.”
‘The Predator’ landed eleven strikes in 15 minutes. The victorious Lewis landed 20. The combined 31 strikes put it at #2 for fewest combined strikes landed in a three-round fight. #1 was Jens Pulver vs. Joao Roque at UFC 26 on June 9, 2000.
Ngannou didn’t appear at the post-fight press conference but broke his silence with a message on the social network.
I am not proud of my last performance, wrote Ngannou. I have carried my fear from the last fight to this one. I completely understand the frustration and anger that it has caused to my fans, coaches, teammates, family, and friends, and I am truly sorry for that. I won’t let everyone down again. All I can do now is prove myself and make you proud again.