Former UFC flyweight champion Demetrius Johnson believes Anthony Joshua can beat Francis Ngannou in mixed martial arts.
Joshua made quick work of himself as he faced off against the Cameroonian cage fighter in the squared circle on Friday night.
AJ dropped Ngannou twice and took him down and out with a good right hand in the second round.
If a rematch were to take place in MMA, we would expect Ngannou to dismantle Joshua in a similar manner.
After all, he is much more experienced in this sport and is not limited only to punches like in boxing.
But Johnson, the current ONE Championship 125-pound king, disagrees.
“Would Anthony Joshua have beaten Francis Ngannou in mixed martial arts? I think he has,” Johnson said on his YouTube channel.
“It's going to be another impressive match. AJ understands his distance. He understands the void.
“He has better hands than Francis and can make Francis whiff and whiff.
“Unless Francis changes his tactics and wrestles in the clinch, (Joshua will win).
“But AJ is very athletic. He's smaller and more flexible. I think he can stuff the shot and give it to Francis Ngannou.”
During the final press conference ahead of the crossover showdown between Ngannou and Joshua, Tyson Fury began shouting at his former enemy from the crowd.
It wasn't clear what he said, but with those words, Ngannou seemed to remind the “Gypsy King” of how real fights play out between the two.
“The only chance is in the ring, in a boxing ring with boxing rules,” Ngannou said.
“When you step into [out] You better stay five meters away from that ring…because if I lose it, you're going to be in real trouble, my friend.
“We respect the fact that boxing protects us and respect the rules of boxing.” [are] It protects us.
“Because without it, you are nothing before me. I will beat you every day. Twice on Sunday.”
