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Francis Ngannou must respond to Eddie Hall’s fight offer for one reason, says UFC icon: ‘You cannot let that go’
Francis Ngannou has been urged by UFC Hall of Famer Chael Sonnen to hit back at Eddie Hall. This follows Hall’s comments that he would fight Ngannou ‘if the money was right,’ after he demolished Mariusz Pudzianowski in his MMA debut last month. Hall knocked his Polish opponent out in his MMA debut last monthKSW He has since revealed that he would fight ex-UFC heavyweight champion Ngannou if the money was rightKSW The 2017 World’s Strongest Man knocked out the Polish five-time Strongman in less than 30 seconds and has since teased numerous options for his next combat sports appearance. Ngannou, 38, has fought only once in MMA since he left the UFC in January 2022, trying his hand at professional boxing against Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua. Sonnen believes the Cameroonian can’t overlook Hall’s call-out for a big money fight to avoid being disrespected and pulled into a ‘ridiculous sideshow.’ “[Hall’s] clearly a dangerous man because he’s enormous and the strongest man alive,” Sonnen explained on his YouTube channel. “I’m not going to suggest that he’d [defeat] a top MMA guy, but it’s not the same as some boxer coming after the top guy trying to get his name out there – Eddie’s name is already out there. “So, what do you do if you’re Francis? You cannot let that go. You got to shoot on the son of a b****. “You cannot let this be out there that a strong man that’s now 1-0, he’s actually now part of the industry, whether you like it or not, with a big audience, is willing to fight you.” Hall has been asked about fighting a range of the biggest names in the combat sports world since his victory over Pudzianowski at KSW 105, including Brock Lesnar. However, the 37-year-old told talkSPORT.com that he wants to stay in ‘the freak fight’ industry, and even suggested teaming up with Pudzianowski for a 2v4 in his next clash. Ngannou, meanwhile, will likely go back into boxing before another fight in his primary sport, MMA, with his current promotion, the PFL. Sonnen said Ngannou must respond to Hall to avoid being disrespectedGetty / KSW Ngannou is arguably the greatest heavyweight MMA fighter of all timeGetty Speaking to talKSPORT.com, PFL Managing Director James Frewin said ‘The Predator’ wants to get a rematch with Joshua, who knocked out Ngannou in March 2024 – five months after he lost a narrow split decision defeat to Fury. “Now, Francis is in a good spot,” Sonnen added. “Eddie didn’t make any crazy claims. “Eddie said what you guys would say—any one of you, the biggest coward of all of you, would fight Francis if the money was right. “There’s a number, so Eddie is being very clear: I’ll go take that beating, I’ll take on whatever is inside of that cage if the money is right. “Eddie’s hands are clean here, but Francis cannot let that go. If you get Francis, you get a top guy in the world. “Francis deserves that respect. He was the UFC champion and never lost the belt, and many thought he should’ve become the WBO champion, including one of the judges and Joe Rogan. I think Francis won that [Tyson Fury] fight. Sonnen said Ngannou can’t let Hall’s comments rideGetty The Cameroonian is currently weighing up his options to make a boxing returnGETTY “Francis doesn’t have an opponent or something big coming up. The ideas of Francis boxing, I think should be pursued. I think Francis vs Deontay Wilder sells. “Francis cannot let this ride… you cannot let an established world champion start to get pulled into such a ridiculous sideshow.” Sonnen concluded by telling Ngannou that he doesn’t need to necessarily ‘dismiss’ Hall, but rather tell the Brit why he shouldn’t have his name in his mouth. Ngannou left Dana White’s promotion more than three years ago as the UFC heavyweight champion. He won the belt by knocking out Stipe Miocic at UFC 260 in March 2021 before defending it against Ciryl Gane ten months later in his last fight for the promotion. ‘The Predator’ cited contract disputes with UFC CEO White as one of the driving factors behind his decision to leave the promotion and fight for the PFL. Hall discussed what would need to happen for him to fight Ngannou when speaking to Ariel Helwani last week. “The only way I’d fight Francis Ngannou would be a hell of a training camp,” he said. “I’d probably want a good six to nine months, training with top-level athletes and top camps. “The money would have to be good, because you’re literally putting your life on the line. “I think the fun thing about that, Francis Ngannou outclasses me in every single way possible in the fight world. “But it’s that unknown that if I catch him, if I throw that right hand and it just gets him on the end of the chin, it can happen. It’s that unknown. “So I wouldn’t be going in thinking I’ve got zero chance, but it would have to be a big-money incentive for me to do that, a
Francis Ngannou has been urged by UFC Hall of Famer Chael Sonnen to hit back at Eddie Hall.
This follows Hall’s comments that he would fight Ngannou ‘if the money was right,’ after he demolished Mariusz Pudzianowski in his MMA debut last month.
The 2017 World’s Strongest Man knocked out the Polish five-time Strongman in less than 30 seconds and has since teased numerous options for his next combat sports appearance.
Ngannou, 38, has fought only once in MMA since he left the UFC in January 2022, trying his hand at professional boxing against Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua.
Sonnen believes the Cameroonian can’t overlook Hall’s call-out for a big money fight to avoid being disrespected and pulled into a ‘ridiculous sideshow.’
“[Hall’s] clearly a dangerous man because he’s enormous and the strongest man alive,” Sonnen explained on his YouTube channel.
“I’m not going to suggest that he’d [defeat] a top MMA guy, but it’s not the same as some boxer coming after the top guy trying to get his name out there – Eddie’s name is already out there.
“So, what do you do if you’re Francis? You cannot let that go. You got to shoot on the son of a b****.
“You cannot let this be out there that a strong man that’s now 1-0, he’s actually now part of the industry, whether you like it or not, with a big audience, is willing to fight you.”
Hall has been asked about fighting a range of the biggest names in the combat sports world since his victory over Pudzianowski at KSW 105, including Brock Lesnar.
However, the 37-year-old told talkSPORT.com that he wants to stay in ‘the freak fight’ industry, and even suggested teaming up with Pudzianowski for a 2v4 in his next clash.
Ngannou, meanwhile, will likely go back into boxing before another fight in his primary sport, MMA, with his current promotion, the PFL.
Speaking to talKSPORT.com, PFL Managing Director James Frewin said ‘The Predator’ wants to get a rematch with Joshua, who knocked out Ngannou in March 2024 – five months after he lost a narrow split decision defeat to Fury.
“Now, Francis is in a good spot,” Sonnen added. “Eddie didn’t make any crazy claims.
“Eddie said what you guys would say—any one of you, the biggest coward of all of you, would fight Francis if the money was right.
“There’s a number, so Eddie is being very clear: I’ll go take that beating, I’ll take on whatever is inside of that cage if the money is right.
“Eddie’s hands are clean here, but Francis cannot let that go. If you get Francis, you get a top guy in the world.
“Francis deserves that respect. He was the UFC champion and never lost the belt, and many thought he should’ve become the WBO champion, including one of the judges and Joe Rogan. I think Francis won that [Tyson Fury] fight.
“Francis doesn’t have an opponent or something big coming up. The ideas of Francis boxing, I think should be pursued. I think Francis vs Deontay Wilder sells.
“Francis cannot let this ride… you cannot let an established world champion start to get pulled into such a ridiculous sideshow.”
Sonnen concluded by telling Ngannou that he doesn’t need to necessarily ‘dismiss’ Hall, but rather tell the Brit why he shouldn’t have his name in his mouth.
Ngannou left Dana White’s promotion more than three years ago as the UFC heavyweight champion.
He won the belt by knocking out Stipe Miocic at UFC 260 in March 2021 before defending it against Ciryl Gane ten months later in his last fight for the promotion.
‘The Predator’ cited contract disputes with UFC CEO White as one of the driving factors behind his decision to leave the promotion and fight for the PFL.
Hall discussed what would need to happen for him to fight Ngannou when speaking to Ariel Helwani last week.
“The only way I’d fight Francis Ngannou would be a hell of a training camp,” he said.
“I’d probably want a good six to nine months, training with top-level athletes and top camps.
“The money would have to be good, because you’re literally putting your life on the line.
“I think the fun thing about that, Francis Ngannou outclasses me in every single way possible in the fight world.
“But it’s that unknown that if I catch him, if I throw that right hand and it just gets him on the end of the chin, it can happen. It’s that unknown.
“So I wouldn’t be going in thinking I’ve got zero chance, but it would have to be a big-money incentive for me to do that, and literally put my life on the line going in the ring with someone like Ngannou.”
