Francis Ngannou explains why Jake Paul is dangerous opponent

Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images

Francis Ngannou explains why Jake Paul is dangerous opponent

Originally posted on HITC | By Harvey Leonard | Last updated May 1, 2026 9:38 AM ET

Francis Ngannou has made a habit of never taking his opponents lightly.

The former UFC heavyweight champion will be looking to maintain that approach when he returns at Ronda Rousey vs Gina Carano event, streaming live on Netflix in 2025. It’ll be Ngannou’s first fight in over a year and there will be plenty of anticipation around how he looks coming off such a long layoff.

Ngannou’s opponent is Philipe Lins, and not many people are expecting the Brazilian to get his hand raised. But Ngannou isn’t about to look past the challenge standing in front of him, and spoke about that mentality ahead of this fight.

Francis Ngannou has no plans to take Jake Paul lightly in potential fight

Photo by Patrick T. Fallon / AFP via Getty Images

Ngannou left the UFC in 2023 to try his hand at boxing, while Paul had already made a name for himself by then.

Paul has racked up wins against several former MMA fighters but was stopped by Anthony Joshua last December. Ngannou experienced the same fate against Joshua earlier that year, losing in his second professional boxing bout.

He’d even been offered the chance to replace Gervonta Davis and step in on short notice, but he declined, calling the proposal “disrespectful.”

The Cameroonian has shown interest in taking the fight more recently. If it happens, he won’t be looking past Paul.

“I never take a fight as an easy fight. Don’t [make that] mistake,” Ngannou told The Schmo when asked about whether a potential matchup with Paul would be an easy night.

“And you also have to understand that he has faith and he believes in himself.”

He continued: “We have counted him out so many times and then (been) wrong.”

Pound for pound though, there’s little debate over who is expected to come out on top if this fight does get signed later this year.

This article first appeared on HITC and was syndicated with permission.

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