The UFC 218’s co-main event featured two of the top heavyweight on the planet when decorated striker Alistair Overeem took on Cameroonian powerhouse Francis Ngannou.
As if the pair weren’t already motivated enough, UFC president Dana White announced beforehand that the winner of this bout would be next in light for a heavyweight title shot.
“Whoever wins is going to fight Stipe,” White told reporters.
Ngannou cemented himself as a real force in the heavyweight division with an unreal first-round finish of Alistair Overeem.
Overeem moves forward with a left hook right away, then shot for a takedown. He presses Ngannou against the cage. Frances had Overeem’s back against the fence, so the referee separated them. Ngannou counters and shattered Overeem with a huge left hook that put him on the canvas.
https://twitter.com/FancyCombat/status/937183683278229504
FRANCIS! #UFC218 pic.twitter.com/RWmIWpB5hx
— UFC (@ufc) December 3, 2017
Ngannou spoke after the fight saying:
“I feel pretty good! I took this because the winner should get a title shot and I think I got it.”
The win takes Ngannou to 11-1, whilst Overeem copped his 11th career knockout.
The social media response has been deafening, here’s what some of the big names had to say:
Why does my heart race when heavyweights fight?
— Daniel Cormier (@dc_mma) December 3, 2017
Overeem vs Francis is about to go down. Anyone else nervous? 😱 #UF218
— Brendan Schaub (@BrendanSchaub) December 3, 2017
Ok don’t blink!!! #OvereemvsNgannou #UFC218
— JIMI MANUWA (@POSTERBOYJM) December 3, 2017
If Overeem's glass jaw gets touched by N'Gannou(sp?) it'll probably shatter. #UFC218
— The Thugjitsu Master (@thugjitsumaster) December 3, 2017
Big Power alert 🚨 #UFC218
— Derek Brunson (@DerekBrunson) December 3, 2017
@Alistairovereem vs @francis_ngannou is about to go down and this is gonna be nuts!!! Is the cage even gonna be able to support these two? I’m pumped!
— Daniel Cormier (@dc_mma) December 3, 2017
Some big ass boys in the octagon right now
— Ian McCall (@Unclecreepymma) December 3, 2017
— Amanda Nunes (@Amanda_Leoa) December 3, 2017
OH MY FUCKING GOD!!!! The power of Ngannou is fucking real people!! That is a bad bad man!! #UFC218 pic.twitter.com/RdUOCuBxXB
— Megan Anderson (@MeganAnderson) December 3, 2017
This tweet is hilarious:
Stipe just changed his phone number and left the country! #UFC218
— Derek Brunson (@DerekBrunson) December 3, 2017
Well, Ngannou landed first. Scary, scary power. Nobody at heavyweight wants to get hit by that cinder block fist. What a great story he is. #UFC218
— Kenny Florian (@kennyflorian) December 3, 2017
From Tony Ferguson:
What A Crazy Knockout!!! 🔥🔥🔥@francis_ngannou #UFCDetroit pic.twitter.com/c7tw2fgoBS
— Tony Ferguson (@TonyFergusonXT) December 3, 2017
Stipe Miocic:
What a win! Congrats on the Big Ten Championship! #GoBucks
— Stipe Miocic (@stipemiocic) December 3, 2017
