You can’t erase it — Israel Adesanya declares African star’s UFC legacy is unshakable

Israel Adesanya has made it clear that the legacy of Francis Ngannou, a former UFC heavyweight champion, is indelible, despite the UFC’s recent actions.

 In a video published last week, the UFC edited out Ngannou’s name when Adesanya referred to himself, Ngannou, and Kamaru Usman as the "three African kings." 

Adesanya, 35, who is preparing for his upcoming fight against South African middleweight champion Dricus du Plessis, questioned the UFC’s decision, emphasising that Ngannou's impact on the sport is undeniable.

"You can’t erase Francis' legacy in the UFC; it’s part of what we’ve done," Adesanya said.

 "I know he fights for the PFL now, but it's history - trying not to talk about it is silly." 

The Nigerian-born kiwi fighter also acknowledged the competitive nature between promotions but maintained that Ngannou's contributions to the UFC cannot be overlooked.

 "The streets will always remember," he added, confident that the UFC will eventually rectify their actions.

Ngannou, who left the UFC in 2023 due to a "lack of freedom," has continued to make waves in the combat sports world. 

After being stripped of his UFC heavyweight title upon departure, the 37-year-old Cameroonian MMA star has since taken on high-profile boxing bouts against Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua, though he lost both matches.

 Despite these setbacks, Ngannou remains a formidable figure in combat sports, with his PFL debut against Renan Ferreira scheduled for October 19.

Meanwhile, Adesanya is on a mission to reclaim his middleweight crown in what will be the first all-African title bout in UFC history.

 Should he succeed, Adesanya will join the ranks of Randy Couture as one of only two fighters to become a three-time champion in the same division.