The rising heavyweight prospect, whom many believed was destined for stardom, lost to UFC champion Stipe Miocic in a one-sided unanimous decision at UFC 220 back in January. In his return bout, Ngannou fell to Derrick Lewis by unanimous decision in a listless — historically inactive — performance at UFC 226 in July.
Last December, Ngannou’s stock could not have been higher after a wicked, Knockout of the Year against Alistair Overeem. Nine months later, the Cameroon native by way of France is ice cold. Especially after UFC president Dana White slammed him following UFC 226 for having “ego” issues.