The Herd with Colin Cowherd - Francis Ngannou Part 1

Episode Date: December 6, 2023

Francis Ngannou delivers a knockout episode on Club Shay Shay, going toe-to-toe with Shannon Sharpe. The punches aren't just in the ring – Francis is throwing verbal jabs, expressing his desire to take on heavyweight giants Deontay Wilder, Anthony Joshua and rematch with Tyson Fury. He takes a swing at UFC contracts and Dana White, revealing some behind-the-octagon heat. Francis also says he would fight Jon Jones. #Volume #HerdSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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Within probably 10 days, I'd put on 10 pounds. I was having trouble stopping the muscle growth. Listen to Superhuman on the I-Hard Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. A win is a win. A win is a win. I don't care what I'm saying. Yep, that's me.

Clifford Taylor the 4th. You might have seen the skits, my basketball and college football journey, or my career in sports media. Well, now I'm bringing all of that excitement to my brand new podcast, The Clifers Show. This is a place for raw, unfills of conversations with athletes,

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jurisdictions. See, draftkings.com slash sportsbook for details in state-specific responsible gambling resources. Eligibility and deposit restrictions apply. Bonus bets expire 168 hours after issuance terms at sportsbook.draftkings.com slash basketball terms. Who would you be looking in the heavyweight division to fight next? Right now I want a rematch with Tyson. He took me a little lightly, so he might come next time very heavy. All my life. Then grinding all my life.

Sacrifice. Hustle paid the price. Want a slice. Got the roll of dice. That's why all my life. I be grinding on my life. All my life. Then grinding all my life.

I'm going to slice. Hello, welcome to another special edition of Club Shay-She on the Road. I am your host, Shannon Sharp. I'm also the proprietor of Club Shay-Shay. And the guy that's stopping by for conversation on a drink, well, we have nothing to drink, so just the conversation today is one of the scariest heavyweights on the planet. He holds the record for the hardest punch ever recorded by the Guinness Book of World Records. He's a former UFC heavyweight champion of the world.

A top 10 ranked WBC boxing heavyweight contender, one of the baddest man on the planet. just nicknamed him the Cameroonian conquistador. You know the conquistador? No. That's someone looking to conquer new territory. Ah, okay, conquistador. The predator, Francis Ngano. How you doing, bro?

I'm doing good, sir. Man, thanks for stopping by. Man, how you been? I've been good. You know, been popping my little way. How have your life changed? See, we're going to give you credit for the win because everybody believed that you won the fight.

You got outlanded in total punches, but you threw the harder power shots. You knocked him down something that some of the other former heavyweights in boxing has been unable to do. So what's going through your mind? You land this punch. Did you think he was going to get up? Did you think you had won the fight? Oh, yeah.

Yeah. Going up into that fight, I was very prepared. I know how tough he is. You know, I have seen him almost dead and come back. So I wasn't going there to knock him out. You know, I'm like, okay, whatever happened. Because usually when you think somebody is going to stay down and then it comes up, that takes something out of you. You know, like I didn't want to have odd kind of like hope, empty hope.

So I'm like, this fight is going to the decision, you know. And during the entire fight, I was just thinking to the 10 of the 10, on the 10 round, like don't overdo, don't find the big, the big punch. Right. Just keep the pace, you know, and that's how I do. Did you think you could win a decision over a heavyweight champion or did you feel you needed to knock him out? Did you think you could get a decision? Yeah, I believe in it.

I mean, that's why I train. I train for 10 rounds. I mean, to get there and get in the 10 round and in the 10th round, I feel like I was even more fresh than he was. You know, I was very prepared. I mean, I'm going into a sport that I'm there on the dock, massive on the dock because that That was my first boxing match and I'm going again the best in the world. So I was, I better be prepared, right?

And couldn't just count on punches or power punch because he's good at counter deviating punch. So I wasn't looking for punches at all. I was so scared like to put power and get tired. My main thing was not to get tired before him. Right. Yeah. And see, that's what I'm saying, because you are such a massive underdog. Had you won that fight, that would have been the biggest upset in heavyweight history. That's bigger than Buster Douglas and Mike Tyson.

That's bigger than any other heavyweight fight. That might have been the biggest because, like you said, you never had a boxing match before. And you steps into the ring with the undisputed heavyweight champion of the world, and you beat him. And that's why, like, at some point, even I get frustrated. of the decision, but I understand that there is a system, and you can not just be like a single wolf and just come and take the system down like that. I've been into this business a little while to understand that he works,

so I knew even before the fight that if we get to that point, I don't have so many chance. Right. But, you know, I wanted to prove my point. I wanted to prove that I can box, Also, for me, he was a good experience to feel it. To get there. And I'm like, okay, I get this.

How do I fear in the fifth round, in the sixth round, in the eighth round? You know, all those stuff and holding and understand the game against one of the best ever do it. You know, so he was very important for me. So at the end of the day, like after that fight, regardless of the decision, I was too happy. I feel very satisfied. And yeah, I feel like I have. I've took a lot of a lot from them than what they took from me. What gave you the confidence, considering that you had never boxed professionally,

that you can get into the ring, and I don't think you stepped into the ring thinking like, okay, I'm going to have a good showing. I think you stepped into the ring believing you could beat Tyson Fury. Of course. What gave you the confidence? You had never been in a boxing match before? You know, life is not always about theory. Okay.

If life was about theory, I would have never. be here okay you know I wasn't mean to be here and yet I am so you get to the point that you realize like it's not about like the experience and everything like you understand that something's something going on right like if I if you if I walk to the bar and see a guy that is drunk and coming after me that this guy never been in the gym I step back first to watch what his move I don't sit say, oh, I'm a professional fighter. No, I step back, because if that guy too long,

you might find yourself, have taken a nap. So at the end of the day, regardless of like boxing, technique, and everything, is two men fighting. And I believe that I'm men enough to stand in front of other men, even though I have a little bit of less experience and a disadvantage.

But I know that I'm being. man, and I can handle. You had Mike Tyson, who Tyson theory is actually named after of in your corner, teaching you the ends, the out, the intricacies of the, so when you go into the, he's a big man, he's a massive man, I think he's six foot nine, you're six foot five, you were the more muscular fighter, and you said, I just wanted to make sure I didn't get tired, so I didn't want to put too much into the punches and tire myself out. Yeah.

But you counter, you counter him and catch him with, I think, a left to the temple. Yeah. Did you see that opening? Could you tell like, I think I can get him. This is the moment. No, basically, that was even a counter. That wasn't something that I prepared. But I saw that when he walked at me in the third round,

I think it was for him a moment to finish the fight. Kind of like, okay, we are done. Let's go home now. Because when the fight started, he was like, let's go to school. And then we get to the third round. He's acting like he's just going to walk me, walk me down. then I'm like, I'm not backing up. So I put my hand up and wait for him.

And in order to push him, I have to counter. And then he get caught at that moment. So he's like, so what's going through your mind when you catch him? Do you like, man, I just put him up? No, no. Not really nothing. I really, because he wasn't a strong punch, so I know that he's going to get up.

You didn't catch him with your bears? No, no. I mean, he was a punch that even hit his shirt. shoulder first before hit his tempo. But if you catch him flush, you believe the fight's over. If you don't glaze it, if you don't glance his shoulder, you catch him flush with that left, you believe you put him down to stay?

Everyone, everybody will go down. Basically, in the third round, you'll see fresh. Now, everyone will go down with a clean shot later. So what was it like taking a punch from him? Because like you said, I mean, most of your, look, In the UFC, the guys, I mean, there's so many things that you got to watch for. In boxing, you're just looking for the hands. Now, you jab, the uppercut, the hook, body shots.

But in UFC, you got to watch a knee, an elbow, a foot. You got to watch all that. And so most of the guys aren't punchers like you are. Now, they can end the fight. Now, the heavyweight, because you've got body as you go up in 2.15, 2.20, 2.30, 2.40. Guys can end the fight. No, it's minute more 250. Yeah, okay, 250.

Yeah. So what was it like taking a shot from Tyson, Fury? You felt? He hits pretty good. I mean, first of all, like, even in the, you know, MMA, like, there's all those punches from everywhere, knee kick, all those stuff. But punches, they are not so strong as boxer, you know. Those guys have it inside the shoulder.

They know how to throw it, everything. He's pretty good. I mean, I ate some good shot. I'm like, fuck. You know? But... How did you ever gotten hit that hard in a UFC fight? Um, I don't know.

Yeah, I think so. Yeah. Basically in the UFC, it's in the MMA, it's four-ounce gloves. Yeah. That's a lot of knuckle though. Yeah. But it was pretty good shot. Right.

I mean, it's good when you feel the punch, that means you're still up. But the fact that you took the punch and you kept coming forward, kept coming forward and you didn't back down or you didn't retreat and give him confidence like, okay, he felt that power. Now is my chance. It's because you kept coming forward. I was there to fight and to win. Right.

I mean, and he's the champion. I have to go after him. Right. You know, I'm not going to see them. I wasn't going there to count, you know, because like my game plan was to count him or to survive. Right. My game plan was to fight and to win, you know, to dictate him. to dictate my own rule, that was the game plan.

Okay. Like, I'm going to, I'm coming after you to win. Right. Yeah, so in order to do that, I have to work. You go to 10 rounds. You're like, okay. Hmm. You get back, so what are you thinking?

Do you think you won the fight? Yes, absolutely. Like, right at that moment, I was fear of happiness. Right. Wish I wasn't even putting in perspective to fight how it goes. I mean, one again, once again, it's my first fight. I'm smush worried about what is happening. I'm very deterred of like, okay, don't do this.

Don't let this happen. How are you feeling? Are you going to be good at the 10th round and all those? So I couldn't count at that moment. You know, I was just happy. I was first happy that I made it there, but I'm like, I won, right? But again, I was prepared. I knew that when it goes to decision, like, it's going to be hard.

Yeah. So at the end of the day, I wasn't surprised. The only thing is that it was quite obvious. You know, the different was quite obvious. Right. There was a lot of, there was even a lot of things besides the decision that was kind of like, okay. Well, he hit you with an illegal elbow several times. He hits me with the elbow once.

At the beginning of the fight, the first contact, not even two seconds, the referee was like break, break, you know. And from the moment that he started to initiate the contact on his own, then there wasn't a break anymore. At some point I was like, okay, call out the break and there wasn't calling the break. So everything was arranged for him to be comfortable, you know. I understand. I was just a single guy coming to take down his structure every entire business.

When you look at it, he's because he's such a mountain of a man, he normally leans on people and tires him out. But because of your statue, you were able to withstand some of the leaning on him and you didn't get tired. And I knew, and I knew that very well. I watched him

fought basically his second fight against Deonti Warder. I watched that very close. I watched that very close and by the fifth round Deonté was like exhausted like um like and people I'm like oh he didn't train I'm like he did train but you don't understand like I mean even when Tyson show up I think it was 273 at the way in I'm like he's gonna weigh 300 weigh him down I knew right and that's exactly what he what he did and so I was prepared on that I worked a lot on like my leg to work some wrestling

staff. So I was prepared. Well, you acquitted yourself very well. So when you get back to the corner, you get back to your dressing room, what did Mike Tyson tell you? Did he tell you he's proud of you? What did he say, man? No, it wasn't even at the dressing room. Like, after the fight, he carried Cameroon flag, was just raising like the new heavyweight champion. You know, Mike, he doesn't care about all your stuff. He said whatever he believed in. And he was just out there like the winner of the night. Right.

Right. So overall, everyone was happy. We were happy. We did a great job. Everything went well leading up into the fight. Everything was good. You know, it was a good experience for everyone, the team, the people, the family around. It was a pretty good experience.

You know, the first time that I have my family attempt to my fight, I had like 30 family member there sitting first row. Right. watching me fight, you know, my mom, my brothers, everyone. Were you nervous? Because you say that's the first time they've seen you. Yes, I mean, you're always nervous when you're getting in something that... Combat.

Not competition. Yeah. Because it couldn't be, it could have been like performing like a musician or something. You would still be nervous, right? When it comes to performance, you're always nervous. But at some point, I was just like, let's give them the show, let's enjoy this. Who would have believed that they would be here?

Like, the entire village traveled to come sit there, watch me on the beach cream, and the show was massive, gigantic, like never seen before, right? So you had a great... So if you were to, and it seems like you're looking to pursue this full-time, are you looking for a full-time trainer, or would you let Mike train you? Or is this a one-off?

No, first of all, Mike is not a full-time trainer. Mike was healthy. He would come time to time to help us. But it's not like he was every day in the training. Okay, so you've got to put, so if this is something that you're going to pursue, you're going to have a full-time trainer. So are you looking to do this full-time and give up UFC? I mean, not UFC, but MMMA.

M-M.A. Are you looking to give up M-M-M-A and just do boxing full-time? Or are you trying to do a Dionne Sanders and play football and basketball? I mean baseball. Combination. I can do a little bit of both. Let's see the great fight.

You know, I think at this point of my career, I just won a big fight, a big show, before I call it out. Right. So how long do you train for this fight? Like four months for this fight. Four months for this fight. Like this was my first,

boxing match. So usually my training would be like 10 weeks, 3 months max, but this one was different. So I know that I have a lot of way to go. Basically, like when it comes to endurance, you know, condition and stuff.

So I took a lot of time ahead. So you're talking about 10, 3-minute rounds versus 5-minute rounds. What's the difference? Did you notice a difference? There is a lot of difference.

You know, like in MMA, when you're tired, first of all, it's something that I have been doing. I have an experience. I know how to manage, you know. And in MMA, when you're tired, you can attempt to take down or lean on somebody and act like grappling or maybe trying to take him down, just lean on him, trying to walk a little bit and win the round.

In boxing, there is not that. You better be able to stand on your feet and move. Right. Not only move your feet, move your head. hands. You know, when those acid lactate, start to get in your hand, then you're... Imagine an Olympics where doping is not only legal, but encouraged. It's the enhanced games. Some call it grotesque. Others say it's unleashing human potential. Either way, the podcast's superhuman documented it all, embedded in the games and with the athletes for a full year.

Within probably 10 days, I'd put on 10 pounds. I was having trouble stopping the muscle growth. Listen to Superhuman on the IHard Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. A win is a win. A win is a win. I don't care what I'm saying. Yep, that's me, CliverTaylor the 4th. You might have seen the skits, the reactions, my journey from basketball to college football, or my career in sports media. Well, somewhere along the way, this platform became bigger than I ever imagined.

And now I'm bringing all of that excitement to my brand new podcast, The Clifford Show. This is a place for raw, unfiltered conversations with some of your favorite athletes, creators, and voices that not only deserve to be heard, but celebrated. One week, I'll take you behind the scenes of the biggest moments in sports and entertainment, and the next we'll talk about life, mental health, purpose, and even music. The Clifford Show isn't just a podcast. It's a space for honest conversations, stories that don't always get told, and for people who are chasing something bigger.

So, if you've ever supported me, or you're just chasing down a dream, this is right where you need to be. Listen to the Clifford show on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more behind the scenes, follow at Clifford and at TikTok Podcast Network on TikTok. Hey, I'm Jared Adano. You might know me as that loud guy who yells out,

help on the internet. Help! Somebody! Please! But there's so much more to me than that. I'm an actor. I'm a comedian. And recently, I've become quite the helper myself. And on my new podcast, hope from a hypocrite, I'll be changing lives, helping people in need with my sage advice and thoughtful solutions.

Sike, I'm a comedian! I'm not qualified to give good advice! Join me and my comedian friends as we riff rant and recommend some of the most legally dubious advice known to man. If I'm calling you, even if you're on your phone, let it ring twice. One ring is too scary. Oh, cream of chicken suit, hey, cream. Cream a chicken suit. This is Help from a Hypocrite, the worst advice from the dumbest people you know.

Listen to Help from Hypocrite as part of the Mike Coutura Podcast Network available on the I-Hart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Done or in your feet, you're done. You better get a good training camp in order to avoid that. Because you're not going to lean on somebody for 10 or 30 seconds to rest to take a breath. You're going to be going constantly stand up face to face. So it's different. So I like you.

So are you looking forward? So who would you want? Let's just say some promoter came and says, okay, praise it. I don't need a promoter. You don't have a promoter? I don't need a promoter. Oh, so you're your own promoter? Yeah, I don't need a promoter.

So. Give me a fight promotion. That's your pro. Yeah. I can go promote with whoever have a fighter and want to put on a fight. I don't need a promotion. Okay. So who would you be doing?

looking in the heavyweight division to fight next? Right now I want a rematch with Tyson. You know, I just fight built a lot of confidence on me, in me. But also I think he took me a little lightly, so he might come next time very heavy. I want to feel it. You know, I want a rematch. But I think now that you know what to expect, you believe he's going to come back better prepared, But you'll be better prepared because you know what to expect from the previous fight.

Of course. I mean, I'm definitely going to be prepared more, put more work into it. You know, because I believe now, I mean, I was there and I know that I won. And I know that even though they gave him a victory, he's coming now as a challenger. And he's coming now to restore, to reestablish himself. himself, his reputation, you know, so he's going to be, it's going to come hard. What's the big, as far as training, what's the biggest difference between MMA and boxing in your training camp?

Because you say you'd go probably about 10 weeks in MMA and you went four months, so you went about, you went about four months, you went about 16 weeks in boxing. So what's the biggest difference? Is there more cardio in MMA? Is there more road work in boxing? What's some of the differences that you notice? He depends. Whether it's MMA or boxing, everything depends on the pace that you're putting in.

If you start whether it's boxing and then just go there, start through heavy punch, pop, pop, pop, pop, first round, you can last round. Right, you guys out. Yeah. Same thing with MMA, you know, like, and then basically like MMA, if you go after somebody trying to take down and start a force there, stay there, you guys are like this. After two minutes, you have all the acid lactic. You know, it's also the pace, how to manage that.

Okay. Because there's nobody that can go, like, keep this, his hundred percent for like three minutes. Right. You just know how to manage it, you know. So, here all depend. But I'm more, I have more experience in MMA, so I know how to manage that, which in boxing is something that I'm still learning, you know, like on this fight, I saw a lot of trick in the fight,

a lot of things that they were doing. that was like, okay, it's right, it's not right, he's in the mirror, you know, so they can't let it go, pass. What about the weight cut? I mean, how much, I mean, you're a fairly large man. I mean, what's your walk-around weight? Like 275. Okay, so you go into an MMA fight, how much do you normally weigh?

MMA fight, I will go 260, 250, maybe 257. For this boxing match, how much did you weigh? 265. Okay, so there wasn't, there wasn't a whole lot, there was not a whole lot of cut. I didn't cut, I don't cut weight. You don't cut weight? I lose weight during training camp.

It's not like, I don't do something specific to cut weight. Right. I don't eat less. Right. I just eat. So all these drastic weight cuts that we see some of them, MMA fighters do, you don't do that. I don't do that.

I mean, when you're training twice a day, every time you're going, you're putting everything. Come on, man. You're going to lose that weight. You're going to lose that weight. So a lot of people thought the fight was going to be scripted because they see, you see these exhibitions, they see Floyd Mayweather fight, the Paul brothers, and they see some of this stuff.

But I think early on they could tell this is not scripted, this is real. I mean... That's what they said at the... Some people thought at the beginning and we made it clear that this is going to our record. Yeah. Right? If you lost, you lost. It's like you're not 33 zero anymore.

more your 33-1 is going there. So, and then exhibition doesn't go on the road. Right. In exhibition, they don't need all those official, all those staff, all those drug testing stuff, because they're not at the end of the day is just to put on a show. I mean, the fight was in Saudi Arabia

and you have Kanye showed up, M showed up, De La Jolla, your Holyfield, Cristiana Renato, Connor McGregor, Vince McMahon, Undertaker, Little Baby, Perform. What would it like to see, like, You weigh in Saudi Arabia. This wasn't Vegas, and we understand that Vegas is the fight capital of the world. You're in Saudi Arabia, and you have so many big names showing up to see a guy that's never been in a boxing match before to see you fight.

Yeah, and something that you don't even see in Vegas, you know, that concentration of a celebrity in one spot. I think that that was the biggest concentration of celebrity in one spot. And listen, like, even if you're a celebrity in one spot, I think that, that was the biggest concentration of a celebrity in one spot. Like, even before that, like, when we signed the fight, three months out the fight, they started a promo video, a video music clip, and then that was the moment that I realized that, no, it's not the same, it's not going to be the same matter.

You know, like that video for the clip, we shoot it in Hollywood. One week in Hollywood, just shooting a video clip, And now I'm like, okay, it's not the same. It's not the same at all. We don't do it. I never do something like this. Right.

Renato gifted you a $130,000-something thousand dollar watch. What did that mean? I mean, everybody knows he's one of the most visible, recognizable people on the planet. And he said, bro. I think he gave me more than that. He gave me more than a watch. He gave you more gifts? No, I mean, gifts is not always

what somebody gives you, I think, is the time. Yeah. Like early this year, right after I separated with the UFC, I left the UFC early this year, and then I went to Saudi. And we were trying to make me meet Cristiano, and he didn't work out. The guy that said, oh, we have a dinner or something. It didn't work out, okay? I think he was full of shit.

But then we were into a meeting at the hotel restaurant, and then my guy saw one of his his guy, Ricardo. And you're like, ah, that's a Ronaldo guy. And he went to him and said, hey, Rick, and started to talk. And he said, oh, and then he introduced me. He said, ah, Ronald Cristiano is a huge friend of Francis. And I'm like, yeah, maybe another guy not pretend to know Ronald Cristiano, right?

So he said, okay, let me call. So he picked on the phone and call Cristiano and say, yes, I'm here with Francis in Ghana, blah, blah, blah. And then hang up. I wasn't hearing the other side of the phone. And then hang off and say, yeah, he said, we should come up. He's at the pool. I'm like, yeah, whatever.

I just follow the guy. You followed him up. Yeah, like, okay, what's going to happen? He's not going to chop my head. Right. Then we went up to the pool and yes, Cristiano was there with his wife, his daughter and stuff. He was in the short and we introduced. Because to be honest, I wasn't expecting, I wouldn't be surprised if Ronaldo said, hey, who is this?

I wouldn't be surprised that he didn't know me, right? And then you know, I'm like, hey, what's up, champ? I started to talk, start a talk. And I found out that he knows a lot about me. He knows my story. He knows my fight. He was giving me detail about the fight, like how I fight this guy. How can I fight this guy?

Which one is better between this guy and this guy if I fight? I'm like, well, how come do you know much? And he said, we wake. My family and I, we went down every time when you're, fight to watch your fight and we were standing next to the pool like this talking for like 40 minutes at least and I think that was more than a watch right yeah and just just the interaction the interaction and he was giving me advice the reason why he took this decision why I did this people don't understand they think this but I did this because of this I'm like wow you know

you have to know the men know the public face figure him himself and understand his mind. And I'm like, this is very interesting. And he was giving me some advice. And at the end, you know, he was so genuine that at the end, I was like, I can't live without having my picture with Christiano, right? I get a proof. I'm like, but I was still a little embarrassed to talk about picture.

And then I'm like, yeah, no, no worry, let's go. And then he put his shirt on, we went to, on the shade. and started to take picture and like, okay, let's do face off. And he was laughing, hugging me. Right. You look at that picture, it seems like we know each other for years. Right. Yeah. He was our first time meeting. He was, this is how genuine he was.

And then I was going to save my picture for whenever I'm going to post it is my picture with Cristiano. A couple hours after I found a picture. I just find, the notification on my phone started like, I'm like, what the hell is going on? I checked, Cristiano post that picture and say, I was happy to meet you today, Champ Francis in Ghana, or this stuff, blah, blah, blah. That's when I post mine.

That was way more than the watch. What was some of the best advice that you've gotten? Being in that situation because you got exposed to a lot of different things that you didn't get exposed to in the MMA by taking this fight with test, Tyson Fury. So what was some of the things that people have reached out and given you advice about moving forward? Listen, most of the time, basically, when you're doing something that people don't understand

your decision, it's not about advice. People who always be, most people, some people will support you, people that are on your side will support you, even when they disagree with you. Right. They still support you because it's you, right? But as far as advice, who was the guy that really believe in it in order to give you advice? Everybody was like, I don't know about that, right? So, and then you have to deal yourself, to yourself, you have to have this self-conversation with yourself.

Like, okay, am I good? Yeah, that was my decision. I wanted this. I wanted this. I'm doing this. And at the end of the day, what could be worse, maybe for me, the worst is not to try. The worst is not to try and fail. So I don't care.

I'm getting into the position that nobody has ever expected me to get there. I'm doing something that is uncomfortable for everyone. I'm taking a risk, this challenge. I could have just said in MMA, I'm more comfortable there and this. But I'm taking a challenge, right? At the end of the day, what I want to tell my kid is that I dare. That's all what matter. Would you, Deonté Wilder, obviously, he fought Tyson Fury three times.

Three times. They had a draw, and then Fury beat him the last two times. Would you be willing to fight him in a boxing match? Of course. Even before this Tyson fight, we were talking with him. Like, he's also willing to fight me in MMA. Now, come on, Francis. Oh, no, for real.

Francis, stop. Why would you even take that fight? Why? Yes. Okay, let me tell you why. Let's say he's not fighting me, he's fighting somebody else, right? I look at the profile of that fighter. I put my money on the ante.

Basically, I mean, even just as a boxer, basically, now that he's like really intent to do that MMA and be training on, I put money on it because he just need to cut somebody to land a perch. Man. Imagine an Olympics where doping is not only legal, but encouraged. It's the enhanced games. Some call it grotesque.

Others say it's unleashing human potential. Either way, the podcast's Superhuman documented it all, embedded in the games and with the athletes for a full year. Within probably 10 days, I'd put on 10 pounds. I was having trouble stopping the muscle growth. Listen to Superhuman on the I-Hard Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. A win is a win.

I don't care what you're saying. Yep, that's me, Cliver Taylor the 4th. You might have seen the skits, the reactions, my journey from basketball to college football, or my career in sports media. Well, somewhere along the way, this platform became bigger than I ever imagined. And now I'm bringing all of that excitement

to my brand new podcast, The Clifford Show. This is a place for raw, unfiltered conversations with some of your favorite athletes, creators, and voices that not only deserve to be heard, but celebrated. One week, I'll take you behind the scenes of the biggest moments in sports and entertainment and the next we'll talk about life, mental health, purpose, and even music.

The Clifford Show isn't just a podcast, it's a space for honest conversations, stories that don't always get told, and for people who are chasing something bigger. So, if you've ever supported me, or you're just chasing down a dream, this is right where you need to be. Listen to the Clifford show on the IHeart Radio app,

Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more behind the scenes, follow at Clifford and at TikTok Podcast Network on TikTok. Hey, I'm Jared Adano. You might know me as that loud guy who yells out, help on the internet.

Help! Somebody! Please! But there's so much more to me than me. I'm an actor. I'm a comedian. And recently, I've become quite the helper myself.

And on my new podcast, hope from a hypocrite, I'll be changing lives, helping people in need with my sage advice and thoughtful solutions. Syke! I'm a comedian.

I'm not qualified to give good advice. Join me. of my comedian friends as we riff rant recommend some of the most legally dubious advice known to man. If I'm calling you, even if you're on your phone, let it ring twice. One ring is

too scary. Cream a chicken suit. Hey, cream a chicken suit. This is Help from a Hypocrite, the worst advice from the dumbest people you know. Listen to Help from Hypocrat as part of the My Cultura Podcast Network available on the IHart Radio app,

Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get podcasts. Yeah, but you know them joker go ahead, them legs, them long, leg, but it could also be a mixed rule. Oh, so you can't kick

or something like that? We were thinking of a mixed rules. Okay, yeah. Right? Because honestly, I think it's going to be too hard for him if we don't mix the rules. The one thing about MMA, you can't be one dimensional.

Ronda Rousey was one dimensional. Connor McGregor's one-dimensional. Really? Yeah, he just throw punches. He has a good ground game too. Every time they take him to the ground, somebody will always have a, there's always somebody that has a better ground game than somebody. And when they say you have a decent, decent ground game, it's not the best on the game, you know.

It's a sport of multiple discipline, multiple dimensions. You have to be decent at some. And most of the time, you're not. champion is not great at one thing or good at a lot. You just need to be good at a lot. Yes. Then besides good at a lot, you're fighting IQ make you even higher. Because sometimes you fight it.

You're fighting a wrestler. You know that as soon as you guys get in the contact. You can feel the clint. You can feel okay. It's different. This guy has been wrestling for 20 years. Right. You can wrestle for three, two, three months in the training camp and come compete with somebody that's eating wrestling for his entire life, right?

So you just have to avoid to go to that territory, you know, play with that. But at the end, you might win the fight, but it doesn't mean you're a best wrestler. If they put you guys in the wrestling game, he will eat you. People like you will fight in one minute. Yeah, wrestler, yeah, because I'm going to get tired. Like, it's hard the boy getting tired when you try to wrestle somebody because... Yes, because you contract. Yeah.

Always like this. Yeah. Yeah. You know, relax. What about Anthony Joshua? Would you be willing to fight Anthony Joshua in the box? Of course. I'm willing to fight.

He said he'd knock you. I mean, this is what he said. He said what? He said, what? But even Tyson Fury said the same thing. And Tyson Fury is better than Anthony Joshua. So what do I care about what people say? You heard that, Anthony?

He said, you heard what he said? He said Tyson period is better. than you, he beat Tyson Fury. What do I care about what people say? I mean, I've been into this game so long. I've seen so much. I've heard so much what people intend to do. Right.

There is a difference between wanting to do and be able to do or to do. Or saying what you're going to do until you get into the ring and then have to do. Yeah. So would you be willing to fight him in like a mix, like you said you and Deonti? In anyone, in anything that he wants. Yeah. Anything that he wants. You just want him in a mix.

the ring. Yeah, anything that he wants. Ring of octagon. Oh, fine. You know, like, the good thing about this is like, I'm the one that can go everywhere. Right. More comfortably. Right. You know, my, uh, my comfort zone will be octagon. But I'm going to the ring and putting them into a bad spot in the ring. So you go, so you go into their territory. Yeah. I'm concurring. You can't even keep it to your country. New territory.

I like that. I like that. Because I have my territory who they cannot mess with me. No. And if they come, they would need something like some favor, like, okay, I give you this. Okay, we take a kick out. Okay, I have to give him something. Yeah. You can't kick, you can't elbow.

Yeah. You just basically got a box. I mean, well, no, you just have to box him in the octagon. Because now you can't take him down because they can't abort the takedown. Yeah. I have to give him something. But when we step in the ring, they don't give you anything. But I had to get them in trouble.

Right. So leaving the UFC, was that a very hard decision for you? He was a decision that if he was up to me, I wouldn't take that decision. You know, the situation made me take a decision. Right. But he wasn't something that I was expecting or that I was thinking. But I get to the point that I realized that for my best, for my best, I have to take the right decision.

for myself. Right. And that was a good decision for myself. Because I'm looking at some of the things that you requested. You requested health insurance, the ability to have sponsorship for all UFC fighters. You were the advocate for fighters in all contract negotiation. And when UFC, they denied your request to resign you. It's like, okay, you're the first reigning champ to leave the UFC since 2004.

So almost 20 years, for instance. But the reason why I did that, you know, it wasn't something that even early in my career I was thinking about. The reason that I was requesting all those staff because was the thing that the person pushed me in the position that my back was against the wall, then I have to figure out that, okay, this is what wrong, this is what's wrong, this is what gets me here. If I wasn't back on the wall, maybe I wouldn't have figured that out. So then when I get my back off that wall, I'm like, no, I don't want to get in that position that I'm powerless. In fact, in fact, we all, in those positions that we are powerless. So you need to give something up.

Right. You know, not to make it, it can be even, but at least give something up. Like I have a contract that I have no leverage in that contract, no power, nobody could advocate for me. Everything that is there is what you say. And I mean like even when they talk up, you talk about extension, you decide you are the party and the judge. You say, okay, this, we are standing you. I don't even have a right to fight. I don't have. And those kind of things

that put me in the position to start things like that. So obviously that's how he come out. So what was I mean? So obviously you have, at being heavyweight champ, you have a relationship, somewhat of a relationship with Dana. You sit down and have a conversation. You say with Dana, bro, come on that.

I understand you guys have built this. You have an unbelievable company. But I'm Princess Angano. I'm the heavyweight. champion of the world, make some concessions. No, I mean, he wasn't about me because I don't just think that, oh, I'm Francis in Gano. What the hell? What do they have to do the fact that your friends is in Gano?

Right. I'm a fighter, and I believe that a fighter is the one that make that company, right? Without a fighter, there is not a promotion, there's not UFC, or there is not any other fighting promotion. How about just thinking of like giving them a fighter a little bit of a condition? And one thing that I said, the advocate for the fighters, was just like, let's get somebody that it wasn't even about a union. I said, let's just get somebody that speak for the fighters who would represent the fighters in the ball meeting. Because I do believe that sometimes your decision hurt fighter, hurts fighter, but you didn't mean to.

But you're seeing stuff from your perspective. But if somebody was there to explain you the fighter perspective, maybe you would have understood better and find a, make a concession and make it a good decision for everyone. So that was my request. Yeah. It wasn't like a big deal. You want to fire this advocate. A advocate, right?

And the reason why I did that also leading to a special. sponsorship because I lost a sponsorship for the amount of money that I never make fighting, right? Wow. Because of one of their sponsor. So I'm in the position that I'm like, okay, I'm not making money. I can't fight until you guys want me to fight. If you are not happy to me, I cannot fight. And I have no right. That contract gives me no right to claim like, okay, I have a right to fight a to fight a minimum. Right. There's nothing. You can see. me there for one year and a half and say, oh, we are looking, oh, this doesn't work, this didn't work out, oh, this can be good. And I'm like, no, that's not fair. That's not right, right. You are taking everything out from me. On my right, exclusivity. Because you only make money

if you fight. Yeah. And so I'm exclusive. I'm supposedly independent contractor, but I'm not, because I think the word independent contractor is just not to give me the benefit. that the employees will have, like, such as health insurance. And most of their time, we in this sport, we get to the point that we need surgery or something that is more, that we can afford. We cannot afford. A lot of fighters still fight paycheck after paycheck. And that's why, like, when they finish a fight, go home, sit and pray. and pray that they receive a call for the promotion,

for the UFC to fight again in order to have money. And by the time they have a fight, they already broke. They already spent the money that they made from the last fight. So at least you cover something. Like I have seen fighter. I mean, even now, I still see a lot of fighters that get hurt, but they can't go to the hospital.

They have and they can pull out from the fight because they need to go because you have to make the money No, they need to go into the fight when they come out of the fight. They claim it as they was hurt in the fight. That they only, because that's the only moment that they are covered. They have the insurance. But if they don't do that, if they don't go to the fight, they will never benefit from that insurance. And I think it's not fair, you know, in the sport that you're using your body. going after, you know, you have a surgery, injury,

and then you have to go with this injury for, like, maybe one or two months just because you cannot afford a surgery or something. I think... You said something very interesting. You said that you had an opportunity for a sponsorship, that you would make more money from that sponsor than you would in the fight, but you couldn't do the sponsorship because of the sponsor with the UFC. Yeah.

So Dana then says, okay, Francis, you can't do that sponsorship, but since we have a sponsor, you can do this sponsor. Did he come to you with that? No. And that, again, you know, that's the kind of concession that I don't want. I think at this point, we are getting to the place that we can have our own right. And the reason, I think, fighter get robbed from their platform. which is like sponsorship.

Sponsorship is what athletes most of the time, you get a little more money, basically. For those who doesn't make money, they count a lot of sponsorship. And obviously when you have, when you're having a lot of money. Or you can have an endorsement on your trunks or something like that. You bet, you know, gaming sites or, you know, something of that nature.

Yes. And I understand that they want to make the Spock Clean and these, yes, that's good. you know, credit to you. But at least have a department so you say, okay, maybe fighters are allowed to have

one or two that will be checked if everything and fit into the box. If so, they can have it, you know, but have it because that's their own. But now you have to wear or carry all those sponsors

on you that you got to you all the UFC sponsors. Yeah, basically. So no value for you. John Jones and Dana White. Dana said Francis wants to take zero risk. He obviously didn't want to take a chance with John Jones. He also said Dana wants to fight the lesser of opponents and make money.

Is there any regret that you left the UFC without getting an opportunity to settle you and John Jones? I always regret it. Before I left the UFC, I've been asking this fight for almost three years. And guess what? They've been telling me that John John is scared. John John doesn't want to fight.

John John doesn't want this. John John has enough money. He's living in Abu Qqid that he's not spending that much money so he doesn't need a risk. John John doesn't want this. And that's how they keep rolling. So it's a mechanism that they use

in any sense, right? of negotiation. And I'm sure, like, maybe at the same time, if John John is asking the same fight, they will say the same thing into this fight. And that's the problem. When you have somebody in the mirror that is controlling the information,

the only thing that I know from John Jones is what the USA would tell me from John John. The only thing that John John would know from me is what the USA would tell him. So what's mean the power is here. He manipulate everything. both sides and public opinion. What if the UFC and your current

MMA sanctioning body says, you know what, this fight is too big not to happen? Just like we saw with Connor McGregor and Floyd Mayweather. That was too much money for it not to happen. So we got 20, we got 40, we got 50 million. We're going to split it right down the middle. Well, I've been claiming this fight. I'm in the PFA.

We can do the same thing as they did with. with Floyd Mayweather, but at this moment, PFL need to be involved. Right. Yeah. But they want to cut PFL out. They just want to be. I don't know what they want to do, but I don't know.

But you would be willing to fight, John Jones. I'm willing to. I'm willing to stand out as long as we can find a way. I'm willing to do that fight. Not to go back to the USA, but to. But just that one, just that one, this is a one time off. Yeah. to fight junjans.

But, I mean, but let me ask you a question. Yes. You make $25 million. Let's just say for the sake of our, because this is going to be the biggest, it's going to be the biggest fight in UFC history. Yeah.

You're a champion. He's a champion. Many believe he's the greatest MMA fighter ever. I believe, too. So you're going to make a, now you get $25, you get $30, $40 million in your bank account.

How does Francis Nengano stay motivated? That changes. that amount of money, because now all of a sudden, Francis got on, he got on mink slippers. No, first of all, you have to, I think you have to find out what is your motivation. Okay. Sometimes, some people motivation is money. And for some people, money is the money will help them to get higher, to find more. Like, we are today in the gym, to a private gym that I have on my own.

Money allows me to do that, you know, to set. But I'm using money to get built my own infrastructure and just to get better because I'm going somewhere. I'm using it to accommodate myself better, to equip myself better to get there. I'm using those money to maybe when needed, I don't have to take appointment with physical therapy. I just have my own personal physical therapy,

and that's what I did, right? But my motivation is still the same. My drive wasn't to get money. Money will help me to get what I want. My drive was to do the best that I can possibly do to find out how far I can go. And I'm still about to find out how I can go. Every time this gets bigger and bigger,

you feel the need of this, right? So you think before the Tyson fight, I was sitting home like, oh, no, I'm not hungry anymore. No. I mean, it's been a long time since I'm not hungry. But I need that motivation, right? I still have that motivation and even better. It's getting even better because you get that and then your needs.

You see what side do you want more? Yeah. No, I mean, more to achieve. Like, what can I do? Like, when I started my career, there wasn't like, a potential Junjun, John fight would be the biggest fight, one of the biggest fight. There wasn't a Tyson Fury fight.

that would be a biggest fight, you get to the point that you can get all that. Why would you, it would be a waste to retire without having all that, without testing yourself like that since that's your goal. November is here, and we're in the heart of football season. Basketball and hockey are just getting started. So many games to watch on any given day. But wouldn't it be better if they were live? The best way to get tickets to any of these games this month is on game time.

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Last-minute tickets. Lowest price, guaranteed. Another podcast from some SNL late-night comedy guy, not quite. Unhumor me with Robert Smygel and Friends. me and hilarious guests from Bob Odenkirk to David Letterman help make you funnier. This week, my guest, SNL's Mikey Day and head writer Streeter Seidel

help an a cappella band with their between songs banter. Where does your group perform? We do some retirement homes. Those people are starving for banter. Listen to humor me with Robert Smigel and friends on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Imagine an Olympics where doping is not only legal but encouraged.

It's the enhanced games. Some call it grotesque. Others say it's unleashing human potential. Either way, the podcast Superhuman documented it all, embedded in the games and with the athletes for a full year. Within probably 10 days, I'd put on 10 pounds. I was having trouble stopping the muscle growth. Listen to Superhuman on the I-Hard radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. A win is a win. A win is a win. I don't care what you're saying. Yep, that's me. Clivert Taylor the 4th.

You might have seen the skits, my basketball and college football journey, or my career in sports media. Well, now I'm bringing all of that excitement to my brand new podcast, The Cliford Show. This is a place for raw, unfilled conversations with athletes, creators, and voices that not only deserve to be heard, but celebrated. So let's get to it. Listen to The Cliford Show on the IHeard Radio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast.

And for more behind the scenes, follow at Clifford and at TikTok Podcast Network on TikTok.