Two of the
Ultimate Fighting Championship’s “three kings” got together
unexpectedly in Hotlanta.
At the ceremonial
weigh-ins ahead of
UFC Atlanta on Saturday, headliner Kamaru
Usman walked on stage flanked solely by former UFC heavyweight
champ Francis
Ngannou. It marks one of a small number of times “The Predator”
has been seen in a noteworthy capacity—that is, not sitting in the
crowd as a fan during a fight card—at a UFC show since he left the
promotion’s ranks in 2023. UFC chief Dana White was not in
attendance, as the weigh-in ceremony was instead helmed by
commentator Brendan Fitzgerald, exec Hunter Campbell and matchmaker
Mick Maynard.
Usman was not joined by teammates from his Kill Cliff FC camp, and
instead had his face painted with the colors of the Nigerian flag
as he flexed while making weight at 171 pounds. Maynard stayed
ready to get between Usman and upcoming foe Joaquin
Buckley during the final staredown, but he was ultimately not
required. Ngannou, who sported an official UFC Venum fight kit, did
not say anything publicly nor was Usman asked about him.
According to
MMA Junkie, Ngannou will not serve as one of Usman’s cornermen
during the event. Instead, the
Professional Fighters League athlete was showing support for
one of his close friends and countrymen during the proceedings.
Ngannou has not fought in MMA since pummeling Renan
Ferreira in the inaugural PFL Super Fights event on October
2024. After departing from the UFC, Ngannou took two trips inside
of the boxing ring. In his first effort, he battled Tyson Fury
to a contentious split decision loss despite dropping Fury in the
third round. In his next time out, he faced Anthony
Joshua, succumbing to punches in the second stanza.