Francis Ngannou, PFLโs biggest-ever free agency signing, will make his MMA return soon. The ex-UFC star quit his previous promotion over protracted contract disputes. UFC also found itself in hot waters recently, trying to snub Ngannou from its history. Whether or not for damage control, โPredator,โ Kobe Bryant, and Cody Garbrandt linking up during UFC 217 fight week has resurfaced online.
Management released the UFC 217 Embedded: Vlog Series SUPERCUT mere hours ago. UFC โEmbeddedโ vlogs are a ceremonial 7-day series documenting fight weeks leading up to the event. The extended cut re-release sees Cody Garbrandt approach and shake with the NBA legend. Kobe Bryant and Francis Ngannou were talking when the Team Alpha Male fighter approached and even posed for a few snaps.
โNo Loveโ suffered an R2 blow in his title fight against TJ Dillashaw. Meanwhile, Francis Ngannou won at UFC 218, just a month after this video was taken. Then came back-to-back losses, after which he had to wait three years for a title shot.
The 37-year-old lost his hold as a consensus brand face and poster child. Ngannou had marching orders to defend his belt with minimal camp, for which he wanted a contractual rehash. Ngannou retired as the lineal HW champion after defeating Ciryl Gane at the UFC 270 PPV event.
๐ฅฒ The UFC just posted an Embedded supercut from the UFC 217 fight week back in 2017.
The Kobe Bryant, Francis Ngannou and Cody Garbrandt linkup is weirdly nostalgicโค๏ธ
(via @ufc) pic.twitter.com/A2wzZMagA9โ Home of Fight (@Home_of_Fight) August 30, 2024
Recently, Fight Week โCountdownโย vlog for UFC 305 also removed mentions of Ngannou rather deliberately. While this seems to be an overcorrection, itโs still a likable one. This snippet holds even more traction as Ngannou mentioned naming his son after the legend. As such, the matter has gone viral.
Fight fans react to the walk down UFC 217 memory lane
UFC 217: Bisping vs. St-Pierre was a week of big stakes. 170-pound GOAT Georges St. Pierre challenged UK MMA legend Michael Bisping for the middleweight title. A bantamweight delicacy would top it off in the co-mains. Joanna Jedrzejczyk would finally have her war with Rose Namajunas. Curtis Blaydes, Aleksei Oleinik, Stephen Thomson, and names like Jorge Masvidal added to the charm.
Fans react to the matter (Source: metro.co.uk/X/boxemag.com)But looking back at it after all that has happened in between, Francis Ngannou and Cody Garbrandt with Kobe Bryant is now the top highlight to come off it. Hereโs how fans have subsequently reacted to it.
Damn man this hits hard
โ แดxแดแดแดแดแด ๐บ๐ฟ๐ (@jxkemma) August 30, 2024
Kobe could have been ufc heavyweight champ
Mamba mentality is the best base for mma iMO
โ honS (@R3gen3rat3d) August 30, 2024
Francis had an interview where he mentioned this interaction is what lead to name his son after Kobe . Truly beautiful and bittersweet .
โ Swole Boy 94 (@Laz_bigazz) August 30, 2024
Francis Named his son after Kobe man he talks about it and now both them are resting with the lord
โ Heart Just Turned Purple ๐๐ฆโโฌ (@ejpapi__) August 30, 2024
This is very emotional seeing how Francis named his son after Kobe Bryant. Shows you how much we take time for granted. Hug your loved ones whilst weโre all still around ๐
โ ๐๐ฅ (@CianDarcy3) August 30, 2024
lol naw stylebender made em release Francis footage
โ $imon (@hernandezsimon_) August 30, 2024
damn bro havenโt seen this part yet ๐
โ แถแตแตโฟแตสณแตแตแตแต ๐ค ๐ดโโ ๏ธ (@cmonbrudda) August 30, 2024
All the title hunt and rivalry aside, most fans have unanimously voiced their nostalgia for the legend of the past. The fact that Ngannou named his late 15-month-old son after Kobe Bryant and that both are hopefully resting in the afterlife instigated emotional responses.
Additionally, this was before CEO Dana White teamed up with human biologist Gary Brecka and had his transformation. Some fans have taken to dissing an out-of-shape White in the footage for trying to snub Ngannouโs history. However, damage control or otherwise, fans are here for such footage from old.
