“I need to give him some slaps”: Francis Ngannou hits back at Jake Paul after his brutal “terrible boxer” remarks despite business ties ahead of MMA return

Francis Ngannou is back in the spotlight as he prepares for his return to mixed martial arts. The former UFC heavyweight champion is set to fight on May 16 in a major event promoted by Jake Paul’s Most Valuable Promotions. While the two are now business colleagues, Ngannou has made it clear that respect does not mean friendship inside the ring or cage. He is focused on winning his comeback fight and proving he is still one of the most dangerous fighters in combat sports.

The upcoming event is already creating huge buzz. Big names like Ronda Rousey, Gina Carano, and Nate Diaz are expected to appear. Ngannou believes the fight card could be the best of the year. But despite the excitement, his comments about Paul have added extra heat to the build-up, turning attention toward a possible future clash between the two stars.

Francis Ngannou says he respects Jake Paul but promises dominance in the ring

Francis Ngannou admitted that his opinion of Jake Paul has changed over time. Earlier, he saw Paul as just a content creator stepping into boxing for attention. Now, he accepts that Paul has earned recognition as a real fighter. Speaking to TMZ, he acknowledged that people now talk about Paul as a legitimate boxer rather than a social media personality trying something new.

However, Ngannou also made it clear that respect does not mean fear. He suggested that Jake Paul has been talking too much and questioning his credibility. That did not sit well with him. Ngannou expressed that he feels the need to respond physically and prove a point if they ever meet in a fight.

He explained that whether the fight happens in boxing or MMA, he believes the result would be the same. In his view, it would be a difficult night for Paul. Ngannou also said he does not regret turning down a fight with Paul last year. At that time, he did not believe Paul was serious about the matchup.

Earlier, Paul had taken shots at Ngannou with strong words of his own. He dismissed Ngannou’s boxing skills and claimed it would be an easy fight. He even compared a potential outcome to Ngannou’s loss against Anthony Joshua, suggesting he could finish him in a similar way.

Both fighters are coming off different experiences against Joshua. Ngannou suffered a knockout loss, while Paul managed to last longer before being stopped. As Paul recovers from a jaw injury, he is planning his return later this year. For now, Ngannou remains focused on his upcoming fight against Philipe Lins.