5 reasons why a win over Ciryl Gane makes Francis Ngannou the UFC's heavyweight GOAT

#4. Francis Ngannou has claimed the most UFC performance bonuses in heavyweight history

Francis Ngannou has claimed six post-fight bonuses during his UFC career

Francis Ngannou has now been with the UFC for just over six years, dating back to his octagon debut in December 2015. During that time, he’s put together a truly remarkable record, winning 11 fights while losing just two.

More impressive, however, has been the nature of Ngannou’s victories. ‘The Predator’ has never won a fight in the octagon via decision, with a total of 10 knockouts and one submission on his ledger.

The fans naturally give plenty of credit to fighters such as Charles Oliveira and Donald Cerrone, both of whom have claimed some of the most post-fight bonuses in UFC history. However, it might come as a surprise to some to learn that Ngannou has more bonuses than any other heavyweight in the promotion’s history.

The native of Cameroon has claimed six bonus awards during his tenure with the promotion. That puts him ahead of his nearest competitor, former UFC heavyweight kingpin Stipe Miocic.

Sure, claiming bonus awards aren’t always a mark of a truly great fighter. Ovince Saint Preux holds the record in the light heavyweight division and he certainly wouldn’t make the top 10 of greats at that weight. However, the fact that Ngannou has taken out so many great opponents in memorable fashion puts him at the very top of heavyweight history.

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#3. Francis Ngannou already holds a win over the UFC’s consensus heavyweight GOAT

Stipe Miocic was considered the UFC's heavyweight GOAT - until Francis Ngannou knocked him out

The UFC heavyweight division has always been an interesting place. Despite it being the promotion’s oldest weight class, no single fighter has ever been able to dominate it in the same way that, say, Anderson Silva did at middleweight or Georges St-Pierre did at welterweight.

Prior to Francis Ngannou’s UFC heavyweight title win last year at UFC 261, the UFC’s consensus heavyweight GOAT was Stipe Miocic. He largely gained that position due to the fact that during his first reign as champion, he was able to successfully defend his title on three occasions.

However, Miocic never truly dominated the division per say and never felt like a GOAT in the same way that Silva or GSP did.

Ngannou, on the other hand, certainly feels like he could dominate like those two fighters did. The fact that he was able to destroy Miocic in violent fashion last year was naturally a great place to start.

Sure, a fighter who defeats a consensus GOAT doesn’t always claim that status, just ask Chris Weidman, who dethroned Silva in 2013.

However, if Ngannou can follow his win over Miocic with another dominant victory over Ciryl Gane, it’d be hard not to consider him in that spot.