Francis Ngannou defended his belt at UFC 270 and unified the title using a weapon no one thought to be in his arsenal: grinding.
Ngannou repeatedly took down interim champ Ciryl Gane, outwrestling his former training partner in the championship rounds to earn scores of 48-47 twice and 49-46.
In the co-main event, Deiveson Figueiredo retook the flyweight title in his third meeting with Brandon Moreno, which ended in unanimous scorecards of 48-47 for the Brazilian.
Here’s what fighters had to say about the UFC 270 main card.
Francis Ngannou def. Ciryl Gane
Boring fight.
— Jake Paul (@jakepaul) January 23, 2022
At the end of each day, they both get fucked up.
— BONY (@JonnyBones) January 23, 2022
Yo @JonnyBones! I think now is the time we all need definitely to see you in the mix! #UFC270
— Alan Jouban (@AlanJouban) January 23, 2022
#andstill the champion @francis_ngannou great job by the champion. He would never have dreamed that it would be grappling and wrestling that would win him the title. Congrats champ!
— Daniel Cormier (@dc_mma) January 23, 2022
0% of people thought Ngannou should win that way! This is a remarkable evolution. Congratulations to the evilst man on earth! #UFC270
— Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson (@WonderboyMMA) January 23, 2022
That is why I enjoy combat sports. You have to bet on yourself. It’s all about how you prepare and what your attitude is when it comes to competing. https://t.co/wbIz5pSqgl
— Aljamain Sterling (@funkmasterMMA) January 23, 2022
How quickly they forget champ #UFC270
— Calvin Kattar (@CalvinKattar) January 23, 2022
Weird @danawhite isn’t there to give @francis_ngannou his championship belt
— Mitch Gagnon (@MitchGagnonUFC) January 23, 2022
One thing for sure if Francis keeps improving on his wrestling and cardio he’ll be invincible
— Belal Muhammad (@bullyb170) January 23, 2022
AND STILLLLLL!! #ufc270
— Francis Ngannou (@francis_ngannou) January 23, 2022
Deiveson Figueiredo def. Brandon Moreno
Wow! What an awesome fight!!! These guys are amazing! #UFC270
— The Golden Boy (@edmenshahbazyan) January 23, 2022
It’s hard to win. These guys are great. We need a 4th fight! #UFC270
— Andre Fili (@TouchyFili) January 23, 2022
Great fight!! Well done lads #UFC270
— Alex Volkanovski (@alexvolkanovski) January 23, 2022
A total war this 5 round, very even but I think #AndStill #UFC270 @ufc
— Juan Espino El Guapo (@juan_espino_ofi) January 23, 2022
That fight was so great #UFC270
— Jan Blachowicz (@JanBlachowicz) January 23, 2022
Moreno still the winner
— Nathan Diaz (@NateDiaz209) January 23, 2022
Fuck it, call it a draw and run a 4th #ufc270
— Eryk Anders (@erykanders) January 23, 2022
Let’s see a 4th fight! #UFC270
— Neil Magny (@NeilMagny) January 23, 2022
Those knockdowns…
— Belal Muhammad (@bullyb170) January 23, 2022
got a few champions in ufc
— Platinum Mike Perry (@PlatinumPerry) January 23, 2022
Congratulations to Figgy for winning a close battle. Wasn’t sure which way that was going to go. Gotta do it again! #UFC270
— Aljamain Sterling (@funkmasterMMA) January 23, 2022
Figueiredo-Askarov
Let’s go— Makhachev Islam (@MAKHACHEVMMA) January 23, 2022
Michel Pereira def. Andre Fialho
Fun fight!! #UFC270
— The Golden Boy (@edmenshahbazyan) January 23, 2022
What an amazing fight at the welterweight level! #UFC270
— Julian marquez (@JMarquezMMA) January 23, 2022
off to those guys man!!!
Bravo to those guys man!!! #UFC270
— Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson (@WonderboyMMA) January 23, 2022
Pereira takes the fight, you never know what he can do #UFC270 @ufc
— Juan Espino El Guapo (@juan_espino_ofi) January 23, 2022
Said Nurmagomedov def. Cody Stamann
Dang! Said Nurmagomedov with some razzle dazzle and a R1 sub.
— Kenny Florian (@kennyflorian) January 23, 2022
These Nurmagomedovs sure know how to fight
— Belal Muhammad (@bullyb170) January 23, 2022
Nasty showing from Said. Front naked choke FTW #UFC270
— Jeff Molina (@jmolina_125) January 23, 2022
Impressive! #UFC270
— Thiago “Pitbull” Alves (@ThiagoAlvesATT) January 23, 2022
Michael Morales def. Trevin Giles
He tapped
— Jared Gordon (@JFlashGordonMMA) January 23, 2022
Ref wants to grapple ehh
— Brian BOOM Kelleher (@brianboom135) January 23, 2022
That was very unexpected. Giles was looking beast to start that round. #UFC270
— Aljamain Sterling (@funkmasterMMA) January 23, 2022
Smh these fighters are not complying with my bicks
— Belal Muhammad (@bullyb170) January 23, 2022
