Former UFC champion claims Anthony Joshua would beat Francis Ngannou in MMA match

A former UFC champion believes Anthony Joshua would beat Francis Ngannou in an MMA fight.

Demetrious 'Mighty Mouse' Johnson, who is regarded by many as one of the greatest fighters to have competed in the flyweight division, has given his take on Joshua vs. Ngannou.

The former two-time unified WBO, IBF, and WBA heavyweight champion made light work of Friday's heavyweight bout in Saudi Arabia, knocking out his opponent with a devastating right hand.

And after the match-up, current ONE flyweight champion Johnson pinpointed Ngannou's decision to fight Tyson Fury as a potential reason behind his loss to AJ.

“I’m not saying Francis has not taken it seriously,” Johnson said on his YouTube channel Mighty. “If I was to take a boxing match, I will probably spend eight months to a year preparing myself for the boxing match.

"Reason why is because the punches come faster. The movement is different. There’s only one weapon, and you only can use one weapon, right?"

Johnson added: "I can’t use my kicks. I can’t use my knees. I can’t use my elbows. I can’t use my wrestling. How am I going to cross the void when I can’t use all the weapons I’ve been using for the last 18 years?

“Another thing that could have been Francis’ downfall was he had that boxing match with Tyson Fury. So Anthony Joshua got an opportunity to see Francis fight boxing.

"What he took from the boxing match on Francis vs. Tyson? He probably took, ‘OK, Francis doesn’t move his head. He doesn’t really move his head. He’s not very light on his feet,’ where Tyson Fury, he’s kind of light on his feet and Tyson’s trying to avoid the fight.

"This time, Anthony Joshua got right to work right off the bat, and that’s usually not a good sign if the other opponent doesn’t respond.”

Image credit: Getty

The 37-year-old American even suggested Joshua would beat Francis Ngannou in the Octagon.

“Does Anthony Joshua beat Francis Ngannou in an MMA fight? I think he does,” Johnson said.

“It would just be another striking match. AJ understands his distance. He understands the void. He has better hands than Francis, and he can make Francis even whiff and miss again.

"Unless Francis is going to change his tactic and go clinch him and wrestle him, (Joshua would win). But AJ is very athletic. He is smaller, he’s more limber. I think he’d be able to stuff the shot and be able to give it to Francis Ngannou.”