A wrestler turned explosive MMA star, Brock Lesnar is a name carved into the golden history of UFC fighting champions. In just a short five-year run in the promotion, Lesnar cemented his status as a legit contender in the fight world. Few can compare to him, making Lesnar a jack of all trades. He is the only person to have won the UFC and WWE heavyweight titles. His explosive style, characterized by numerous knockouts, makes him stand apart in the fight world.

With is size and power, Lesnar’s ability to finish opponents has sparked comparisons to former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou. ‘The Predator’, like Lesnar, shares the ability to knock out opponents with immense power, but his career within the UFC extended much longer than Lesnar’s brief but impactful stint. The ongoing debate among fans is: How do these two heavyweights from different eras compare? Only those who have fought both can truly offer insight into this comparison. Randy Couture, one such fighter who has experienced Lesnar’s power firsthand, addressed this question during a recent podcast with Tim Welch.

When asked about who was bigger, Brock Lesnar or Francis Ngannou, Couture replied, “Brock is much bigger. Brock walks around at 290. He’s a big guy.” This surprised Welch and his co-host, as they had expected Lesnar to be even bigger. When it comes to raw power, Couture gave the advantage to The Predator’, stating, “Yeah, very, very athletic, both of them. I would say the power would go to Francis in terms of punching power and overall power compared to Brock.”

Couture, who trains at Xtreme Couture in Nevada alongside Ngannou, also recognized Brock Lesnar‘s exceptional wrestling skills. Having shared the octagon with Lesnar, Couture praised his opponent’s wrestling, stating, “Brock is a great wrestler, very athletic, and has that mat sense that’s hard to teach the average mixed martial artist.” Brock Lesnar’s rise in the UFC was as meteoric as Ronda Rousey’s, but back-to-back losses, coupled with injuries, derailed his career.

These setbacks undermined the WWE star’s confidence and ultimately led to his departure from the UFC, shattering the hopes of fans eager to see a fight between ‘The Beast Incarnate’ and Jon Jones. While those dreams may have faded, the focus has shifted. Now, fans are eager to witness the long-awaited heavyweight showdown between Jon Jones and Francis Ngannou.

Randy Couture slams UFC for not booking Jon Jones vs. Francis Ngannou

Randy Couture is among the fans who most want to witness what could be the biggest heavyweight clash on earth: Jon Jones vs. Francis Ngannou. This fight was once on the verge of happening, as The Predator’ was the initial choice to face Jones in his heavyweight debut. However, due to differences and contractual disputes, Ngannou left the UFC in 2023 and signed with the PFL, putting the highly anticipated clash in limbo. Both Dana White and The Predator’ blamed each other for the fight’s cancellation.

Dana White stated that it was Francis Ngannou who walked away from the fight, while The Predator’ countered, claiming the UFC told him Jon Jones wasn’t interested in facing him. Amidst this turmoil, the former heavyweight champion reached out to the UFC in an attempt to renegotiate a deal, but the two sides couldn’t reach an agreement, ultimately leading to his departure. Despite the Cameroonian native leaving the UFC, fans still considered the possibility of a cross-promotion fight with the PFL to make Jon Jones vs. Francis Ngannou a reality.

However, Dana White’s stance against the fight (and his beef with Ngannou) has proven to be a significant roadblock for fans hoping to see the fight come to life. In August, Randy Couture discussed the situation with MMA Fighting, stating, “I know the UFC’s got too big an ego to let that happen. That’s why the Fedor [Emelianenko] fight never happened [for me]. Because M-1 wanted to do a co-promotion, and the UFC’s never going to let that happen.”

How do you see a hypothetical fight between Brock Lesnar and Francis Ngannou playing out? Do you think Brock Lesnar can withstand The Predator’s’ devastating striking power if they faced off at their prime, or would Ngannou’s power be no match for Lesnar’s size and wrestling strength? Share your prediction below.