Fernand Lopez defends training record, says Ngannou's losses came while in Vegas

Fernand Lopez strongly disputed the narrative that Francis Ngannou improved after leaving his MMA Factory gym. Lopez pointed out that when Ngannou lost to Stipe Miocic and Derrick Lewis, he was already training in Las Vegas with a different team. In contrast, Ngannu's knockout victories over Curtis Blaydes and Cain Velasquez came after he returned to train with Lopez in Paris. Lopez noted that Dana White wanted to cut Ngannou after the Lewis loss, but the Blaydes win saved his UFC career. Lopez also emphasized that he discovered Ngannou when the fighter was 28 years old with a 1-1 record, having just lost to Zoumana Cisse, and helped develop him despite the difficulties of Ngannou lacking documentation in France.