Fernand Lopez strongly disputed the narrative that Francis Ngannou improved after leaving his MMA Factory gym in Paris. Lopez pointed out that Ngannou's two losses to Stipe Miocic and Derrick Lewis occurred while training in Las Vegas, not under his guidance. When Ngannou faced potential dismissal from the UFC after these defeats, he returned to Lopez in Paris for his preparation against Curtis Blaydes, whom he knocked out in seconds. Lopez emphasized that he also trained Ngannou for his fight against Cain Velasquez, with all camp work done in Paris where Ngannou sparred with Ciryl Gane. The coach criticized what he sees as bias in crediting his work, noting that people overlook who discovered Ngannou when his record was just 1-1 after losing to Zumana Sisse, and who developed him despite documentation difficulties.
Fernand Lopez has pushed back forcefully against claims that Francis Ngannou only reached his potential after departing MMA Factory, the Paris-based gym Lopez runs, arguing that the timeline of Ngannou's career tells a very different story.
Lopez was direct in disputing the popular narrative. He noted that Ngannou's two notable defeats — against Stipe Miocic and Derrick Lewis — came during a period when Ngannou was training in Las Vegas, away from Lopez's coaching. Miocic, now 43 and holding a 20-5 record, is one of the most accomplished heavyweights in UFC history. Lopez's point is straightforward: those losses cannot be laid at his door.
When the UFC was reportedly considering cutting Ngannou following that rough stretch, Lopez says Ngannou came back to Paris. Lopez then prepared him for his fight against Curtis Blaydes, a bout Ngannou won by knockout in a matter of seconds. Lopez also credits his gym with handling the full camp for Ngannou's fight against Cain Velasquez, the 43-year-old former champion who carries a 14-3 record and spent his career at American Kickboxing Academy. All preparation for that fight, Lopez maintains, took place at MMA Factory in Paris.
Notably, Lopez points out that Ciryl Gane — currently ranked second in the UFC heavyweight division with a 14-2 record and standing six-foot-four with an 81-inch reach — served as a sparring partner for Ngannou during that Paris camp. Gane himself is a product of MMA Factory, which adds weight to Lopez's argument about the quality of training available there.
Why it matters
- Lopez is challenging a widely held belief that Ngannou's development accelerated only after leaving his gym
- The coach's account places key victories and fight camps, including Blaydes and Velasquez, firmly within the MMA Factory system
- Lopez also raises the question of who first developed Ngannou when his record stood at just 1-1, arguing his foundational work has been systematically overlooked
