The hype is real ladies and gentlemen

For a while now UFC president Dana White has been trying to convince anyone that would listen Frances Ngannou is the next big thing at heavyweight. This weekend the Cameroonian showed the world what the fuss was all about with a first round demolition of dutch powerhouse Alistair Overeem.

Overeem called Ngannou a "hype train". Well, far from derailing the train Overeem was almost decapitated by it! Call it naivety, hubris or plain foolishness, but Overeem decided to stand and trade with the man who holds the world record for the hardest recorded punch and found himself one the wrong end of a devastating shovel left hook.

What impressed me more than Ngannou's power is how technical he was with it and how calm he stayed as the bullets flew. While Overeem was trying to catch him with looping overhand rights; Ngannou kept his punches short and crisp allowing him to beat Overeem to the punch in the pivotal exchange that ended the fight.

Tempering the exuberance

I've heard some crazy talk since Saturday night. Fighters and pundits that should know better talking about the possibility of Ngannou's power having the potential to kill an opponent in the ring.

Relax guys.

Let's get this fight in perspective.

Overeem fought the completely wrong fight. He fought in a style tailor made to either get the big knock out or get knocked out badly. Anyone getting in the ring with Ngannou now knows what not to do. Don't trade with this man, especially not straight of the bat else he'll be hitting you into oblivion.

Future opponents will definitely be on their Ps&Qs.

It's slightly bemusing to hear people talk in such hyperbolic terms about Ngannou. He is competing against elite athletes not having a fight with your local tough guy in the bar. If something as tragic as a serious injury or (heaven forbid) a death occurred a Ngannou fight it would be more likely a freak incident rather than due to his freakish strength.

Expect more cagey affairs in future Ngannou fights with his opponents looking to test Ngannou's wrestling and cardio. They will force Ngannou to find them. They won't do "an Overeem".

Side kick

You've got to feel slightly for the current UFC Heavyweight Champion, Stipe Miocic. The guy has been steamrolling all-comers. He has won his last four fights (three of them title fights) by first round stoppage. He doesn't get the credit that he is due. This is highlighted by reports that he got paid less (as Champion) than he last two challengers (Overeem and Junior Dos Santos).

The "issue" with Stipe is he doesn't have the "look" and his story doesn't read like that of a Marvel Comic book character. I get that if you're the UFC (or any promoter) marketability in your Champions counts for a lot.

Cinderella Fighter

Miocic's story is nice. He stills works as a firefighter for example. However his tale doesn't compare to Ngannou, who grew up in Batié, Cameroon. His father had the a notorious reputation as a Street Fighter. He worked in a sand quarry and turned his back on gang life to pursue his dream to become a boxer. He left his village, travelled to Paris and slept rough as he trained in an MMA gym. Just four years later he is taking the UFC by storm.

It's fairytale stuff.

The problem (as I see it) is that the UFC's job is to promote all "its" fighters. Some of the talk around Ngannou (e.g. with Dana White saying "he looks like the World Champion") is kind of disrespectful to Miocic. However it is natural for a promoter to have a bias towards the crowd-pullers.

X Factor

And Ngannou will be a crowd-puller alright. He has that X factor. If he captures the UFC heavyweight title in spectacular fashion, I can see him crossing over.

It would not surprise me to see him fight a boxing bout. Ngannou's ambition when he first stepped into a combat gym four years ago was to box. And all the ingredients are there for a mega boxing fight.

Baddest man on the planet

The Heavyweight boxing scene is vibrant. There are a host of personalities but the two that stand out for a mega clash are Deontay Wilder and Anthony Joshua.

Unlike the Mayweather-McGregor fight; an Ngannou-Wilder or Ngannou-Joshua looks competitive on paper. The current crop of Heavyweight, while able to create a buzz, are not as accomplished as those of yesteryear. In different ways this new batch are still trying to establish themselves as elite boxers in the eyes of the public.

I would not fancy Ngannou's chances against a prime Lennox Lewis or prime Mike Tyson. But I'd pit his power against any of the current crop of Heavyweight boxers.

For all the skill and technique of the smaller men; there is something uniquely engrossing about the Heavyweight division in combat sport. It's why someone like Anthony Joshua, who by his own admission is still learning his craft can sell out 90,000 capacity areas. It's why when newcomer like Ngannou arrives we get the same kind of goosebumps that Mike Tyson brought when he first stepped on the scene.

I think we know for all the exceptional smaller fighters; were they matched with a good big man (who knows have to use his natural advantages), they'd stand little chance. Heavyweight fighting is combat in it's unadulterated form.

It's not fair. But life's not fair.

Ask Alistair Overeem, who for all his achievements will be remembered in large part for being on the wrong end of one of the most spectacular KOs in UFC history.

Ask Stipe Miocic, who despite all his achievements will go into his next fight with everything to prove.

As for Ngannou. He has the world at his fight and the UFC heavyweight title within his grasp. Should he seize his moment be prepared to buckle up for one hell of a ride!