Chael Sonnen brands Tyson Fury’s offer to Francis Ngannou ‘the dumbest idea in sports history’

Tyson Fury calling out Francis Ngannou for a cage fight under boxing rules has been called “the dumbest idea in sports history” by UFC analyst Chael Sonnen.

Ngannou, the former UFC heavyweight kingpin released by the promotion earlier this month after failing to agree on a new contract, received Fury’s one-time offer over the weekend.

The pair have flirted with the idea of ​​a crossover fight for some time, and Ngannou even joined the heavyweight boxing champion in the ring after his knockout victory over Dillian Whyte at Wembley Stadium last April.

During a recent interview with seconds outFury said: ‘Francis Ngannou, I know you don’t have a contract with the UFC. You wanna make some big boy money, come see the Gypsy King and let’s have a big, big fight for the baddest MF on the planet.

Tyson Fury (L) has come under fire after calling out Francis Ngannou (R) for a boxing cage fight

Fury and Ngannou have been flirting with the idea of ​​a one-off crossover fight for some time.

‘Let’s kick spicy in a cage, four ounce gloves, in the Queensberry [boxing rules], and have a tough referee like “Iron” Mike Tyson. Did I just sell that to the world?’

One person Fury hasn’t sold on the idea to is Sonnen, who faced the English fighter in his youtube channel after hearing the details of his offer to Ngannou.

Sonnen, a former UFC title challenger turned pundit, said he was “shocked” to see one of the best fighters in the world “beg” for a crossover fight that he just can’t take.

“I see Tyson Fury coming out at the weekend and finally clarifying what we’re going to do with Francis first,” the 45-year-old said. They have always said that they are going to invent a sport. These two were going to make a game, they were going to do something but it was going to be combat related.

Over the weekend, the Gypsy King offered his MMA counterpart a boxing match inside a cage.

But UFC analyst Chael Sonnen has called his proposal “the dumbest idea in sports history.”

Ngannou was released by the UFC earlier this month after failing to agree to a new contract.

‘For reasons unknown, they were not going to box. Francis offered to box. For unknown reasons, Tyson did not accept that invitation and they were going to make up rules.

‘Tyson finally explained to us what they are: they are going to fight in a cage. I have no idea why. They’re going to fight in a cage, alright. They’re going to wear four-ounce gloves. I have no idea why they’re going to wear four-ounce gloves, but okay, okay. Then they’re going to follow the rules of boxing, it’s going to be the Queensbury rules.’

Sonnen added: “I exposed this by telling you how disappointing it is to see these fighters as beggars.”

“Guys who are willing to fight their way out and make it on their own, who have physical capabilities other men can only dream of, but don’t know how to go out and make it on their own. They just don’t know how.

I bring it to you because watching Tyson Fury beg was amazing. It was amazing. I don’t want to call it disappointing, I’m very close to calling it that, but I don’t want to call it that.

So Tyson comes to us with perhaps the dumbest idea in sports history, perhaps. He knows that he is.