10 Heaviest Hitters In The UFC Heavyweight Division Today
1. Francis Ngannou
The most powerful puncher alive, according to the UFC Performance Institute, is none other than former UFC title challenger Francis Ngannou. In a study conducted at the Institute, Ngannou's "punch force" clocked in at 129,161 units. The previous record holder was kickboxer Tyrone Spong, with 114,000 units in comparison.
Ngannou, a Cameroonian who made his way to France and now the U.S., stormed into the UFC in 2015 and immediately went on a five fight win streak. Among his victims, former UFC champion Andrei Arlovski, and former title challenger Alistair Overeem. Ngannou's victory against Overeem was particularly devastating, as he disconnected 'The Reem' from the mortal plane (or at least consciousness) for what seemed like several minutes thanks to a crushing uppercut. The blow lifted the 265lb Overeem clean off his feet.
It was off the back of that UFC 218 victory that the UFC matched him up with champ Stipe Miocic. Miocic had the Fight IQ to utilize his wrestling and keep Ngannou from punching through him, handing the hulking fighter the first loss of his UFC career (and second overall).
Shockingly, after that loss, Ngannou was paired up against Derrick Lewis, another of the UFC's heaviest hitters — and the pair proceeded to shadow box for three rounds, perhaps a little too respectful of each other's power. Ngannou would lose a dull decision in the end. Still, there's no question that when he's on his game, Francis Ngannou is the deadliest power puncher the UFC has to offer.