MMA Twitter is losing their patience over Tyson Fury vs. Francis Ngannou opening ceremony
By Amy Kaplan
Fans have been glued to their TVs for hours waiting for the Tyson Fury vs. Francis Ngannou fight and they are growing impatient now that there's going to be an opening ceremony and music performances before the fights even resume.
The card has only aired four fights in the past 3.5 hours and now fans are being told to wait at least anouter hour for the main card to begin.
And they're not happy about it.
There are no fights left but Fury v. Ngannou is still 47 minutes away bc the event needs to promote Saudi tourism for the next hour.
— Erik Uebelacker (@Uebey) October 28, 2023
Combat sports are weird. pic.twitter.com/ZpX8k5KK0h
Unexpected delay for this "Olympic-opening-ceremony-level" performance.
— Matthew Wells (@MrMWells) October 28, 2023
Hey, sometimes these things happen in MMA (& boxing crossover fights in Saudi Arabia). #FuryNgannou
The way these Boxing cards pace is f**king atrocious. Like, really? #FrancisNgannou
— J. Torres (@joeygamebred) October 28, 2023
The actual #furyvsngannou fight is expected to take place in three days, right after Olivia Rodrigo and a hologram of Prince perform the national anthems.
— TheRealSnowden (@JESnowden) October 28, 2023
48 minute intermission at Fury-Ngannou before ringwalks at 6pm ET pic.twitter.com/jD0YkUNA0s
— caposa (@Grabaka_Hitman) October 28, 2023
This is the problem with boxing. Low level production. PPV started at 11am main event won’t walk till 3pm. Hour of bullshit filler + live music before main event. We don’t need to be sold on the fight we paid $79.99 already. Just. Give. Us. The. Damn. Fight. #furyvsngannou
— Brendan Schaub (@BrendanSchaub) October 28, 2023
Pretty glad I put this PPV on the CME credit card. Especially now that we’re sitting here watching them try and mostly fail to clear the aisles so the show can start.
— Ben Fowlkes (@benfowlkesMMA) October 28, 2023
Now UFC president Dana White's boxing rant makes a lot more sense.
Dana White talks pacing:
— Jed I. Goodman © (@jedigoodman) August 10, 2023
That's the thing too, that you see in boxing, I mean, their walk outs take 45 minutes. Then once they get in there they gotta sing 7 national anthems. And you know, there's 347 guys in the ring for I don't know what. pic.twitter.com/WpRDzblCpQ
MMA Twitter annoyed by the Fury vs. Ngannou opening ceremony
Once the performances finally started, fans began reacting to the overall production value and the delay.
“ANNNNNDDDD NOWWW. FURY VS NGANNOUUUUUU….. Will begin immediately following this concert.”
— MacMally 🍀 (@MacMallyMMA) October 28, 2023
Tyson Fury and Francis Ngannou warmed up in the back: pic.twitter.com/nFldHWkWVu
“Dad, how long did you wait for Fury v Ngannou to start?” #FuryvsNgannou pic.twitter.com/2ipKCEiEfZ
— Billy Rubin (@billyrubes) October 28, 2023
Holy shit get to the fight already!!
— Cody Brundage (@CodyBrundage185) October 28, 2023
Am I watching the Super Bowl or a boxing fight? This is insane haha. #NgannouFury
— Sean Madden (@SeanM_Striking) October 28, 2023
Even though the production was impressive, it still was out of place and way too long for fight fans who were eager to finally watch the main event.