Francis Ngannou cut ties with the UFC in Jan. 2023 and went on to box Tyson Fury in October later that year. Contrary to popular belief, he survived the ten rounds and knocked down Fury in the third.
After a remarkable boxing debut, Ngannou fought former heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua. This time around, the MMA star suffered a crushing KO loss.
“The Predator” is yet to return to boxing or fight for the PFL. The definitive loss to Joshua has compelled many to question Ngannou’s career choices, but here’s what his teammate Sadibou Sy thinks of it.
Sadibou Sy Praises Francis Ngannou For Trying To Achieve Greatness By Fighting Anthony Joshua
In an interview posted on the InsideFighting YouTube channel, Sy gave his two cents on Ngannou’s boxing career. He outright claimed that despite the loss, his teammate did the unthinkable and a loss doesn’t take away any of his greatbess.
“So, for me, I would say this. Like, after the fact, when you have the results, saying, like, yeah he shouldn’t have done this, he shouldn’t have done that. Like, he did something unbelievable and something that’s never been done before. For me, just because he didn’t win against Anthony Joshua, doesn’t take that away.”
Sy also pointed out that Ngannou earned the Joshua fight due to his impressive performance against Fury. He beat the reigning WBC heavyweight champion in the eyes of many and wasn’t a huge underdog going into his second boxing fight.
“He, as a guy, coming in to martial arts and fighting in general, just being here for a couple of years, becoming a UFC champion. Fighting arguably, arguably the best heavyweight out there. In some guys’ opinion, winning that fight. That giving him the opportunity to now face Anthony Joshua. What is he supposed to do? No, I don’t want the big paycheck. No, I don’t want to, like, test myself.”
Sy respects Ngannou for getting a huge paycheck and testing his mettle against the best fighters in another sport. He doesn’t think the Joshua fight was a mistake by any means and is proud of his teammate’s achievements.
After making a fortune in boxing, Ngannou is expected to face Renan Ferreira in the PFL next.
However, White’s flourishing ties with Turki Alalshikh might open doors for cross-promotion fights in the UFC. After hosting several spectacular boxing and MMA events, Riyadh Season will sponsor the Noche UFC event in The Sphere.
When asked if Riyadh Season could convince him to work with Ngannou again, the UFC CEO said this during the UFC 303 post-press conference:
“I think that, what this guy’s [Alalshikh] done in a short amount of time is pretty incredible. So, we’re obviously talking about lots of different options with this guy. And I respect him, I like him, so, we’ll see what the future holds.”
UFC 306 is the first event in the promotion’s history to have a title partner. With new stakeholders coming into play, Ngannou facing UFC heavyweights like Aspinall and Jones might not be far-fetched.
Why Riyadh Season was roped in as a sponsor of Noche UFC
During the UFC 303 post-press conference posted on TheMacLife YouTube channel, White reiterated that he’s spent over $15 million on producing Noche UFC. The UFC CEO then jokingly claimed this to be the reason behind the new sponsors for the event.
When asked about the factors that led to Riyadh Season becoming the title partner of UFC 306, here’s what he said:
“I spent $17 million on production and it’s not even September yet.”
It is worth noting that Riyadh Season featured massive boxing cards like Fury vs. Ngannou, Joshua vs. Ngannou, and Fury vs. Usyk. In early 2024, the Kingdom Arena also hosted the PFL vs. Bellator Champions event.
While discussing the impact of new sponsors, White admitted to having a good relationship with Turki Alalshikh. He also appreciated the boxing events organized by Riyadh Season.
“I actually respect Sheikh Turki. He’s a nice guy and we have actually formed a relationship over the last couple of months. I respect what he’s done with boxing. He’s the only guy that could ever pull this off. Making these big fights and the fight was good.”
What do Jon Jones, Tyson Fury, and Brock Lesnar all have in common? All three superstars, at one point or another, have been in the sights of “The Predator.”
What’s that? You didn’t know current UFC Heavyweight Champion Francis Ngannou once wanted to fight Brock Lesnar? No worries, the MMA News Archives is here to remind you.
The following story was published on this day four years ago. It is presented to you in its original, unaltered form, courtesy of The MMA News Archives.
[ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED MARCH 19, 2018, 3:21 PM]
Title: Francis Ngannou Wants Brock Lesnar Back In UFC
Author: Andrew Ravens
Former title contender Francis Ngannou is in an interesting spot right now in his pro-MMA career.
Ngannou has a few fight options in his future after his latest bout. As seen at the UFC 220 event at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts on pay-per-view, UFC heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic successfully retained his title in the main event by scoring a dominant decision win over the title contender.
During an appearance on The MMA Hour on Monday, Ngannou addressed a potential fight with former heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar.
UFC President Dana White has teased the return of Lesnar to the promotion in the past. The speculation going around is that with Jon Jones being on the sidelines, Lesnar would only return to the UFC for big fights and one of those fights could be against Miocic.
The current WWE Universal Champion’s contract is up with the WWE in April after WrestleMania 34.
Lesnar has competed just once inside of the cage since 2011. The former UFC champion holds notable wins over fighters such as Shane Carwin, Randy Couture, and Frank Mir.
Hard-hitting heavyweight star Mark Hunt is the last man to have fought Lesnar in the Octagon at UFC 200 in 2016. This marked Lesnar’s return to MMA after an almost five-year retirement.
As seen in the fight, Lesnar won a unanimous decision that night which was subsequently overturned when it was revealed he failed two USADA issued drug tests before the bout. This led to Hunt filing a civil suit against Lesnar and the UFC to settle his grievances.
“Please Brock, come back, come back my friend. We need you here,” Ngannou said. “We need you to put the fun in this division. I need you to give me that f*cking fight I’ve been waiting for for a long time, I’ve been dreaming for.”
“It’s up to what (the UFC) want to give me,” Ngannou said. “There are a lot of people out there who want to fight me. I saw Mark Hunt, he would be a great one. By myself, I want Brock. Brock Lesnar.”
Ngannou was gassed after the first round and lost in a lopsided fashion. Following the fight, Ngannou made it known that this fight was a major learning experience for him. Ngannou had moments of success in the opening two rounds but was unable to counter Miocic’s wrestling-heavy game plan.
“I like the fight,” Ngannou said. “He look like — I don’t know if you ever seen this guy, he looks very, very big and strong. And I really want to try that. Listen, there are the three ones who want me and me, I want Brock,” Ngannou said.
What are your thoughts on Lesnar potentially fighting Ngannou?
UFC Welterweight Champion Kamaru Usman has given his take on the ongoing contractual dispute between the promotion and his fellow African titleholder Francis Ngannou.
All is not well between the UFC and its heavyweight king. If that wasn’t evident before UFC 270, where Ngannou faced Ciryl Gane in a unification showdown, it certainly is following it.
In the aftermath of the Cameroonian’s triumph in Anaheim, Dana White’s post-fight absence, both in the Octagon and at the post-fight press conference, seemed to indicate the animosity between the two parties had reached a peak.
With “The Predator” now on the sidelines following a knee injury and out of contract in December, as well as his statements about being willing to do “whatever it takes” to get what he wants, many believe we could see the champion exit the promotion.
Kamaru Usman, who was in Ngannou’s corner at the January pay-per-view, believes there is a way for the UFC to form an agreement with the heavyweight powerhouse. If that’s to happen, “The Nigerian Nightmare” says compromise is crucial.
“There’s things that they need to sit down and they need to talk about, 100%. Francis Ngannou, that’s my brother. I believe Francis is always going to be worth more than he’s getting, absolutely,” Usman said during an appearance on Shannon Sharpe’s Club Shay Shay. “If he can go to boxing tomorrow and they’re paying $50 million, I think he’s worth more than that. So that’s something that they need to sit down with the company because there’s plenty and plenty of athletes that were unhappy that were eventually sat down and something was done.
“No one side is always going to get more than—you’re going to come to a compromise,” Usman suggested. “And I think they need to come to a compromise. Can he get more? Absolutely. Should he get more? Absolutely.”
A UFC Exit & A Fury Superfight?
If a compromise can’t be found, it appears Ngannou will be pursuing fresh pastures come 2023, which may come in the form of the squared circle.
Francis Ngannou thinks Ciryl Gane had a cherry-picked path to a title shot.
Francis Ngannou is the UFC heavyweight champion. He defended his title successfully against one of the toughest opponents available in Ciryl Gane and has once again proven that he is the best. Ngannou had to prove his skills through a tough road to becoming UFC champ. He lost some, won some more, and worked his way to becoming the “baddest man on the planet.”
Now that Ngannou and Gane have fought and Ngannou came out on top, he is being a little critical of Gane’s path to the title fight.
“You don’t usually get into the UFC and get to fight for the title without fighting a wrestler. That’s the rule. In this case, he seems like he was protected. They were protecting him, and they were just hyping his striking style. This isn’t a striking game. This is a fighting game,” Ngannou said on his YouTube Channel (via MMAWeekly).
Gane has just ten fights on his professional MMA résumé. His only loss so far was the fight with Ngannou. In his UFC career, Gane has faced seven opponents before facing Ngannou, those seven have a combined 171 professional fights, and only a combined 10 submission victories.
As for Gane himself, he holds three submission victories in his career. Ngannou was making the point that the UFC was trying to shed a spotlight on Gane’s striking power, instead of testing him on the ground. However, Gane has proven that he can submit when needed. In fact, his first two wins in the UFC were by submission.
Ngannou showcased a well-rounded game plan in the win. He will be out of competition for an undisclosed amount of time, however, now that he will need to heal up from a lingering knee injury. As for Gane, he could be back in action later this year.
Do you think the UFC tried to steer Gane away from facing wrestlers?
UFC Heavyweight Champion Francis Ngannou thinks the pre-UFC 270 hype got in Ciryl Gane’s head ahead of their fight.
Ngannou earned a unanimous decision win at UFC 270 over Gane, but it was anything but easy. Entering the cage with a significant knee injury, Ngannou didn’t use his striking as much and instead utilized his improved grappling, especially in the later rounds.
Ngannou vs. Gane was arguably the most highly-anticipated heavyweight title clash in UFC history. While the fight itself wasn’t as much of a barn-burner as many expected, it was a technical showcase from both fighters.
The pre-fight hype included the relationship between Ngannou and his former MMA Factory head coach, Fernand Lopez, along with his past sparring sessions with Gane. Many believed Gane had the perfect skillset to dethrone Ngannou, especially on the feet.
“The weak spot, I hoped that before the fight was that he’d really listen and believe to what they were saying in the media,” Ngannou said. “He did believe everything in the media was saying at some point, and that’s why even at the press conference or at the faceoff face-to-face, I’m like ‘I really like you, don’t just let this get in your mind’. Not only for this fight, because what would’ve happened if he won this fight? Then they would keep telling him the same thing until he face the same situation with somebody.”
Gane has hinted that he hopes Ngannou will stay with the UFC long-term so that he can get a potential rematch in the future. Ngannou is expected to miss a majority of 2022 after undergoing surgery on his injured knee.
In the meantime, the UFC could potentially schedule another interim title fight later this year. Gane could win a pair of fights and work his way back to potential vengeance against Ngannou.
What do you think is next for Francis Ngannou and Ciryl Gane?
One man who thinks Ngannou deserves more is Urijah Faber. He spoke a bit to The Schmo about what the UFC should do with Ngannou and his contract situation.
“I think the answer is money. Pay that man the money,” Faber said. “He’s the heavyweight champion of the world. I really think that when it really comes down to the really last minute, I feel that the UFC will pony up and hopefully they reach an agreement that works because we all want to see the best fighters in the world in the UFC. I know I do.”
Ngannou has just defended the UFC heavyweight title successfully at UFC 270. Leading up to the fight, there was plenty of talk about his contract status. After Ngannou won the heavyweight title, he wanted a fight against Jon Jones. Jones also wanted the fight, but they wanted to be paid more than what was offered.
This interim title being created just months after Ngannou won created a rift between him and the UFC. Over the next few months, Ngannou was vocal about wanting to be paid more. He also wanted to be able to box if he had the opportunity. After defeating Ciryl Gane at UFC 270, Ngannou now needs time off to heal from injury.
Faber has been with the UFC for many years and knows how the system works. He is hopeful that Ngannou and the promotion can come to an agreement and keep him on the roster.
Do you agree with Urijah Faber to think the UFC needs to give Ngannou what he wants?
UFC Heavyweight Champion Francis Ngannou believes that Jake Paul’s promotion of better fighter pay is legitimate and not an act.
Ngannou is fresh off his win over Ciryl Gane at UFC 270 in his first title defense as a UFC champion. But he is expected to miss a significant amount of time due to a lingering knee injury he suffered in his training leading up to the fight.
Ngannou has continued to push for the UFC to change its current pay scale model amidst tense contract negotiations. It remains unclear whether or not Ngannou and the UFC brass will end up coming to terms on a new deal.
One of most vocal presences in the fighter pay conversation has been Paul, who has gone at it with UFC President Dana White regarding how the promotion treats its roster. The controversial YouTuber turned boxer has previously offered to sign a one-fight deal with the UFC if the brass promises to add benefits such as long-term healthcare.
During a recent video on his YouTube channel, Ngannou addressed Paul’s comments in support of giving UFC fighters more incentives away from the cage.
“I follow all those stuff and I am aware of what’s happening,” Ngannou said. “You know Paul has his own way of communicating, which is a little bit different. Maybe not the same way as I will. But in the meantime, I can’t blame him. I’m 100 percent with him for what he says.
“When he claimed for fighter healthcare, I am 100 percent down with that. He claimed for fighter pay increase, I’m a 1000 percent down for that. So the fighters are not protected, they are all out there on their own and nobody look up to them… They are putting their body on the line for something. At least [give them] healthcare.” (h/t SportsKeeda)
One of Ngannou’s biggest gripes with the promotion has been the lack of freedom fighters like him have when it comes to pursuing other avenues. This includes boxing, where Ngannou has gone back-and-forth on social media with heavyweight champion Tyson Fury.
Ngannou admitted during a recent interview that Paul’s management reached out to him to inquire about his interest in boxing. The UFC then allegedly threatened legal action against his manager for being in contact with Paul’s team.
But not all UFC fighters agree with Ngannou. Some veterans such as Sam Alvey have called Paul’s interest in UFC fighter pay “fake” and an effort to promote himself.
It’s unclear if and when Ngannou will return to the Octagon, but in the meantime, he’ll continue to voice his displeasure in how fighters are compensated for their efforts in the cage.
What are your thoughts on Francis Ngannou and Jake Paul’s calls for better UFC fighter pay and treatment?
Despite falling to defeat against Francis Ngannou, Ciryl Gane believes he displayed better striking and groundwork than “The Predator” at UFC 270.
In the opening pay-per-view main event of 2022, then-interim titleholder Gane and reigning heavyweight king Ngannou met for a blockbuster unification showdown.
While Gane had started strong, taking the opening two rounds with his evasive and technical striking on the scorecards of most fans and pundits, it was Ngannou’s strength and imposing top game that saw the final three frames fall in his favor.
But despite spending many minutes on his back in the later rounds and failing to overcome the champ’s wrestling, Gane believes he was “better” in all aspects beyond power.
During a recent appearance on The MMA Hour, “Bon Gamin” suggested he displayed better technique on the feet and on the ground, citing his ability to prevent Ngannou’s ground-and-pound and submission attempts as evidence.
“I think I was better with my striking, and I was better on the ground game too,” said Gane. “Because if you see, he catch me and kick me. It was difficult for him to do some ground-and-pound or some submission because my technique is good, you see? And it was more about the power and the plan.
“He used the power for the wrestling. Unfortunately, it was about two seconds when he catch me just on my ribs, behind my ribs,” added Gane. “After that, it’s more complicated to go out with the power of Francis, that’s why I went down. After that, he leave his body on me. He don’t do too much. This is respect for him still because he don’t need to do much… It was just a little mistake. For me, I was better on the striking (and) on the ground game. But, for me, I know this is a little bit strange to say, but I was better on my wrestling too; if you compare the technique. That’s why I’m okay (with the loss).”
Gane: Herb Dean Should Have Stood The Fight Up In The 5th Round
Despite his disappointment and belief that he edged most realms of the fight, Gane has consistently given credit to Ngannou for executing his game plan.
While he continued to do that during his conversation with Ariel Helwani, the Frenchman did suggest referee Herb Dean perhaps should have stood the pair up during Ngannou’s lengthy period of low-activity top control in the fifth round.
“When you have a big guy like Francis on your chest, if you want to go away, if you want to stand up, that’s not a good plan; to push the guy (up like a rep),” said Gane. “I don’t want to do that with Francis. So I was waiting for a good position to stand up. That’s what the regret is more like, the referee in the fifth round. The referee, for me, he take his time to stand up the fight a little bit.
“I looked, I connect the eye with the referee like, ‘Okay, let’s go, let’s go, stand up please, look.’ So that’s why this is a little regret. But he (Ngannou) did very well. Congratulations to Francis,” concluded Gane.
While it’s uncertain whether or not the pair will meet inside the Octagon again or if Ngannou will share the cage with anyone else in the UFC, it would certainly be interesting to see how Gane would go about adjusting to deal with the one area he believes led to him falling short at UFC 270: Ngannou’s strength and power.
What did you make of Ciryl Gane’s performance against Francis Ngannou at UFC 270?Do you agree with the Frenchman’s assessment?
UFC President Dana White has assessed where heavyweight contender Tai Tuivasa sits in the division following his knockout victory over Derrick Lewis.
At UFC 271 this past weekend, two of the UFC’s hardest hitters and most prolific KO artists collided. On one side was “The Black Beast” Lewis, the promotion’s KO record holder, who was coming off a main event finish against Chris Daukaus in December. Opposite him was the rising “Bam Bam” Tuivasa, who was coming off four consecutive stoppage wins.
Inside Houston’s Toyota Center, it was the younger and more durable Tuivasa who had his hand raised. After surviving an onslaught against the cage and firing back with his own bombs, the Australian hurt Lewis in the second round before knocking him out with a brutal elbow.
White Expects Tuivasa To Be “Mixing It Up” With The Best
Entering 2020, Tuivasa was on a three-fight losing skid following consecutive defeats to Junior dos Santos, Blagoy Ivanov, and Sergey Spivak, and his place in the promotion looked insecure.
That’s a sentiment that was shared by Dana White at the UFC 271 press conference. When asked where the Aussie’s latest win puts him in the division, the UFC President said he expects Tuivasa to experience a heavy rise up the heavyweight ladder come the next rankings update.
“Well, you guys are gonna rank him. But yeah, I mean, he should be top three, top five,” said White. “So wherever he shakes out in the rankings, yeah, he’ll be mixing it up with those guys.”
Indeed, yesterday it was confirmed that Tuivasa is ranked #3 in the heavyweight division. When assessing how the title picture now shapes up, White placed Tuivasa alongside reigning champion Francis Ngannou, consensus heavyweight GOAT Stipe Miocic, and former two-time light heavyweight king Jon Jones.
“We’ll see here pretty soon how this all plays out: Jones, Stipe, Francis, and Tai now, too.”
But if his latest win shows the rest of the division anything, it’s that he’s not just an entertainer who likes a beer, he’s a bona fide title contender on the hunt for gold.
Who would you like to see Tai Tuivasa share the Octagon with next?
Former UFC champion Khabib Nurmagomedov thinks heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou should box Tyson Fury for the big payday.
Ngannou has alluded to moving to boxing down the line, potentially when his current UFC deal comes to a close. He’s been at odds with the UFC brass regarding a new deal and has advocated for changing the promotion’s pay structure.
“If they fight in the UFC yeah, Fury doesn’t have too many chances,” Nurmagomedov said. “But in boxing, I don’t see anyone even touching his face—maybe Oleksandr Usyk. Usyk is going to be a tough challenge for Fury. But Ngannou? I think he has to stay with the UFC. But if he goes to boxing and he’s making 50 or 60 million dollars— he has to. Why not?
“I know Ngannou comes from a very, very poor life in Africa. He was with no money, no home, nothing. So if someone pays you more money then go and take.” (h/t The Sun)
Ngannou most recently defended his UFC heavyweight title against Ciryl Gane at UFC 270. He suffered a significant knee injury leading up to the event and is expected to miss some time following surgery.
Fury most recently defeated Deontay Wilder in their trilogy last year and has been in negotiations to fight Dillian Whyte next. Nevertheless, both Ngannou and Fury have traded barbs on social media and are interested in a future clash.
Do you want to see Tyson Fury vs. Francis Ngannou?
During an interview with iFL TV, the Manchester, England native revealed a likely timeframe for the highly-anticipated collision. He suggested the ‘Fight Capital of the World’ could be set to host the clash as early as the first quarter of 2023.
“I am going to fight Francis Ngannou in Las Vegas next year – in March or February,” said Fury. “There’s been no talks this year, because I have got some boxing to do, But next year we can have some crazy fights.” (h/t DAZN News)
Given the current situation for both men, Fury’s prediction essentially represents the earliest they could share the ring. While Ngannou is tied to the UFC until December, providing he doesn’t sign a new deal, “The Gypsy King” has matters of his own to tend to.
The most memorable and well-known fight between an MMA superstar and an undefeated boxer came in 2017 when Conor McGregor and Floyd Mayweather fought. Aptly named ‘The Money Fight’, the match attracted 4.3 million pay-per-view buys and saw both men collect $100 million-plus paychecks.
While it would do well to reach those heights, Fury believes a potential fight with Ngannou would attract similar attention and break PPV records of its own.
“It’s a massive fight – I believe it breaks all pay-per-view records in the United States. Two heavyweight champions going head to head,” predicted Fury.
Ngannou’s future is far from clear. However, what appears certain is that boxing is in it. If Dana White and the UFC choose not to be involved, we can expect “The Predator” to say farewell to the promotion and hello to “The Gypsy King” in 2023.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CZaACJ9vD-5/
How do you think Francis Ngannou will fare in the ring against Tyson Fury if this matchup comes to fruition?
Israel Adesanya believes the UFC will learn from their contract negotiations with Francis Ngannou.
It was well-known that when the heavyweight champion entered his UFC 270 title defense against Ciryl Gane, it was the last fight of his deal. Since then, he has continued to be vocal about his displeasure with his current contract.
Ngannou’s friend and UFC Middleweight Champion Israel Adesanya, who just re-signed with the UFC, says the promotion needs to deal with the heavyweight champ better, and he is optimistic that they will.
“I don’t know this narrative of, oh, they just gave me a new deal because of what was happening with Francis,” Adesanya said after UFC 271. “I’m like, no, my dealings with the UFC don’t need to be brought forth because every case is different. With Francis’ case, he needed to bring that forward because it was atrocious, and I respect him for that. But like I said, this is a first step.”
Israel Adesanya believes the UFC and Francis Ngannou will eventually strike a deal to keep the heavyweight champion in the Las Vegas-based promotion. The hope for Adesanya is his contract and that of other big names will lift the minimum pay for the debuting fighters as well. The middleweight champ wants to see no UFC fighter need to have another job.
“Dana already said they had dinner with [Ngannou] before he went back to Cameroon; they gonna have dinner when they come back,” Adesanya said. “So yeah, people make mistakes. The UFC’s filled with humans. Humans make mistakes. Human error. But we can always amend those mistakes. Honestly, rising tides lifts all the ships. And with this, I feel like it’s the first step in this trickle-down effect to the rest of the fighters and lifting everyone up.”
As of right now, there is no talk on when exactly Francis Ngannou and the UFC will meet again but Israel Adesanya is hoping a deal gets made.
Do you think Francis Ngannou re-signs with the UFC?
Francis Ngannou has an incredible story from digging sand in Cameroon to leaving for France and eventually becoming UFC heavyweight champion. And with that, one manager says it’s impossible to not like him.
According to Ali Abdelaziz, who manages a ton of fighters like Kamaru Usman and Khabib Nurmagomedov, he says Ngannou’s story is incredible. He also considers the heavyweight champion to be one of the nicest people in the sport, so he says it’s impossible not to like him.
However, even with Ngannou’s freakish power and incredible story, he’s in a contract dispute with Dana White and the UFC. The president didn’t even wrap the belt around his waist at UFC 270. Yet, Abdelaziz believes White doesn’t dislike Ngannou.
Francis Ngannou (Image Credit: Frederick J. BROWN/AFP)
“You look at the story. The guy came form Cameroon, went to Morocco, got on a boat, a plastic boat to Europe, you know,” Abdelaziz said to MMAJunkie. “The man has a strong will. Dana White has been waiting 20 years for someone like Francis… This whole narrative that Dana White don’t like Francis or hates Francis, I think is wrong. It’s almost impossible not to like Francis. The guy, he puts on great shows, he’s a great human being.”
Francis Ngannou is coming off a decision victory over Ciryl Gane at UFC 270 to defend his heavyweight title for the first time. He impressed many by using his wrestling to win the fight, a path to victory that not many people thought was going to happen.
With the win, he now has one fight left on his deal or can wait it out until the end of December. At this point, there have been no major progress on Ngannou re-signing with the UFC. Despite the standstill, Abdelaziz believes White doesn’t dislike Ngannou, as many think he does.
Do you think Francis Ngannou will re-sign with the UFC?
One month before Francis Ngannou’s heavyweight championship win at UFC 260, Stipe Miocic was confident that the rematch would yield the same results as their bout two years prior at UFC 220. The following article published on this day last year captures that confidence.
The following article was published on this day last year. It is presented to you in its original, unaltered form, courtesy of The MMA News Archives.
[ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED FEBRUARY 5, 2021, 11:16 AM]
Title: Miocic: It’s Unfortunate For Ngannou That He Has To Fight Me Again
UFC heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic believes that the “new” version of Francis Ngannou will get the same old outcome on March 27 when the two top heavyweights meet again.
Becoming a UFC champion is a life-changer. It’s impressive enough to make it to the biggest MMA promotion in the world from humble beginnings, but to then capture a title enhances not only the money and fame but the legacy. Francis Ngannou seems to be in this position once again after coming up short in his first bid for the world title in 2018.
The bad news for Ngannou is that this story will not have a different ending than it did on January 20, 2018, says world champion Stipe Miocic.
“Francis is a super tough guy,” Miocic said, speaking on the “Oral Sessions” podcast. “He’s been knocking everyone out again and he’s on a tear, and unfortunately he’s going to have to fight me again. That’s the bad part. He’s definitely gotten better, but so have I.
Stipe Miocic & Francis Ngannou Battle At UFC 220
“I know I’m getting old, but I’ve gotten wiser and I’ve got a few new tricks up my sleeve. (They say) you can’t teach an old dog new tricks, which is a lie. I’ve learned a lot since the last couple years ago. It’s the same outcome. I’m going to walk out with the belt around my waist: and still.”
Miocic Identifies The Difference-Maker In Upcoming Rematch
Francis Ngannou continues to add more knockouts to his total that is on pace to break records. He surely already has the fastest knockouts-per-minute ratio in the history of the promotion, a stat that was solidified after KOing Curtis Blaydes, Cain Velasquez, Junior dos Santos, and Jairzinho Rozenstruik in under three minutes of total fight time.
Some may argue that Ngannou has not really changed. He is doing the same thing he’s always done: throw dumbells at his opponents’ faces, rendering them unconscious upon impact. But Ngannou does seem to be faster than he was before. Even still, the champion believes that Ngannou isn’t the only one who has gotten faster and that there is still a significant differential between the two.
“Timing and speed,” Miocic said. “Really just speed. It’s all about speed. Speed kills, and that’s something we’ve really worked on the last couple camps fighting ‘DC.’”
UFC 260: Miocic vs. Ngannou 2 takes place March 27, 2021 live on pay per view.
Do you think the rematch between Miocic and Ngannou will have the same outcome as their first encounter?
UFC Heavyweight Champion Francis Ngannou was reminded of his first Stipe Miocic fight when he looked at Ciryl Gane midway through UFC 270.
Ngannou made his first title defense against Gane in the UFC 270 main event, winning via unanimous decision. It wasn’t the striking showcase everyone expected, but the champion demonstrated his improved grappling skills to get the victory over Gane.
The first two rounds weren’t going in Ngannou’s favor according to two of the UFC 270 judges. However, he was able to turn the tide in Rounds 3 through 5 and control the path to retaining his belt.
Ngannou’s journey to the UFC title was anything but easy. After a difficult loss to Miocic at UFC 220, he would lose a lackluster bout against Derrick Lewis before going on his current six-fight winning streak.
Ngannou has alluded to his UFC 220 fight with Miocic as a completely different version of who he is today. During a recent interview with Ariel Helwani, he revealed that Gane’s body language at the end of Round 3 reminded him of his former self.
“By the end of the round, I looked at him, I saw me when I fought Stipe the first time,” Ngannou said. “I’m like, ‘This guy is done.’ Yeah, and he wasn’t even able to listen to his coach. I was listening to his corner talk to him and he wasn’t reacting. I’m like, he’s done. That is exactly me when I fought Stipe the first time. That’s the moment that I knew I won the fight, at the end of the third round… He was broken, I could tell. I look him in his eyes and was like it’s a done deal.”
Francis Ngannou’s UFC Future Remains Uncertain
Ngannou went through quite the buildup to UFC 270. He’s been dealing with tense contract talks with UFC President Dana White and the promotion, and negotiations have seemingly hit a dead end.
This was further supported when White declined to put the belt around Ngannou as the official decision was read at UFC 270. White also was notably absent from post-fight media obligations, though White has since claimed external issues prevented him from carrying out these activities.
When asked by Helwani to forecast his future with the promotion, Ngannou remained cautiously optimistic. There are tears in the relationship with the UFC that need repair, and Ngannou seems hell-bent on getting the promotion back on his side.
What are your takeaways from Francis Ngannou vs. Ciryl Gane?
UFC Heavyweight Champion Francis Ngannou appears in Jackass Forever and will be featured in a very violent scene.
Francis Ngannou captured UFC gold last March when he stopped a former foe in two-time heavyweight champ Stipe Miocic in the second round. After landing a role in the long-awaited film Jackass Forever, the newly minted heavyweight champion will be shown looking to earn gold in a different area of expertise in the film.
Ahead of its release, Ngannou helped lead viewers through an extended preview of what is being called the “cup test scene,” where Ngannou hits a man (Ehren McGhehey) in the groin at full strength. McGhehey was wearing a cup, but did it make a difference?
While having a Ford Escort crash into your privates will always leave a mark—if not physically then emotionally—apparently, the cup test was a success. So much so that Ngannou was left wondering, “Did he really have a nut?” when all was said and done.
You can check out the graphic scene’s extended preview along with Ngannou’s commentary below.
This isn’t the first time we have seen Francis Ngannou in Hollywood. In fact, the heavyweight champ popped up in a cameo appearance for Fast & Furious 9.
After Ngannou retained the UFC heavyweight championship at UFC 270 last weekend, many people began to wonder what the future holds for the Cameroonian as he remains in a tense contract dispute with the UFC. But whatever the future holds, at least the heavyweight champion now has Hollywood in his back pocket.
Jackass Forever hits theaters nationwide today, Friday, February 4, 2022.
Will you be watching Francis Ngannou in Jackass Forever this weekend?
MMA Factory Coach Fernand Lopez wants to see Ciryl Gane and UFC Heavyweight Champion Francis Ngannou run it back in Paris, France.
At UFC 270, Gane’s rapid rise from MMA newcomer to the top of the heavyweight food chain met its first hurdle. That hurdle? Former teammate and Cameroonian powerhouse Ngannou.
In the opening two rounds, it looked like “Bon Gamin” was well on his way to outlasting “The Predator” and reaching the undisputed throne as an undefeated fighter. That all changed with one caught kick and one takedown.
In the build-up to UFC 270, Lopez unleashed a host of revelations about Ngannou’s time at Paris’ MMA Factory gym, from refusing to pay the membership fee to attempting to sabotage Gane’s UFC signing.
While the hatchet has seemingly been buried in the aftermath of the pay-per-view, largely due to the peace-keeping mission of Kamaru Usman, Lopez doesn’t want the possibility of a rematch between Gane and Ngannou to similarly simmer down.
Lopez: Close Fights Usually Get Rematches
During an appearance on The MMA Hour with Ariel Helwani, Lopez was asked what’s next for the former interim titleholder. While he acknowledged Jon Jones will be the promotion’s target, the 43-year-old admitted the ideal scenario for his party would see Ngannou and Gane run it back in France later this year.
“I would like that fight with Francis to happen in France (next) if that’s possible. But, that’s the last thing the UFC is thinking right now,” said Lopez. “If they solve the problem with Francis, what they’d like to do, what everyone would like to have, is Jon Jones/Francis.
“But again, as a manager, Ciryl made a lot of money for this fight (UFC 270), a lot; enough, actually,” added Lopez. “And he has time. We can wait six months, seven months. We have time to wait until maybe they can sort out the problem with Francis at some point. What I’m saying is that I don’t know about you, but I feel the fight was close, and when the fight is close, generally we’re talking about immediate rematches, which can make sense. But I’m realistic.”
While Gane is a native of La-Roche-sur-Yon, France, Ngannou emerged from the streets of the country’s capital to make it as a successful mixed martial artist. With the interest in both men in the region, Lopez believes a rematch in Paris would be beyond huge.
“If you ask me as a manager, I’m like, let’s go for the immediate rematch in Paris. If they fight in Paris, because of Ciryl, if they fight in Paris, Francis would make good money in Paris. I mean like, France is going nuts about this fight, African people are going crazy about this fight. Most of the followers of Francis are African people living in Paris or Europe. That would be bananas if they have this fight in France,” concluded Lopez.
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With the reception he received upon his arrival back in France, it’s clear Gane is immensely popular across the Atlantic and growing into a popular fan-favorite among the French population.
While Ngannou certainly has his supporters there as well, he recently commented on the fickle nature of the French media, who, in his mind, brand him as French when he wins and Cameroonian when he loses.
With the attitude of the media members who made the long trip to Las Vegas for UFC 270, which was shown during a heated back-and-forth between Ngannou and a French reporter at the press conference, it would be interesting to see how Ngannou is received and treated by the media if a rematch goes down in Paris.
Would you like to seeFrancis Ngannou and Ciryl Gane run it back in Paris, France?
UFC Heavyweight Champion Francis Ngannou isn’t concerned about the promotion potentially going forward with another interim title bout.
Ngannou defeated interim champ Ciryl Gane at UFC 270 in his first title defense as the heavyweight champ. He pulled off an impressive comeback in the later rounds to earn a unanimous decision victory.
Ngannou revealed during his post-fight interview that he suffered a significant knee injury in his training camp. He’s expected to undergo surgery on his right knee and miss at least nine months of competition, with a possible return at the end of the year.
Ngannou’s planned prolonged absence has fueled speculation behind a potential Jon Jones vs. Stipe Miocic fight for the interim heavyweight title. During a recent interview on Bruce Buffer’s It’s Time podcast, Ngannou gave his reaction to the possibility of lightning striking twice.
“In the past, they have shown in the heavyweight division they can wait for a year for a title defense,” Ngannou said. “We have been waiting for years. We have been having one title defense in the heavyweight division for a long time. So, I don’t think that’s an issue.”
Ngannou defeated Miocic for the heavyweight title at UFC 260, knocking him out in the second round. He lost his previous first attempt at the title and Miocic back at UFC 220.
Ngannou was expected to make his first title defense last year against Jones, but negotiations never materialized. Jones vacated the light heavyweight title in early 2020 to make a run at heavyweight.
It’s unclear what the UFC plans to do with the heavyweight title picture going forward, but the champ isn’t worried about it and is focused on recovery.
Who do you want to see Francis Ngannou eventually fight next?
Francis Ngannou’s coach Eric Nicksick has revealed what convinced him and his team that the UFC heavyweight champion’s knee injury had been leaked prior to UFC 270.
At the opening pay-per-view of 2022, Ngannou overcame adversity, pressure, and the odds to secure his status as the undisputed heavyweight king. In a battle against undefeated Frenchman Ciryl Gane, who was widely expected to bring a new breed of technical heavyweights to the top, “The Predator” adapted and re-strategized to hunt down his prey.
After struggling to get close to Gane on the feet in the opening two rounds, Ngannou capitalized on a caught kick and took the fight to the ground. From there, he showed his improved wrestling game and maintained top control for much of the remaining minutes and, in doing so, secured a unanimous decision victory.
As if the performance wasn’t impressive enough, Ngannou revealed in his post-fight interview that he’d fought through a torn MCL and damaged ACL. While rumors of a potential knee injury appeared to have been proven true when he entered the Octagon wearing knee wraps, not many would have expected the extent of the injury to have been as serious as it was.
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Nicksick Explains Why Ngannou’s Injury Was Always Going To Get Out
Despite some rumors floating around, talk of a potential injury wasn’t as prevalent as many would have expected given the nature of it. That discussion came up during a recent episode of Bruce Buffer’s It’s Time! podcast. Co-host TJ De Santis questioned how the lines, which had Ngannou as an underdog, would have looked had news of the injury broke.
Eric Nicksick, who appeared on the podcast alongside Ngannou and the champ’s manager Marquel Martin, pointed out that they knew people were aware of the damage prior to UFC 270. According to the Xtreme Couture coach, the leak was obvious once the betting lines began to shift.
“They knew, TJ,” said Nicksick. “‘Cause I said to Marquel, ’cause we’re Vegas boys, I said to Marquel, like two weeks out, I go, ‘Hey, when we start seeing these lines move, the lines start moving, we’ll know that the word is out that he’s messed up.’ There’s enough eyes, enough people around, and it’s not like, malicious; it just happens to be that way.”
Nicksick added that news of Ngannou’s hurt knee was always likely to get out, especially in Las Vegas.
“If he’s at the PI getting his knee wrapped or he has a knee brace on, if one person sees it, he’s gonna tell three or five people,” added Nicksick. “And in Vegas, we know, we’re born and raised here, so they’re looking for any way they can to move that line. I told Marquel, ‘Hey, that line’s moving, the word is out.’”
In late December, Ngannou was set as a narrow favorite by FanDuel, a line that flipped in the weeks prior to the event.
Having bet on himself and on his knee, and won, Ngannou has emerged from the other side in a strong position, both in terms of his status in the heavyweight division and in contract negotiations with the UFC.
What did you make of Francis Ngannou’s performance at UFC 270, especially given his knee injury?
UFC Heavyweight Champion Francis Ngannou has suggested the media in France are very fickle when it comes to his representation of the European country.
At the opening pay-per-view of 2022, two former teammates at Paris’ MMA Factory gym collided. On one side of the Octagon was a Cameroon native who built his life and career in France. Opposite him was a La Roche-sur-Yon native, born and bred in the west side of the nation.
In the main event, it was Ngannou who emerged victoriously and left the cage as the undisputed heavyweight king. He did so despite carrying a torn MCL into the contest and following a difficult opening two rounds.
With the victory, Ngannou closed the book on his feud with former coach Fernand Lopez, defied the odds, and established a strong position for future negotiations with the UFC. A defeat may well have seen him depart the promotion.
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Ngannou: The French Media Wanted A Villain
Given the two names involved in the headline clash, it’s unsurprising that French interest was at an all-time high ahead of UFC 270. But with Ngannou’s history and frequent praise of the opportunities he was given in France, it was perhaps surprising to see the attitude of some of the country’s media towards him.
At the UFC 270 press conference during fight week, Ngannou had a heated exchange with a French reporter who asked him if he’d “brainwashed” his time at Paris’ MMA Factory gym out of his memory. The champ later took issue with another journalist who seemed to suggest Ngannou had described Gane as an easy opponent.
During an episode of Ariel Helwani’s The MMA Hour in the week following the PPV event, Ngannou was asked why members of the French media pushed a negative narrative about him leading up to the contest.
“It’s (attitude of the French media) because I was fighting a French guy,” Ngannou said. “That’s how it happens in France. In France, when you lost, you are Cameroonian; when you win, you’re French-Cameroonian or French. And this time I was fighting a real French guy, so they built up the story of the villain and the good guy. I mean, it’s just media. After the fight, a lot of them, they just changed their mind. Some people just wrote back the article, like, ‘A French-Cameroonian retained his title,’ all that kind of stuff. It’s the media, you can’t control that stuff.
“But regardless of that, I know that I have a huge fanbase in France,” added Ngannou. “I have people in France who love me and that’s all that matters. That’s the people who I represent. In France, my fans, my friends, those who even became my family, you know, that’s why I’m happy about France.”
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Despite moving permanently to the United States to train at the Xtreme Couture gym, Ngannou has previously returned to France and certainly appears to appreciate the support he still receives from his fanbase across the Atlantic.
It’ll be interesting to see how the French media approaches Ngannou’s next fight, and whether, like Ngannou says, they’ll follow a different narrative if he’s not up against a French national.
What did you make of the French media’s attitude towards Francis Ngannou prior to UFC 270?
MMA legend Randy Couture believes it will take the work of champions and stars like Francis Ngannou to make an impact in the fight for improved remuneration and contracts in the UFC.
At the promotion’s first pay-per-view of 2022, Ngannou made a statement in about as many ways as he could.
The Cameroonian’s UFC 270 clash with Ciryl Gane represented the last on his deal. While a win would grant him leverage and a strong standing in negotiations, a defeat could have signaled his last appearance in the Octagon.
Under that immense pressure, “The Predator” thrived. After a slow opening two rounds on the feet, Ngannou capitalized on the opportunity to incorporate his wrestling. When he found success in that realm, it was essentially all she wrote.
After controlling the final three frames, the heavyweight champ secured undisputed status and set in motion what will undoubtedly be an uncertain immediate future for him, but, crucially, one where he appears to have the upper hand.
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Couture Believes Ngannou & Co. Have An Important Role
One man who has praised Ngannou’s quest for contractual change is former three-time UFC heavyweight champion and two-time light heavyweight titleholder Randy Couture.
During a recent appearance on The MMA Hour with Ariel Helwani, “The Natural,” who was once in a similar position to Ngannou, lauded “The Predator” for using his voice to push for what is “right,” despite what he believes to be an inevitable court battle with the promotion looming down the line.
“I think, at the end of the day, Francis is a fighter. He wants to fight,” said Couture. “Here he is, at the top of the heap, pound-for-pound one of the best fighters in the world, certainly in the heavyweight division. I don’t think he wants to get involved in all this legal crap, but at the end of the day, right is right, and he’s willing to stand up and use his voice. I don’t see him giving in.
“It’s gonna be interesting how it plays out,” added Couture. “They’re gonna drag him to court and try to get him to spend as much money as they can get him to spend, and put that pressure on him that way, and get him to fold, get him to give it up and just go back to fighting. It’ll be interesting to see how it plays out.”
The focus from fighter pay critics seems to be split. While some slam the UFC for paying the champion $600,000 whilst boxing heavyweights rake in millions, others focus on the lowest take-home sums on UFC cards, which feature some walking away with as little as $12,000.
Whilst acknowledging that a united front across all realms will be important, Couture believes it’s crucial that top stars like Ngannou lead the charge.
“It takes guys like Francis, those top-tier guys that have the potential to make those six-figure contracts in fighting. There aren’t very many of them. But if those guys are willing to put that on the line to change the sport, and we unite as a group of fighters, and developed and demand these minimum criteria, then I think the sport changes and for the better,” concluded Couture.
Francis Ngannou revealed the UFC threatened to sue him for alleged talks with Jake Paul's team…
The distractions Ngannou faced leading into a huge title fight made the win even more impressive. pic.twitter.com/B2mltWFTn2
While tensions already appeared high prior to Ngannou’s unification showdown with Gane, subsequent actions and revelations, including Dana White’s post-fight absences and news of legal threats sent to the champ’s team prior to the main event, have increased attention and focus on the dispute tenfold.
With neither party appearing to back down, it’ll be interesting to see which path this contractual dispute heads down in the coming weeks and months.
Do you agree with Randy Couture? Will it take the likes of Francis Ngannou standing up to the UFC to force change?
“If this is the end, man, I’m happy. From where I came from, I have done a lot. Some people might not see that. But I have done it, and I am very happy about that. I’m proud of myself man. That might be my ego, but I’m proud of myself and of what I have achieved. I don’t want all this to like, take what I have, or to change me and my principles. My principle is still the same as day one,” Ngannou said.
Agreeably, the French-Cameroonian has much to be proud of and thankful for.
His journey began with very humble beginnings. Overcoming poverty, child labor, homelessness, and maintaining his determination to win through it all is a story that needs to be told.
A young Francis Ngannou, Photo Credit: FrancisNgannou.com
He worked in the sand mines at age 9 with his 11-year-old brother.
At age 25, Ngannou arrived in Paris by boat and headed straight to the gym. He had no money or possessions, just a dream–to become a world champion.
A stairwell in a parking lot was his home for two months until boxing coach, Didier Carmont, gave him the keys to an apartment. Carmont would prove to be a great friend and mentor to the future champion.
The way Francis was determined it is as if he knew he was destined for great things.
As a child, he called himself “American Boy” and had aspirations to become a citizen of the United States. And he achieved that dream through mixed martial arts.
It is truly inspiring to see someone with a deprived past create such a bright future for himself.
A True MMA King
Francis Ngannou showcased his many talents against “Bon Gamin” Ciryl Gane at UFC 270.
Just when you think Francis’ knockout ability is his sole power, he shocks the world with impeccable grappling skills. During the match, Ngannou lifted his 247 lb opponent and dropped him on more than one occasion.
Francis Ngannou and Ciryl Gane, Photo Credit: Zuffa LLC
Boxing was always the goal for Ngannou. When he arrived in Paris in 2013, he had zero knowledge of mixed martial arts. Carmont explained to him the gist of MMA and did some convincing to get Ngannou to consider the sport.
Fast forward to nine years later and he is the defending UFC heavyweight champion. Ngannou’s boxing, power, and added grappling make him a dangerous opponent in the cage.
Only three losses in his career, the hardest-hitting heavyweight knockout artist, a six-fight win streak, and a heavyweight champion title defender against a formerly 10-0 undefeated prospect: The man is a legend.
New Possibilities For Ngannou
Post-UFC 270, his first title defense, another heavyweight champion showed interest in a possible matchup.
Francis Ngannou’s original dream to become a world champion involved boxing. He grew up appreciating Mike Tyson and aspired to be like him. Thus, an opportunity to fight a boxing heavyweight champion must intrigue the knockout artist.
With or without the UFC, after his incredible win against Ciryl Gane, there is no way we have seen the last of Francis Ngannou, wherever that may be.
What do you wish to see happen next in Francis Ngannou’s combat sports journey?
UFC welterweight Stephen Thompson doesn’t think it would be a good idea if Francis Ngannou parted ways with the UFC for a Tyson Fury fight.
Ngannou defeated Ciryl Gane in his first heavyweight title defense at UFC 270. After some early struggles in the fight, Ngannou was able to gain momentum with his grappling and coast to a unanimous decision win.
Ngannou has been at odds with the UFC brass over an ongoing contract dispute and has requested more leniency and freedom. More specifically, he wants to explore a potential boxing match against Fury shortly, after the two of them have gone back-and-forth on social media.
During a recent interview with MiddleEasy, Thompson explained why Ngannou should think twice before considering leaving his MMA home for a fight in the boxing ring.
“That’s one of the things with the UFC,” Thompson said. “[Ngannou’s] the baddest man on the planet. He is the biggest and baddest dude on the planet at this point, especially in MMA. And making, what they say he made, $600,000 or something like that? And you got other heavyweights in the boxing industry making $30 million, so I kind of see why he’s a little upset.
“But, this isn’t boxing… If he’s not with the UFC, what’s he gonna do? Have that one fight with Tyson Fury and that’s it? Is he gonna go to heavyweight boxing? I think that would be a mistake for him, to be honest with you.”
Ngannou’s relationship with the UFC brass has become tense in recent months, and UFC President Dana White refused to put the belt around him at UFC 270. Ngannou has always been known to have some of the most powerful hands in MMA history and has flirted with a potential move to boxing.
It’s unclear if Ngannou will remain with the UFC past 2022, but Thompson thinks Ngannou may be making a mistake by leaving his throne in MMA to pursue a money fight in boxing.
Do you agree with Stephen Thompson that Francis Ngannou shouldn’t leave the UFC?
Francis Ngannou knows that if the UFC takes his belt, he will be just fine.
Francis Ngannou is sitting at the top of the UFC heavyweight division. Fresh off his first title defense win over Ciryl Gane should be putting him in a safe place in terms of his career. However, Ngannou has been having some contract disputes with the UFC over the past year. Now that he is still the champ, should he be worried about the UFC taking his title away?
Ngannou beat Gane by unanimous decision at UFC 270. Inside the Octagon when the decision was read, UFC President Dana White was nowhere to be found. White is typically the one to wrap the belt around a champion’s waist, but he claims he was dealing with an issue backstage. Many believe that the strained relationship between White and Ngannou was the true reason White was MIA after UFC 270, and some have warned Ngannou to be wary.
When Ngannou won his title, he began his quest for more money and opportunities. Unable to come to an agreement in a hypothetical bout against Jon Jones, the UFC created an interim title just months after Ngannou was crowned.
Francis Ngannou Unworried About Potentially Being Stripped
“No, I’m not worried about that because at the end of the day, it’s just a belt, you know?” Ngannou told Ariel Helwani of The MMA Hour. “As soon as they take the belt away, I’m a free agent [LAUGHS]. But I earned the belt; it’s not the belt that will make me champion. With or without it, I’m still a champion. So, let’s be clear about that. Nothing will change my status of being the champion.”
Ngannou has been looking for opportunities outside the UFC. He has mentioned wanting to box with Tyson Fury. He will not be able to seek this kind of boxing match while he is under the UFC contract. If he were to be forced out, he would most likely transition over to boxing.
Do you think the UFC will try and strip Francis Ngannou if he is out too long?
