Ciryl Gane’s coach Fernand Lopez has revealed what Kamaru Usman said to him after Francis Ngannou’s victory at UFC 270.
While it may have somewhat drifted into the background with the remarkable situation surrounding the heavyweight champion’s future in the UFC and ongoing contractual dispute with the promotion, Ngannou’s bitter and public feud with MMA Factory founder and head coach Lopez was an intriguing narrative heading into the opening pay-per-view main event of 2022.
With the culmination of the unification showdown and the crowning of an undisputed titleholder, most will hope we’ve seen the end of the public criticisms and insults between Ngannou and Lopez. One man who certainly feels that way is reigning UFC Welterweight Champion Kamaru Usman.
Usman, a good friend of his fellow African UFC champ, was in Ngannou’s corner for the UFC 270 main event. While Lopez didn’t share any words with “The Predator” after Gane’s defeat, he did interact with “The Nigerian Nightmare.”
During a recent appearance on Ariel Helwani’s The MMA Hour, Lopez revealed Usman pleaded with him to leave his differences with Ngannou in the past, something the 43-year-old says he is more than happy to do.
“When I shake Kamaru Usman’s hand, he stopped me and said to me, ‘Fernand, we are brothers. Let’s stop this. Let’s just move on.’ And I said, ‘You’re right. Let’s move on…’ I’m done. I’m exhausted with that topic,” said Lopez.
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While we may not have seen the interaction and in-person make up between Lopez and Ngannou many wanted, the Frenchman’s post-fight words with the likes of Usman and opposition coach Eric Nicksick suggest both sides are willing to put their differences behind them.
That is, until we see Ngannou vs. Gane 2 down the line…
Should the beef between Fernand Lopez and Francis Ngannou be put to bed now that UFC 270 has passed?
UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou says all options are on the table during his continued contract negotiations with the promotion.
Ngannou successfully defended his heavyweight title against Ciryl Gane at UFC 270. Leading up to the fight, Ngannou suffered a knee injury that nearly forced him to pull out.
While he won the fight via unanimous decision, his battle with UFC president Dana White and the brass continue. The two sides have been at odds over contract negotiations as Ngannou’s current deal comes to a close.
“Good question, do the UFC still want me to fight there? ā¦ If they make things right, yes. That’s all I’ve been saying.”
Ngannou went on to elaborate on whether or not he’s willing to walk away from the UFC if he and the brass can’t come to terms.
“I’m willing to do whatever it takes to get what I want. Listen, as I said, even before this fight, I walked into this fight knowing I could have lost this fight. But, I reviewed everything, in me, I’m like, if this is it, if this is the end, let it be on my way, it’s gonna be on my way; I’m gonna make the call how it ends. It won’t end on somebody (else’s) rules, it will end on my rules.”
Ngannou has remained vocal in his demands for not only better pay, but fair terms in his contract. He wants to pursue potential opportunities in boxing including against heavyweight champion Tyson Fury.
Many fighters have come to Ngannou’s defense amidst his outspokenness towards the UFC, including former champions such as Tito Ortiz. The issue of UFC fighter pay has been a hot topic of discussion over the past few years.
Ngannou is expected to miss at least nine months after he undergoes surgery on his knee. It’s unclear if he’ll return to the UFC later this year or pursue other avenues.
Do you think Francis Ngannou will fight in the UFC again?
Former two-division UFC champion Daniel Cormier believes the ongoing dispute between Francis Ngannou and the UFC has entered “uncharted waters,” in more ways than one.
At UFC 270, much more was at stake than just a belt. As well as bragging rights in regard to his bitter feud with former coach Fernand Lopez, Ngannou’s future, standing in negotiations with the UFC, and hopes of a blockbuster boxing crossover were on the line.
After the opening two rounds, it seemed “The Predator” had bet on himself and come up short. But one takedown represented an almighty shift in momentum, one that would see Ngannou wrestle his way to a unanimous decision victory.
According to UFC color commentator Daniel Cormier, the ongoing dispute has firmly drifted into “uncharted waters,” both in terms of White’s post-fight actions and contractually, a scenario he thinks could set the tone for future fighters and their negotiations.
“When Mick Maynard got up to go and put the belt on, granted, we have seen this in heavyweights before. Do you remember when Stipe beat Francis? When Stipe was upset by the way Francis was getting promoted, he took the belt from Dana and his coach put it on him. So we’ve seen these types of things before. But it was the athlete being upset with the promotion, so he didn’t let him, this was, I don’t know,” Cormier said during a recent episode of DC & RC. “I mean, I’ve seen other guys strap the belts before, but generally at international events. This was the first time I’ve seen a champion win on US soil and not have Dana put the belt on them. I honestly don’t know the last time Dana has not been at a post-fight press conference.
“So we are in uncharted waters here,” Cormier added. “But not only because of the reaction the UFC has given but also because of where Francis stands and his position. Francis is in a position that not many people get to, in regards to negotiations. It seems as though he’s more than willing to die on his sword. He took a chance on himself and it seemed as though he won… This is unprecedented. This is going to really tell you how people are going to go about their negotiations because we’ve never seen this before.”
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Despite the reaction of fans and pundits, Ngannou was clearly not fazed by White’s absence, and even suggested it was an “honor” to receive the belt from matchmaker Mick Maynard instead.
Renowned boxing trainer Teddy Atlas has questioned whether those slamming UFC President Dana White for not putting the title on Francis Ngannou at UFC 270 or attending the post-fight press conference would have acted differently if they were in his shoes.
The story after Ngannou’s victory was always going to surround what the result meant for his future in the UFC and the future of the heavyweight title. However, that story was majorly fueled by Dana White’s absence, both inside the Octagon at the culmination of the headliner and at the post-fight press conference.
From fans to pundits, the UFC President has been widely criticized for his unique decision not to put the belt around the champ’s waist following the opening PPV main event of the year. However, one prominent combat sports personality sees things differently.
Ultimately, the 65-year-old reminded the criticizers that White runs a multibillion-dollar business. With that in mind, Atlas believes he has to be able to look beyond Ngannou and is smart enough to recognize when he’s being challenged.
“Hey, Dana, he runs an operation, he runs a business,” said Atlas. “He sold that for like $4.2 billion. That’s not shabby. He did that because of his business acumen, he did that because he was the boss, he did that because he led the way. He’s still the boss there, he’s the guy that’s got to think different than someone else has to think. He’s gotta think about the next guy down the road, the next Francis.
“Francis and his manager, I give them all the credit in the world, they pulled it off. They took a risk, they stood up against the boss in some ways, they made their position noted, and went out and did what they had to do,” added Atlas. “Dana knows, he didn’t sell something and build something up to $4.2 billion by being stupid. He understood where he was being challenged.”
Nevertheless, Atlas did acknowledge that White’s post-fight actions weren’t a good look. But even so, the New York native doubts those slamming White’s absence after UFC 270 would have acted any differently if they were in the same position.
“You have to respect both sides. Dana, at that point, a lot of people say that it’s a bad look, that it’s not professional, it wasn’t right, and I got it, I can understand you saying that, I can,” continued Atlas. “But please don’t tell me, even if you didn’t like it, if you were in the same position 100% you would’ve done different. Maybe you would’ve? But maybe you wouldn’t have when it comes down to the backdrop that you are the boss, you do have to be ready for what’s coming down the pipe after Francis Ngannou, and what you believe in and how you hold yourself; the position that you take and the strength of your position.”
While he certainly sees both sides of the coin, Atlas concluded with a query: would Dana White have built a company with the size and success of the UFC if he was capable of always being a gentleman?
“He’s got a little bit more going on than just the simplicity of just being a gentleman that we want him to be. I understand both sides… I’ll leave it with this, maybe if he was capable of doing that, which is a nice dimension, maybe he wouldn’t be capable of getting $4.2 billion for the company,” concluded Atlas.
White says that he walked out of the arena right after the co-main event because there was something going on backstage that he was dealing with.
White calls the people that think he was disrespecting Ngannou "idiots".
While the debate is ongoing, White sees it as a non-issue. During an ESPN+ fan Q&A on Wednesday, the 52-year-old addressed the criticism he’s received since last weekend’s main event.
Former UFC interim title challenger Kevin Lee doesn’t think his release from the top MMA promotion was about his performance alone.
Lee is set to make his Eagle FC debut at EFC 46 on March 11 against another former UFC standout, Diego Sanchez. Lee was let go by the UFC last year following a one-sided loss to Daniel Rodriguez at welterweight.
Lee is managed by Creative Artists Agency (CAA), which is the same firm that manages UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou. The UFC and Ngannou have gone back-and-forth for months regarding negotiations for a new contract.
The relationship between CAA manager Marquel Martin and UFC president Dana White has been tense, to say the least. White has repeatedly taken shots at him in various interviews.
Lee’s release from the UFC was a surprise to many. During a recent interview with MMA Junkie, Lee reflected on his UFC release and whether or not it caught him off guard.
āTo say I was surprised ā no, not really,ā Lee said. āI know the back end and all the stuff that goes behind closed doors. They really showed me no respect toward the end. I feel like I ate a lot of the flak for guys like Francis Ngannou in his situation with them. They used me as kind of like a pawn and a scapegoat. And really, I hope other fighters kind of see that. Thatās what they do to you.
āThey didnāt like the way negotiations was handled with Francis, so they took it out on me to kind of show (CAA) a lesson. But I think in the end, weāre going to show that you canāt necessarily treat people like this, and thereās many other ways to make money and kind of outshine them. So weāre going to beat them one way or the other.ā
Ngannou most recently defended his heavyweight title against Ciryl Gane at UFC 270. He’s expected to undergo surgery on a knee injury he suffered leading up to the fight.
At 29 years old, Lee still has the opportunity to live up to the massive expectations bestowed upon him just a few years ago. As he gets ready to make his EFC debut, he’s looking to prove that the UFC’s decision to cut him was a massive mistake.
Do you think Kevin Lee could eventually work his way back to the UFC?
Francis Ngannou’s new UFC contract could involve a boxing match against Tyson Fury after all according to Ali Abdelaziz.
Francis Ngannou is fresh off his first UFC title defense against Ciryl Gane at UFC 270. He is in a place where he is comfortable at the top of the UFC heavyweight division and has proved he has what it takes to beat the best. Yet, with all of this clout, Ngannou is still not happy with the UFC. He was having negotiation trouble with them leading up to the fight and seems to be continuing in a strange place with Dana White.
The strained relationship between White and Ngannou could be a breaking point for the heavyweight champion. Ngannou has mentioned a desire to break out of his contract, and “freedom” is a big concern for him. One of the most successful fight managers in MMA, Ali Abdelaziz, spoke out about his understanding of the feud between Ngannou and the UFC.
“Dana White’s been waiting 20 years for someone like Francis to arrive, to be on the scene, to become the baddest heavyweight on the planet,” Abdelaziz said to MMA Junkie. “I think it’s a lot of ego involved, a lot of people involved that are not supposed to be involvedā¦ I think this thing could be solved. All they need to do, Dana take Francis out to dinner, and they sit down and talk. And I’m very confident, very confident, they will get a deal done.”
Abdelaziz is not Ngannou’s manager but has represented some of the best in the sport. He has a very good relationship with Dana White and the UFC and is usually able to get his fighters what they want. Ngannou wants a chance to try out his boxing skills against Tyson Fury, a plan that Abdelaziz thinks the UFC should jump on.
“Francis said it’s not about the money, it’s about freedom,” he said. “Maybe, Francis wants to box, right? That’s his dream. I think Dana White can make his dream become true because he’s the baddest promoter on this planet. If you want to promote a fight against Tyson Fury, he’s an ESPN guy, Dana’s an ESPN guy, you bring both of them and make this fight happen. But I think they need to kill all the noise, stop talking to the media, stop tweeting stuff, stop putting stuff on Instagram; both sides.
There have been a few fighters under UFC contract that have expressed interest in a crossover to boxing. The UFC has only ever allowed one fighter to do so, that was Conor McGregor against Floyd Mayweather in 2017.
“Can you imagine Dana White promoting Francis to fight Tyson Fury next? Forget about Jon Jones. That’s what I’d do. I’d be like, ‘Let’s make this fight.’ That’d be the first fight on a new deal, right. And I think it could happenā¦ His main thing is he wanted to box. I think Dana White will let him box. But he has to be, ‘I’m gonna be a team player here and we’re gonna work together,’” Abdelaziz said.
Some believed that if Ngannou had lost at UFC 270, he would have left the promotion and could have made the transition on his own. However, since his first title defense was successful, he will remain under contract with the UFC until at least the end of the year.
āSugaā Sean OāMalley has inserted his two cents into the UFC’s contract negotiations with Francis Ngannou.
The conflict between Ngannou and the UFC has been marinating for about a year. To put it simply, Ngannou has been asking for more money and more freedom.
“Dude, if youāre gonna go out there and just talk [expletive] about the boss and the company you canāt just expect no backlash…And I donāt wanna say talking [expletive] in a bad way. I guess heās just talking facts but it is talking [expletive] and you canāt do that to the UFC. You canāt do that to Dana. You canāt do that to your boss.ā
O’Malley also defended White not putting the belt around Ngannou’s waist after the fight. In all fairness, Dana has since claimed that he had urgent business in the back he had to deal with. What that business is? We do not know, as he did not explain further than that.
White also indicated that he has no issue with Ngannou at all, contrary to the common perception that trailed the event.
Francis Ngannou is now set to have surgery on his right knee, which was injured coming into his UFC 270 title defense against Ciryl Gane.
As for Sean O’Malley, the outspoken bantamweight last competed at UFC 269 in a first-round TKO win over Raulian Paiva, which earned him Performance of the Night honors.
Do you agree with Sean O’Malley’s take on Francis Ngannou’s comments about his UFC negotiations?
Although UFC Heavyweight Champion Francis Ngannou revealed that if he could have chosen his path to victory against Ciryl Gane at UFC 270 it would have been via knockout, proving people wrong worked out well also.
With the eyes of practically every fan on him and the talk in all circles surrounding his uncertain future and ongoing dispute with the UFC, Ngannou didn’t buckle under the pressure.
In fact, much like his knee brace held up his torn MCL and damaged ACL through five rounds of action, Ngannou’s focus, perseverance, and the team around him held up his self-belief, something that would prove to be crucial on his path to victory.
Having pushed through multiple areas of adversity, “The Predator” made it to the Octagon for the first pay-per-view main event of 2022 with a point to prove. After two rounds of comfortable control on the feet for Gane, that point looked to be fading.
But after metaphorically catching that point and slamming it to the ground in the third round, the Cameroon native used his improved wrestling game to add the first blemish to his former teammate’s record.
Having been unable to get close to “Bon Gamin” on the feet, it was undoubtedly the strategic adjustment to takedowns and ground control that turned the tide last Saturday. Having seen Gane’s reaction to it at the end of the third round, Ngannou said he knew it was to be smooth sailing for the remaining 10 minutes.
If he ends up staying with the UFC, this version of Francis Ngannou is going to be a problem. š #UFC270
Ngannou Happy To Prove Doubters Wrong Despite KO Preference
Prior to UFC 270, the prevailing narrative was that the unification showdown was a case of power vs. technique on the feet. Very few even discussed the possibility of either party choosing to initiate a wrestling sequence, and even fewer believed Ngannou would be capable of engineering a victory with it.
While he sees the opportunity to have proven his doubters wrong and show he can go five rounds, even when grappling is involved, as a good thing, Ngannou still admits he’d have chosen a KO if he could have.
“I didn’t know, for sure, that it was gonna be a grappling match. But I have that as an option, that it could be a grappling match,” Ngannou said during his appearance at the post-fight press conference. “Basically, because I wasn’t very comfortable on my stand, I wasn’t very stable, so I was very concerned. I couldn’t move properly, and against a guy who moves as well as Ciryl, It was very tough for me, the standup part. But he kind of gave me the opportunity; came to me at first with those takedowns… My team recommended me to keep doing that, work on the wrestling and grapple because we were pretty confident about our skills.
“Neither do I (expect to see me fight five rounds), I haven’t seen me fight for so long [LAUGHS]. The wrestling has been part of my game from the beginning. I’ve been working on (it), maybe it wasn’t good enough, but I never had a chance to prove it,” added Ngannou. “If I would’ve chose, it would’ve been a knockout man [LAUGHS]. This five rounds, it wasn’t my call. But meanwhile, it was a good thing because I finally had a chance to prove that I can do it. Everybody counts me out when it goes to five rounds, ‘Ah, Ciryl by decision! Only way Francis wins is by knockout,’ but you were wrong.”
The BOAT is the Best of All Time. Unlike the GOAT, you arenāt bound by the laws of longevity. Thereās no need to wait for a decade or more to begin a conversation that you can plainly see is going to happen anyway. Nope, you can strictly go by talent and the likelihood to win any given contest, no matter the circumstances.
As for Patrick Mahomes, he racked up 378 yards, 3 touchdowns, 0 interceptions, and several BOAT-esque clutch plays that donāt show up on a stat sheet when he led the Kansas City Chiefs to a divisional playoff win over the snakebitten Buffalo Bills.
AP Photo/Ed Zurga
To the untrained ear, there is no difference between these two terms. Thatās why the only term used in debates in the sports media and in any discussion platform is āGOAT,ā even when the opposing sides are clearly weighing and discussing different criteria. But if you listen more carefully, youāll notice that this distinction pops up all the time.
Such was the case earlier this week on FS1ās First Things First when Nick Wright was basking in the afterglow of the win of his beloved Kansas City Chiefs and the performance of their star quarterback, Patrick Mahomes.
āAnd there is nothing more perfect than the best football weekend we have ever seenābecause thatās what this weekend wasābeing punctuated by the best football player we have ever seen winning the day,” Wright said at the top of Monday’s program.
At this point, one of Wrightās cohosts, Kevin Wildes, briefly interjected to express his disapproval to such high praise for a 26-year-old who has only been in the NFL for five seasons. Thatās when Wright started spittinā that BOAT talk.
āIs he the most accomplished? No. All-time quarterback rankings, take all those, crumple them up, and throw āem in the trashā¦because everybody knows this: There is not a person watching this show, not one, that if your life were on the line and you were asked, āYou can have any quarterback (in) NFL history for one game, one drive, one throw, who ya takinā?ā The answer from everyone, from K.C. Wolf the Chiefsā mascot to Gisele Bundchen, is Patrick bleepinā Mahomes!ā
Moments later, another show cohost Chris Broussard chimed in, unknowingly educating program viewers on the difference between the GOAT and the BOAT.
āI want to address what you said because a lot of people obviously gonna just blow off, āOh, Mahomes (is) the best player ever? Not just the best player right now? You said the best player ever?’
“And itās premature. However, people were saying Michael Jordan was the greatest basketball player ever long before he won six rings. In 1994 when they built that statue in front of (the) United Center, it says āThe best there ever was, the best there ever will be.ā That was after three rings.
Michael Jordan, Bobby Knight, Image Credit: Basketball Network
“Bobby Knight, coaching Michael Jordan in the Olympics in 1984, said āHeās the best basketball player Iāve ever seen.ā Obviously, Bobby Knight saw all the greats. So Iām not gonna completely dismiss what you said. Obviously, when we talk GOAT, [Mahomes] has to win championships and all that.ā
But as Wright alluded, when we talk BOAT, you break things down to even simpler terms: Who would you trust to come through and win based on their talent and likelihood to win on any given night?
Like Patrick Mahomes to Tom Brady, Francis Ngannou doesnāt have the amount of championship wins as the consensus GOAT of his division, Stipe Miocic. But just as Wright argued with Mahomes, if the fate of the world is on the line, your life is depending on it, and you have to choose one heavyweight fighter to win a fight, who are you taking?
If youāre smart, youād put some serious thought into taking the 2021/2022 version of the greatest KO artist in heavyweight history who has added takedown defense and offensive wrestling to his game and who, when at his best, has steamrolled names like Cain Velasquez, Alistair Overeem, Junior dos Santos, and Stipe Miocic.
And then, when arguably his worst, he beat an undefeated next-generation phenom in Ciryl Gane while on a bum knee. Oh, and by the way, heās never been dropped by strikes or finished in the most dangerous MMA division. Thatās BOAT ish.
And I donāt know about you, but if my life is on the line, Iām riding to safety with the BOAT over any GOAT every time.
You can check out the full segment from the best sports talk show on TV, First Things First, Below.
Dana White is dismissing all the post-fight drama surrounding his sudden exit from the Honda Center after Francis Ngannou’s title retention at UFC 270.
The buildup to UFC 270 was not short on drama. It featured the bitter split between Ngannou and ex-coach Fernand Lopez, a backstage blowby gone viral, and of course the ongoing contract dispute between Ngannou and the UFC.
While there always is an air of “what’s next?” following every big event, typically, all the storylines coming in are settled by the end of the night. In the case of the UFC 270 aftermath, we learned the drama was only just beginning.
Hordes of spectators could not help but notice that UFC President Dana White did not wrap the world title around the waist of Francis Ngannou after his big victory over Ciryl Gane, as he typically does to the winner of every title fight. They also noted that White was conspicuously absent in the post-fight press conference as well.
Due to the tense contract negotiations between Ngannou and the UFC being common knowledge, people of all walks of life chalked up White’s abrupt exit as rage-fueled disrespect towards Ngannou launched from a corporate foxhole.
During his much-anticipated Q&A Wednesday on ESPN+, White attempted to shut down this narrative and also had a few choice words for those who have been spreading it.
āFor anybody thinking I was showing any type of disrespect towards Francis: I saw Francis all week, you idiots. I shook his hand, I said hi to him, I was out there for the staredowns, the whole thing. So for anybody to think that there was some type of disrespect shown towards FrancisāI wasnāt out there for [Michael Bisping vs Luke Rockhold 2 at UFC 199], either, because I was dealing with some stuff. And I sprinted from the back. I didnāt even have my jacket on. I still only had my shirt on to go out there and put the belt on Bisping, but I couldnāt make it out there to put the belt on Francis.
āThereās only been one time that Iāve walked out on a fight and made it very clear, showed up to the press conference and said, āThis is exactly why I left.ā It was in Abu Dhabi. So thereās the answer.ā
It should be noted that White took the initiative to bring the subject up himself, as the above remarks were not a response to any question submitted by a fan.
White Shares Positive Thoughts About Ngannou Following UFC 270
Francis Ngannou, Dana White (Image Credits: Jeff Bottari/Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC)
White was also complimentary towards Ngannou’s game plan in his victory over Ciryl Gane at UFC 270. He expressed his belief that Gane was just as shocked as everyone else to see Ngannou adopt a wrestling-heavy approach, and this element of surprise was a huge ingredient to Ngannou’s success in the final three rounds.
āIn 2022, I think people are excited about Gaethje and Oliveira,” White said. “A lot of people are excited about that fight. You saw the pop that Gaethje got on Saturday night at the arena. And I think another big fight, if itās possible to get it done, would be Jon Jones and Francis.ā
Francis Ngannou is set to undergo knee surgery in the near future with an estimated recovery timetable of nine months. Perhaps during this time, he and the UFC will be able to come to terms on a new deal before the end of the year.
Do you believe Dana White’s explanation for his UFC 270 exit and that he did not intentionally disrespect Francis Ngannou?
Injuries sustained recently by Francis Ngannou could force him out of action for the better part of a year.
Ngannouās manager recently spoke with Brett Okamoto of ESPN and unveiled how the heavyweight champ plans to rehabilitate following his fight. Injuries he took to one of his knees will reportedly require surgery, and his team is planning to give him nine months to recover.
Per the interview, Ngannou is getting the surgery due to tearing his MCL and damaging his ACL in the lead-up to his UFC 270 fight against Ciryl Gane. The decision to get surgery was made after he was evaluated earlier this week.
Ngannou will receive the surgery after he comes back from a trip to his home country of Cameroon.
During Ngannouās recovery process, manager Marquel Martin hopes the team can work to figure out his contractual situation with the UFC.
“Upon his return, we plan on getting surgery and starting the recovery process so we can get him back to 100 percent as soon as possible,ā said Marquel in an interview with ESPN. āIn the meantime, we hope we can find a peaceful resolution in these contract talks. We’d like to thank all the fans for their continued support and belief in Francis.”
The fact that Ngannou suffered his knee injuries during his training camp means he competed in his title fight while hurt. Many assumed that something was up with Ngannou when he entered the cage on Saturday night and was wearing padding on both of his knees.
Do you believe we will see Francis Ngannou compete in the UFC again after his surgery?
Renowned MMA journalist Ariel Helwani has questioned the intention behind one of Joe Rogan’s questions during the post-fight interview with Francis Ngannou at UFC 270.
At the opening pay-per-view of 2022, the UFC Heavyweight Champion fought through an abundance of adversity to successfully defend his title for the first time. From his torn MCL and potential “irreversible” knee damage to his uncertain future with the UFC and possible looming free agency, “The Predator” wasn’t short of potential distractions.
But while his knee injury may have played on his mind during his struggles on the feet in the opening two rounds, the only thought in his head for the final three frames was victory. He secured that with a controlling display of wrestling, taking rounds three to five to secure a unanimous decision triumph.
In his Octagon interview with Rogan, there were a host of questions that could have been asked. One that some feel was perhaps out of place was a query about the champ’s desire to crossover to the boxing ring in the near future.
“Now, it was beautiful to see this evolution to your game and adding the grappling, but we’ve heard talk of you potentially boxing. Have you thought about doing that? What is your future plan? You obviously retained the title, it’s your option now what to do with your future?”
A dominant performance from your HW champ šš #AndStill
While some put the question down to the pre-fight talk surrounding Ngannou’s hopes to face the likes of Tyson Fury and Deontay Wilder inside the squared circle, one prominent name in the MMA industry has pondered whether it had a deeper meaning.
Having already slammed UFC President Dana White for his post-fight actions, which saw him choose not to put the belt on Ngannou or attend the presser, Helwani has now questioned whether Rogan’s post-fight interview was designed to trip up “The Predator.”
During a recent post on his Substack, Helwani pointed to the timing of the legal threat and Rogan’s subsequent boxing question after the fight, which he believes was out of place given the abundance of other intriguing queries he could have asked.
“So much to unpack from that interview, most of which I mentioned right after he signed off, but Iāll add this: when I was watching Joe Rogan interview Ngannou after the fight, I thought it was rather odd that he asked him a question about boxing,” Helwani wrote. “They never do that. Especially since there were, like, 50 other questions pertaining to the fight one could have asked (not to mention a follow-up on the knee injury).
“And then we find out about that legal e-mail they received on the night of the fight, and, well, I canāt help but wonder if Rogan was asked to ask that question to trip up Ngannou,” added Helwani. “Because, again, in the moment, it seemed really out of place, considering how they usually handle those situations. For those who donāt know, all broadcasters wear an earpiece (aka an IFB) so the producer can speak to them during the show, so itās possible someone asked him to ask that.”
WOW Francis Ngannou just told @arielhelwani that he and his team got an email from the UFC as they were on their way to the Honda Center that they were going to be sued after having talks with Nakisa Bidarian who is Jake Paul's promoter about Boxing#TheMMAHour#UFC270
After two rounds, Ngannou was down, troubled by his injury, and unable to get close to the technical and fast “Bon Gamin.” That all changed with one third-round takedown.
After turning to his wrestling game, a facet of his development not many had considered heading into the unification showdown, the Cameroonian controlled the remainder of the contest and took home a unanimous decision verdict.
A dominant performance from your HW champ šš #AndStill
Ngannou’s Camp Dealt With A Lot Ahead Of Fight Night
An incredible amount was riding on Ngannou’s first title defense. As well as the possibility of “irreversible damage” to his knee, “The Predator” entered the PPV headliner with a bitter feud with his former coach Fernand Lopez in the limelight and his ongoing uncertain future with the UFC attracting major attention.
Ngannou and his team have long been vocal about their displeasure with the champ’s current contract, which would have expired had he been defeated by Gane; another reason the clash was so crucial for Ngannou’s negotiating position.
While most will acknowledge Martin’s endeavour to fulfil his client’s wishes in the world’s premier MMA organization as a positive, one individual clearly sees his role in the contractual dispute differently, as they displayed ahead of UFC 270 with an abusive anonymous text.
The rant, which included a racial slur, branded Ngannou a “dumb piece of sh*t” for listening to Martin’s advice. The expletive-ridden text, which came from a number with a Las Vegas area code, showed another side to Ngannou’s difficult lead-up to his Octagon walk.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CZCUlZlFRwe/
In the caption, Martin didn’t make any accusations or infer who the text could have come from. Instead, he sent a message to others who have received racism for simply doing their jobs.
“Just a small piece of what has been going on recently. All for trying to do my job to the best of my ability. All supporting my brother Francis. All for trying to do whatās right and fair. All for believing in respect. I donāt share this for pity, I know Iām not perfect, but I share this to help show support and uplift Anyone who is or has experienced ANY type of racism, hatred, self-doubt, etc. I feel it trust me. Especially this week haha. It will be hard, it will be scary but stand strong and keep the faith.
“Also sharing because I am thankful for these experiences (trials). I have grown SO much. So thank you to my enemies, God bless you. I have grown in wisdom, I have grown in patience, I have grown in spirit and I have grown in knowing who I KNOW I am as a manā¦And Iām proud of myself.”
If the message was intended to play a part on Ngannou and his team’s mindset, it certainly failed. With one of the best performances of his career, through extreme adversity, “The Predator” maintained his spot on the heavyweight throne.
Is Francis Ngannou’s victory even more impressive given the factors he and his team dealt with prior to the fight?
Heading into UFC 270, the MMA world was on edge to see how one of the most stylistically intriguing and suspenseful heavyweight bouts of all time would play out.
In one corner, we had the undisputed champion, Francis Ngannou, looking to carve his name in the history books as the UFCās one and only heavyweight king in 2022. In the blue corner stood Ciryl āBon Gamin” Gane, a post-modern heavyweight maestro who moved with a tempo and pace like arguably no heavyweight before him.
The narrative surrounding this bout was that it was the ultimate clash of styles between the powerhouse KO artist and the technician who is the embodiment of heavyweight poetry in motion. While this perception was a major part of the story leading into UFC 270, it is far from the only time Francis Ngannou has been typecast and limited to being a glorified one-trick pony.
Like a horror flick barred from being considered for Best Film due to its niche appeal, no matter how well produced it is, Ngannouās name hasnāt been mentioned much in regards to his candidacy as the best heavyweight of all time.
In this way, Ngannouās uncanny ability to be a nightmare for slept opponents like Freddy Kreuger has worked against him. In some ways, heās been cast aside as a freak show circus act, one whose most common adjective attached to him has been āscary.ā
But as mentioned in a 2019 editorial, what Ngannou has accomplished is far beyond “scary.” Itās downright legendary. During his UFC run, he has defeated the following names: Stipe Miocic, Cain Velasquez, Curtis Blaydes (2), Andrei Arlovski, Junior dos Santos, Alistair Overeem, Jairzinho Rozenstruik, and Ciryl Gane, nearly all of those wins coming by way of declarative, non-competitive knockout.
As is, he may be lacking the title defenses to be the āGOAT,ā but 2021/2022 Francis Ngannou may already have the top claim to being the BOAT at heavyweight given his list of elite victims who were treated like jobbers on archived episodes of WWF Primetime Wrestling in glorified squash matches.
But it was these last two wins for Ngannou that may have done the most for The Predatorās legacy.
The scouting report heading into the Miocic rematch was that, as usual, Ngannou had a puncherās chance and needed to get the early KO to win with that āone big shot.ā The thing is, although Ngannou got that one shot in the second round, he also landed several, well-paced shots before then. In fact, Nganno flat-outāoutskilledā Miocic for the entirety of the fight, including in the grappling department, which captured the surprise and awe of the viewing audience.
And last weekend, after having wounded the narrative that he is merely a KO artist with his title win at UFC 260, Francis Ngannou landed the picture-perfect knockout blow to it at UFC 270 when he used wrestling to hand Ciryl Gane his first loss as a professional. And not only did Ngannou use his wrestling, but he apparently did so with an MCL tear and being down two rounds, thus showing endurance, heart, championship mettle, and yes, versatility.
Following UFC 270, now, more than ever before, the MMA world has no choice but to free Ngannou from being typecast as a one-trick KO pony and finally acknowledge what he has been all along and what can no longer be overlooked: one of the best winners the heavyweight division has ever seen.
UFC Heavyweight Champion Francis Ngannou has revealed why he chose to fight through a knee injury at UFC 270 rather than withdraw.
Without considering the injury he carried into the fight, Ngannou’s successful defense and ability to overcome adversity this past weekend were impressive enough. In the opening two rounds, “The Predator” slipped behind in the contest and appeared unable to get close to his former teammate Ciryl Gane.
But in the third round, one takedown changed the tide. Once it was clear he could find success and control in the wrestling department, Ngannou put his improved ground game on full display. After winning the last three rounds, the champion left the cage with a unanimous decision triumph.
In the aftermath of his victory, Ngannou confirmed that rumors of a pre-fight injury were indeed true, something his choice to wear kneepads also suggested. During his post-fight interview, the Cameroonian revealed he’d suffered a grade 3 MCL tear and a damaged ACL just 25 days prior to the year’s opening pay-per-view.
Speaking to the media shortly after, Ngannou explained his decision to go through with his unification showdown against Gane rather than withdraw and push for another date, a choice he admitted was perhaps “dumb.”
“Leading up to this fight, I get injured. But you don’t know what will happen. I could have withdrawn from this fight, and then get into another fight, get (injured) even worse, you know?” Ngannou said. “We are doing a sport that is very dangerous and you can hurt yourself all the time. So if you feel like there is a chance that you can do it, I think you have to do it.
“And I believe in myself. I’ve been through a lot of stuff in my life,” added Ngannou. “So I was sure (I could do it). I mean, that must be a dumb decision, but I didn’t wanna withdraw from this fight. I was very confident in my skills in this fight.”
A dominant performance from your HW champ šš #AndStill
With his contractual dispute clearly not sorted with the promotion, the question begs, will we see “The Predator” continue to defend the title or will he sit out his contract for the rest of 2022 and crossover to boxing next year?
One thing for certain is that with the possibility of knee surgery looming, the UFC will likely have quite a few months to attempt to come to an agreement before the champ would be ready to enter the Octagon again.
How impressed were you with Francis Ngannou’s performance at UFC 270, especially given his knee injury?
The UFC rankings have been updated following UFC 270, and weāve got the full report for you below!
Menās Pound for Pound: One man shot up the pound-for-pound rankings after UFC 270, and that man is the newly crowned flyweight champion Deiveson Figueiredo, who went from unranked to #12 after defeating former champion Brandon Moreno via unanimous decision. As a result of the loss, Moreno falls three spots down to #13.
Also moving down this week are Stipe Miocic (#10), Robert Whittaker (#14), and Jan Blachowicz (#15). Moving up we have Glover Teixeira (#11), and Petr Yan moved up two spots to #9.Ā
As for the big winner of the heavyweight championship unification bout, Francis Ngannou, he remains at #4 behind Israel Adesanya (#3), Alexander Volkanovski, and Kamaru Usman (#1), who was in Ngannouās corner during the event.Ā
Womenās Pound for Pound: No Changes
Strawweight: No Changes
Womenās Flyweight: No Changes
Womenās Bantamweight: No Changes
Womenās Featherweight: N/A
Flyweight: Brandon Moreno is now the #1 contender following his UFC 270 title loss to Deiveson Figueiredo.
Bantamweight: Pedro Munhoz (#9) and Marlon Moraes (#10) swap positions.
Featherweight: No Changes
Lightweight: No Changes
Welterweight: No Changes
Middleweight: No Changes
Light Heavyweight: No Changes
Heavyweight: No Changes, as Ciryl Gane remains ranked #1 following his main event loss to Francis Ngannou at UFC 270.
Francis Ngannou claims he received a threat from the UFC right before UFC 270.
Francis Ngannou has just successfully defended his UFC heavyweight title for the first time. In the leadup to the fight, a good portion of the attention he was getting was regarding the relationship between him and the UFC.
“I walked into the room waiting for my manager, my coach,” Ngannou explained on The MMA Hour (via ESPN). “And they were like, ‘Wow.’ I’m like, ‘What’s going on?’ They told me they just received an email from the UFC saying they’re going to sue [Marquel Martin] for talking with this guy, Nakisa. Yeah. I’m like, ‘Who is Nakisa?’ I wouldn’t recognize him if you put him in front of me.”
Ngannou has been talking about his desire to box for a while now. When he was having trouble securing the purse he wanted from the UFC, he mentioned wanting to try out boxing because of the significant pay differential. A few former UFC fighters have made the switch over and made more than they ever have in the UFC. Ngannou wants to get in on that money but his contract prevents him from doing so.
“You can be free and fight for the UFC,” Ngannou said. “I just want to be free. We are supposedly independent contractors. [An] independent contractor is technically a free person. That’s the reason why they need some adjustments in that contract. That’s what I’ve been fighting for. It doesn’t look like they want to talk to me anymore.”
UFC President Dana White is holding a fan Q&A session exclusively for ESPN+ subscribers amidst his recent Francis Ngannou snub.
Fans around the MMA community have remained perplexed on why White didn’t put the belt around Ngannou following his win over Ciryl Gane at UFC 270. Arguably even more surprising was White’s noted absence from post-fight media obligations.
This comes just days after a wild weekend in the UFC at UFC 270, the promotion’s first pay-per-view of 2022. Ngannou’s win over Gane was preceded by Deiveson Figueiredo’s win over Brandon Moreno to reclaim the UFC flyweight title.
White has been under fire in recent days for how he’s handled the promotion’s ongoing dispute with Ngannou. The two sides are currently at a standstill as contract talks have seemingly hit a dead end.
Following the win over Gane, details have surfaced regarding what Ngannou had to go through in the lead up to UFC 270. He alleged that the UFC threatened to sue his manager, Marquel Martin for being in contact with Jake Paul’s team to talk boxing.
Ngannou has remained in a holding pattern in his stance against the UFC and White. He’s adamant that money alone won’t fix the relationship he has with the promotion, as speculation runs rampant regarding his next Octagon appearance.
As for White, we could get answers regarding all of the Ngannou controversies as soon as tomorrow, unless White declines to answer those questions at the upcoming Q&A.
UFC Heavyweight Champion Francis Ngannou has insisted his fractured relationship and ongoing contractual dispute with the UFC is about much more than money.
At UFC 270 last weekend, Ngannou returned to the Octagon for the first time since last March with a cloud of uncertainty looming large over his future. A defeat could have spelled the end for his time in the UFC and sent him into free agency.
Despite successfully defeating former teammate Ciryl Gane and retaining his belt, that cloud of uncertainty has become even greyer and filled with even more questions, some of which have now rained down on the MMA community in a recent interview.
Self peace is a key part of every accomplishment and success, but you don't have that until you have the right people around you. People who truly care for you and your beliefs and donāt just see you as a opportunity to exploit. Thank you for my team who got it all figured out pic.twitter.com/kjYXGTc9re
The UFC was also under flak after the purses for fighters competing at UFC 270 were disclosed. The number, later confirmed by Ngannou, revealed “The Predator” walked away with $600,000, a sum that has left some fans and pundits bemused.
āEven when theyāre trying to reach out for a deal, they came out with a good amount of money, but at this point, that doesnāt even matter. I left all that down on the table,” Ngannou told Ariel Helwani on The MMA Hour. “Iām taking my $600,000, Iām going there, Iām doing this and Iām winning everything. I left a lot more on the table. Overall, Iāve been leaving a lot of money on the table even since the Stipe (Miocic) fight. By now, I might be down $7 million that I left on the table, but Iām still happy with my $600,000, because I still fight for what I care for.”
While he admitted the offers were tempting, Ngannou insisted that no amount of remuneration could fix his battered and bruised relationship with the promotion. In the eyes of the heavyweight king, fighting in the UFC is a form of captivity, a sentiment he also shared post-fight at the weekend when he claimed he doesn’t feel like “a free man.”
Like others have in the past, the Cameroonian brought up the need for healthcare insurance and also pleaded for contracts to be clearer in terms of whether athletes are employees or independent contractors.
“The money was tempting, it was good, but this is not just about money. Just money cannot fix this situation,” added Ngannou. “I donāt believe that. The term of the contract, everything that they put into, they hold you in captivity. You canāt do anything. You have no rights.”
“The contract is one-sided, although you still donāt have nothing. You donāt even have health insurance, even while youāre putting your body on the line to provide to put on the show.
“Youāre risking everything. Thereās a lot of things. We have no insurance. Nothing. No guarantee, which I understand as an independent contractor, but treat me as such, if I am. Whether Iām going to be an employee or an independent contractor, make it very clear in the contract. Itās very mixed up. Thatās probably the thing that I hated most about this, how they hold all the cards, the power to just destroy you. As soon as you donāt say yes, they just take you down. Thereās something wrong with me with those kind of things, that I just canāt take it,” concluded Ngannou. (h/t Fox Sports)
Francis Ngannou, asked if UFC officials reached out to him after the fight: "You mean after leaving the arena without putting the belt on my waist and not showing up for the press conference? [Chuckles.] What do you think? No. No, no, no." #themmahour
It’s anyone’s guess what happens in the coming months, but it appears to be becoming more and more likely that we’ve seen Ngannou throw hands in the Octagon for the final time.
UFC Heavyweight Champion Francis Ngannou has the support of a former light heavyweight champion in his battle with the UFC.
Ngannou most recently defended his heavyweight title against Ciryl Gane at UFC 270 via unanimous decision. While it wasn’t exactly the showcase UFC fans expected, Ngannou showed off his improved wrestling after allegedly suffering a significant knee injury in camp.
Ngannou continues to be at odds with the UFC brass, and more specifically company president Dana White, regarding contract negotiations. This prompted former UFC star Tito Ortiz to reach out to Ngannou on social media in support of his cause.
.@francis_ngannou Congrats on the fight and standing your ground for the future of all #MMA fighters. I did it and they tried to erase me from the UFCās history books. I hope they donāt the same to you.
“[Francis Ngannou] congrats on the fight and standing your ground for the future of all MMA fighters,” Ortiz said. “I did it and they tried to erase me from the UFC’s history books. I hope they don’t [do] the same to you.”
Ngannou has been vocal over the past year regarding his displeasure with how the UFC has treated him. This quarrel was allegedly part of the reasoning for the promotion organizing an interim title bout between Gane and Derrick Lewis just months after Ngannou earned the title at UFC 260.
Ortiz has plenty of experience dealing with the promotion and White after his legendary career in the cage. Ortiz’s relationship with White became so heated that the two of them nearly competed in a boxing exhibition against each other.
Like Ortiz, Ngannou’s issues with the UFC are financially focused and also term-based. Ngannou has made it clear that he wants the freedom to pursue potential boxing matches to go alongside his MMA fights.
Ngannou is expected to undergo surgery on his injured right knee and could miss significant time. In the meantime, the ongoing negotiations with the UFC continue.
What do you think is next for Francis Ngannou in the UFC?
UFC Heavyweight Champion Francis Ngannou entered UFC 270 with more than just the pressure of facing his former teammate Ciryl Gane.
Ngannou defeated Gane via unanimous decision in their heavyweight battle to begin 2022. To the surprise of almost everyone, Ngannou’s wrestling gave him the path to victory and not his trademark striking.
As Ngannou walked into the Octagon, the commentary team was quick to note that both of his knees were covered. This caused many to question whether or not the heavyweight champ entered the fight healthy.
After the fight, Ngannou told media members that he had suffered a significant right knee injury that nearly forced him to pull out of the fight.
āI saw the doctor on Tuesday to clear me and he wasnāt very optimistic about it,” Ngannou said. “But I still decided to move onā¦ My team was by my side regardless, whatever I decided to do, that’s what they said. But the doctor said he wouldnāt recommend me because I could have irreversible damage if I got kicked on that knee. Thatās why I couldn’t switch my stance.ā
This explains why Ngannou was in the orthodox stance for the majority of the fight. He also appeared timid to throw punches which could’ve been the result of not having the proper torque in his lower half.
Ngannou then revealed just how exposed his knee was entering the fight with Gane.
“It was pretty bad. I had a grade three MCL (tear), I have a damaged ACL, and a damaged MPFL. That was 25 days ago.”
Ngannou was then asked if he thinks he’ll need surgery done on his compromised knee.
“Yeah, I think so,” he replied.
It’s unclear how long Ngannou will be sidelined with his injured knee. He remains amid contract negotiations with the UFC regarding a new deal and has hinted at a potential move to boxing.
For now, it appears that Ngannou will turn his attention to the health of his knee and begin the road to recovery following his UFC 270 win.
What do you think the future holds for Francis Ngannou?
UFC Welterweight Champion Kamaru Usman has praised heavyweight king Francis Ngannou for his adaptability at UFC 270, branding him the “evolution” of the heavyweights.
At the opening pay-per-view of 2022 this past weekend, Ngannou returned to defend his title for the first time since winning it at UFC 260 last March. Ahead of his unification showdown with former teammate Gane, a lot was being made about his future, preparation, and mindset.
Would his ongoing contractual dispute with the UFC affect his performance? Would his desire for a crossover to boxing distract him from the threat of “Bon Gamin?” Would Gane’s technical style and fast movement nullify his power? Was a knockout his only path to victory?
After struggling on the feet for the opening two rounds, it appeared “The Predator” was on his way to a first defeat since 2018 and a potential departure from the promotion. But in the third frame, a momentous takedown changed the game.
After seeing the control he could employ on the ground, the UFC’s hardest-hitting knockout artist put his grappling improvements on full display, earning the nickname “Francis Ngannoumedov” from some fans with the performance.
One man who had a front-row seat for Ngannou’s impressive strategy towards the end of the UFC 270 main event, and who knows a bit or two about wrestling, was reigning welterweight king Usman.
Speaking to BT Sport in the aftermath of his fellow African champ’s victory, “The Nigerian Nightmare” described Ngannou as the evolution of the heavyweights and suggested even he doesn’t perform the sweep “The Predator” employed while on his back in the fifth and final frame.
āFrancis, thatās the thing about him, heās one of those special athletes that he takes everything as it comes,” said Usman. “He was gonna be able to deal with whatever was coming at him. He didnāt initially engage in the clinch or the wrestling the first round. That came from Gane, which I thought was an excellent game plan.
“But weāre just seeing the evolution of heavyweights. I mean, did you see that sweep in the fifth? I mean, damn. Even I donāt do that one. So youāre seeing the evolution of the game, and Francis is a scary man.ā
https://www.instagram.com/p/CZEAYxtrwZf/
While an Ngannou prediction was hardly left field prior to UFC 270, the manner in which he defeated the previously unbeaten Gane was one in which not many, if anybody, had seen coming.
With a clearly developed ground game to go along with the immense KO power that has left the likes of Jairzinho Rozenstruik and Stipe Miocuc unconscious, the champion is a scary prospect for the rest of the divisionāif he remains in the promotion beyond 2022, that is.
What did you make of Francis Ngannou’s performance at UFC 270?
The Pulse of MMA: Fan Reactions To The Sportās Biggest Stories
In this installment of The Pulse of MMA, we dive into the raw, unfiltered reactions of MMA fans afterDana White bounced after Francis Ngannou retained the UFC heavyweight championship over Ciryl Gane at UFC 270.
Dana White Abruptly Exits After Francis Ngannou Tops Ciryl Gane At UFC 270
Dana White (Image Credit: Mike Roach/Zuffa LLC)
All things considered, Dana White kept a pretty solid poker face heading into UFC 270 if his post-fight reaction is any indication of how he felt about the prospect of Francis Ngannou retaining the heavyweight title.
By now, it’s no secret that Ngannou and the UFC are in the middle of very tense, if not historic contract negotiations that could potentially see a sitting champion exit the promotion with the title if a new deal is not met.
Yet, after Ngannou was declared the victor via unanimous decision, White was conspicuous in his absence both in wrapping the title around Ngannou’s waist and also at the post-fight press conference. Just how conspicuous was his absence? Well, let’s allow The Pulse of MMA to fill you in on that…
Not so long ago, Dana White appeared on a show where he was asked about Ariel Helwani and Dana called him a "pussy". Dana refused to put the belt on Ngannou tonight and then avoided media. Is there a bigger pussy than Dana White? #UFC270
UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou is just as confused as anyone about why company president Dana White didn’t put the belt around him at UFC 270.
Ngannou grinded out a hard-fought victory against Ciryl Gane at UFC 270. While it wasn’t quite the showcase that everyone expected, he used his vastly improved wrestling and patience on the feet to stifle Gane’s attack.
After earning a unanimous decision on the judges’ scorecards, UFC matchmaker Mick Maynard was the one who put the belt around Ngannou and not White. This surprised many around the MMA community since Dana White is usually the one to perform these honors. This has caused some to wonder whether or not Ngannou requested not to have White be involved.
“I don’t know, you’ll have to ask him,” Ngannou said about the reason for White’s absence. “I had nothing to do about that. I think that was their decision, I’m about to ask about that, too.”
Ngannou was later told by a reporter that White also didn’t attend post-fight media availability, which was apparently news to the champ. He was then asked if White’s cryptic post-fight absence makes him wonder about his future with the promotion with his contract negotiations still at a standstill.
“It’s been a long time that I’ve been wondering about my future in the company,” Ngannou said, shrugging off that notion. “So, nothing has changed. I’m still in the same position.”
Ngannou and White have had their fair share of tense moments leading up to UFC 270. Since Ngannou first earned the belt at UFC 260, he and the UFC brass haven’t been on the same page in regard to contract negotiations.
White has previously claimed that with a win at UFC 270, Ngannou has one more fight on his deal. However, White’s absence during Ngannou’s post-fight celebration could be telling with what lies ahead between the two of them.
Why do you think Dana White wasn’t present after Francis Ngannou’s win at UFC 270?
Ciryl Gane wants the UFC to come to terms with heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou on a new deal so he can eventually get a rematch.
Gane fell short via a unanimous decision against Ngannou at UFC 270. After finding his range on the feet early in the fight, Ngannou’s improved wrestling gave Gane fits as the fight went on.
Ngannou and the UFC have been at odds for months over negotiations of a new contract. A new deal didn’t come to fruition leading up to UFC 270, and Ngannou’s future with the promotion remains uncertain.
But Gane wants Ngannou to stay in the UFC so they can run it back at some point. During his UFC 270 post-fight press conference, Gane opined on Ngannou possibly leaving the promotion and transitioning to boxing.
āIf he leave like that, I donāt want that,” Gane said. “I want my rematch. I want to do this fight a second time. I want this fight. I want this rematch.ā
Gane was then asked by a reporter whether or not it’ll be a relief to not deal with the Ngannou pre-fight drama in a potential rematch.
āNo, I was ready for this oneā¦.All the (stories) around this fight was just stories. It was not important for me. I was just focused on my target. And no, no, no, if we have a rematch, Iām gonna be focused, but Iām gonna improve on my weakness.ā
Ngannou and Gane never seemed to have bad blood with one another, but Ngannou’s issues with coach Fernand Lopez have been widely publicized. In addition to promoting Gane, Lopez had taken shots at Ngannou throughout the pre-fight buildup.
Ngannou is widely expected to face former light heavyweight champion Jon Jones next, although Jones didn’t seem impressed with Ngannou’s performance. As for Gane, he’ll look to rebound from the first defeat of his career and get back to the heavyweight title shot at some point.
What do you think is next for Francis Ngannou and Ciryl Gane in the UFC?
