Francis Ngannou Cameroon
Dana White shuts down possibility of Francis Ngannou returning to the UFC
After Francis Ngannou and the UFC were unable to come to terms on a new contract while he was still heavyweight champion, Ngannou severed all connections with the organization. UFC president Dana White revealed that Francis Ngannou was given a deal that would have made him the most-paid heavyweight in mixed martial arts history. The 36-year-old Cameroonian fighter had other goals than making a lot of money.
Ngannou has been outspoken about his desire for more autonomy in the creative process in upcoming contracts, saying he felt the UFC was telling him to accept the money and keep quiet at various points during negotiations. During those same contract talks, Ngannou says he proposed fighter health insurance and asked for an advocate to participate in future contract discussions as a fighter representative against the promotion.
Dana White was asked by reporters after the ceremonial weigh-ins for UFC 285 if the promotion could reopen talks with Ngannou to face the winner of Jon Jones vs. Ciryl Gane. White simply replied:
“No. We negotiated with him for years. It’s over, that’s over. He’ll never be in the UFC again. Yeah, I never say never, but I’ll give you a never on that one. We tried.”
Stipe Miocic, who has fought ‘The Predator’ twice in his career at UFC 220 and UFC 260, famously dropping his belt to the Cameroonian in their clash in March 2021, reacted to Ngannou’s exit from the UFC in a recent interview on The MMA Hour.
Speaking about Ngannou’s exit [via MMA Fighting], Miocic stated:
“I get it. I mean, it’s going to be a long time before any of that happens — [Ngannou was] trying to move [the sport] in the right direction, which is great, but it’s going to be a long time before any of that happens.”
Adding further on how he would have fancied a third fight against Ngannou, Miocic stated:
“I would’ve loved to have fought Francis again, but it’s not going to happen. Listen, it’s his decision. I wish he would’ve stayed because I wanted another crack at him. Unfortunately it didn’t turn out that way, but listen, he’s doing what’s best for him and his family. He thinks it’s the right way to go, and it’s his decision. I wish him nothing but the best and I hope it works out.”
While it remains to be seen if their paths collide in the future, Miocic has experience in the ring as a past champion of the Cleveland Golden Gloves. Miocic would welcome a rubber bout with Ngannou in a boxing ring rather than an MMA cage.
“That’d be fantastic [to box Ngannou]. Hell yeah, I love boxing.”
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