UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou will be defending his title this January against interim champion Cyril Gane.
The pair will square off on January 22 at UFC 270. Strangely enough, this is the last fight of Ngannou’s current contract with UFC and there’s a possibility that we don’t see “The Predator” again in a VENUM uniform.
The champion is in WAR with the promotion, with both parties having troubles coming to terms with each other.
The Cameronian is adamant that his new contract would have to allow a potential boxing fight against one of he top names in the “sweet science”.
In a recent interview on Miesha Tate’s Sirius XM show, Ngannou’s manager implied it’s not all about the money, but if a man can get $10+ million fighting outside the UFC then he’d be foolish not to take it. And if the UFC isn’t willing to pay that $10+ million ever because it sets a precedent, then where do you go from there?
“[The UFC] can’t put themselves in a situation to establish a precedent that negatively reflects [for] them, so that’s kind of the rub,” Martin said. “If they had an offer that made sense for them and for Francis, we’re open to entertain it. They’ve made it pretty clear where they’re at, so it’s an unfortunate, and I hate to say this, but it feels like a standoff.”
“It’s always been down the line,” Ngannou said in an interview with TMZ Sports. “This is something that, I’m not taking my eyes off it. This is going to happen either way, and even if I stay — even if or when the UFC and I, we finally, we finalize a deal, the boxing part has to be into it, because I can’t see myself to retire without boxing.”
“Tyson Fury, Deontay Wilder — I would like to test myself to their level,” Ngannou continued. “It’s not the same sport, but although I’m the champion, so I’m in the top in this division, and at the end of the day, it’s just about throwing hands, throwing punches, having a good delivery system to throw those bombs. And I’m sure that if I deliver my own punches pretty good, I can make damage.”
