Francis Ngannou

UFC president Dana White confirmed Jon Jones will face Frances Ciryl Gane for the heavyweight title at the T-Mobile Arena in March after champion Francis ...

He feels like he's in a position where he could fight lesser opponents and make more money, so we're going to let him do that and release him from our contract. "Francis is in a place now where he doesn't want to take a lot of risk. "We've been negotiating with [Ngannou] for more than two years," White said.

Dana White says Francis Ngannou would've been the highest paid heavyweight in UFC history, but rejected the contract. Now he's a free agent.

And I think that probably has a lot to do with it as far as Francis is concerned. “We can’t continue to hold up the division and not come to an agreement with this guy. We’re going to give up our right to match, and he can go and do whatever he wants. Ngannou turned down the UFC’s offer for a contract renewal, White said, and left behind his heavyweight title for the chance to become arguably the biggest free agent in combat sports. “You’ll have to ask Francis that question, but in my opinion that’s what it is. He feels he’s in a good position where he can fight lesser opponents and make more money.

Ciryl Gane offers his reaction to the news that Francis Ngannou is out of the UFC and the opportunity to become undisputed heavyweight champion in an ...

“More when I started MMA, because I’m a fan of every sport in MMA, and when you look at a guy like Jon Jones, who’s well-rounded like this, you really appreciate it. “Both are going to help me grow my career, and both are really exciting,” Gane said. Because I’ve never had this belt, and because fighting against this guy is going to be really crazy.” The main event at UFC 285 also serves as Gane’s second opportunity to become undisputed heavyweight champion after he came up short in his previous bid against Ngannou. “I looked to the future. “I know I’ve got good footwork at first, I think I’m a little bit more well-rounded [than Ngannou],” Gane said. “When I started watching this, Jon Jones was one of my favorite fighters,” Gane revealed. Taking on somebody like Jones is exactly what Gane has always wanted, and he’s bubbling over with anticipation as he prepares for their matchup in March. Just a few days later, however, Gane got the news that he will face Jones at UFC 285 on March 4 to crown a new UFC heavyweight champion. “Me, also, I am not like that. “We’re going to wait how long? I don’t know exactly, but it’s not my worry.”

Well, it's official: Francis Ngannou is no longer under contract with the UFC. The news of Ngannou's departure came as a shock to the MMA community, ...

He wants to fight lesser opponents for more money”— Kevin Thang (@Skip2MyJays) Jones v Ngannou would be an absolutely massive fight, and for the sake of a couple million they’re losing out on tens… Power on another level. Good luck on the next chapter— schwick (@schwick6) Unrestricted free agency for the best MMA heavyweight in the world.— Marc Raimondi (@marcraimondi) [pic.twitter.com/VnN9lykTwa] [January 15, 2023]

Bellator and PFL aren't the only ones expressing interest in Francis Ngannou, says BKFC president David Feldman.

[including Diego Sanchez](https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/2023/01/bkfc-diego-sanchez-vs-austin-trout-approved-new-mexico-commission-health-concerns), Ben Rothwell, Paige VanZant, and Mike Perry. In recent months, Feldman also expressed interest in [signing current free agent Nate Diaz](https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/2022/07/nate-diaz-bkfc-great-fit-david-feldman). For the past 13 months, Ngannou [rehabbed a knee injury](https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/2022/11/francis-ngannou-discusses-knee-injury-before-ufc-270-designed-for-me-to-fall) as the UFC attempted to renegotiate his contract, which was set to expire this month. “We’re tabling an offer for his services, and hopefully fans will see him in the BKFC squared circle in 2023.” Ngannou has not competed since January 2022 when Now, BKFC president David Feldman is doing the same.

Jake Paul is going to face Francis Ngannou? Well, fans could not believe as this news broke out. Here is how they reacted to it.

[January 15, 2023] According to them, Paul intends to sign Ngannou to MVP with a 2-fight deal. ADVERTISEMENT In the video, [Ngannou can be seen confronting Paul and asking him if he wouldn’t fight him.](https://www.essentiallysports.com/ufc-mma-boxing-news-francis-ngannou-confronts-jake-paul-after-arrogant-easy-fight-comments-on-lebron-james-nba-podcast-so-you-wont-fight-me/) To which, Paul replied, “No, Francis. Jokingly, an account on Twitter claimed that Paul offered Ngannou a two-fight contract. However, before fans could digest the mentioned options for Jake Paul, the unbelievable news of Paul facing UFC fighter [Francis Ngannou](https://www.essentiallysports.com/tag/francis-ngannou/) broke out and caused chaos.

Francis Ngannou was recently released by the UFC as per Dana White. The UFC president stated that 'The Predator' felt there were better opportunities ...

I'd love to see him fight in the UFC but if Tyson Fury sacks up and takes that fight against Francis, that's go f**k yourself money." Sucks he parted ways [with the UFC] but I hope that him and Tyson Fury fight for a lot of f***ing money... He will not survive in a boxing ring against anyone of any note.. However, Tony Bellew, the former WBC cruiserweight champion, believes that would be a grave mistake. "It's a shame to see Francis go, he's iconic in the UFC. A poll released by MMA journalist Ariel Helwani posed a question about where Francis Ngannou will fight next, with boxing being an option.

Francis Ngannou has been released from the UFC but he certainly has made quite a fortune as the promotion's heavyweight champion.

Ngannou and his manager, Marquel Martin, repeatedly claimed that the UFC was lowballing The Predator. [headlines](https://themaclife.com/sports/mma/francis-ngannou-i-will-not-fight-for-500000/) earlier after he revealed his dissatisfaction with his UFC contract. Dana White has since confirmed that Francis left the UFC in search of more lucrative opportunities. The UFC was hopeful that both parties would successfully negotiate a new contract. Francis Ngannou is one of the scariest men in combat sports. His terrifying knockout power made headlines as he knocked out one heavyweight after the other in the UFC.

Did Francis Ngannou make a game-changing move or horrific career misstep by turning down a Jon Jones fight and leaving the UFC?

And if you don’t believe that to be truer than ever, the company is racking in record profits in a world where its biggest stars like Jones and Conor McGregor have been absent from competition for lengthy periods. We did everything we could to try to make this fight happen and try to give him this fight, but he’s got it in his head that there’s bigger opportunities outside the UFC with lesser opponents.” Hopefully that fulfills him, and the grass turns out to be greener on the other side. Ngannou is free and clear of the UFC to explore any opportunity he wants. Dozens of UFC fighters have requested their releases over the years, but the huge difference is that Ngannou was not held captive by his contractual agreement in a way many others have been, as he claims to have fulfilled the terms. If Ngannou can box Fury or get big money from another promotion where the risk of re-injuring the knee is smaller, it might be wise to do that. This is one quote from White where it’s hard to deny the slivers of truth. You’re going to fight arguably the greatest fighter of all time, you’d be the highest paid heavyweight ever in UFC history, or you think there’s more money out there to fight somebody who isn’t the greatest of all time, somebody who is a lesser opponent. He’s endured unimaginable experiences outside the cage during his life, and the idea he suddenly couldn’t muster the courage to fight Jones or any top-ranked opponent is lunacy and a narrative that will be accepted by all too many MMA fans when they pair it with White’s comments about the lucrative contract Ngannou turned down. Whether a mutual resolution is reached or the athlete simply couldn’t afford to hold out any longer, the UFC has a history of getting its way in these situations. The choice to determine his own path going forward is ultimately what Ngannou wanted out of this. As the UFC celebrates the 30th anniversary of its existence in 2023, we can only point to one previous instance where this has happened: B.J.

Former cruiserweight world champion Tony Bellew has cautioned Francis Ngannou from crossing over to the sport of boxing. Ngannou, who held the UFC ...

He’s the best MMA heavyweight in the world right now and he needs to stay within his discipline,” Bellew stated. He will not survive in a boxing ring against anyone of any note. Last year, Ngannou was discussing the possibility of facing WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury in a boxing match.

The MMA community was left in disbelief after news of Francis Ngannou's UFC release and Jon Jones would fight Ciryl Gane for vacant gold.

Fans have come out in favour of the heavyweight after Dana White claimed the fighter wanted to fight 'less opponents'.

Francis Ngannou, the man who demolished Stipe, beat 1/2 of the next title fight on one leg, and spent 2 years begging to fight Jones, did not leave UFC because he was scared of competition. what he made for the UFC...— Trent Reinsmith (@TrentReinsmith) Let's be clear, because this is going to happen. MMAFighting editor Shaheen Al-Shatti wrote: “Francis Ngannou, the man who demolished Stipe, beat 1/2 of the next title fight on one leg, and spent 2 years begging to fight Jones, did not leave UFC because he was scared of competition. A fourth added: “Ngannou is a massive loss for the UFC simply because their heavyweight title is no longer THE heavyweight title.” White made the announcement ahead of the UFC Fight Night event in which he claimed the deal offered to Ngannou would’ve made him the ‘highest-paid heavyweight in the history of the company’.

Francis Ngannou is now free from his UFC contract, and a free agent. It didn't take long for a promotion to be the first to ask him to sign.

This [makes ](https://www.mmanews.com/2023/01/francis-ngannou-free-agent/) [him](https://www.mmanews.com/2023/01/francis-ngannou-free-agent/) [ a free agent](https://www.mmanews.com/2023/01/francis-ngannou-free-agent/), with no exclusive negotiating period, after an essentially year-long battle to find a path forward with the promotion. So, it naturally did not take long before a promotion stepped forward to put their name in the hat to try to secure this massive free agent. That said, “The Predator” has “BKFC is interested in pursuing Francis Ngannou. [flaunted ](https://www.mmanews.com/2023/01/francis-ngannou-pfl/) [some](https://www.mmanews.com/2023/01/francis-ngannou-pfl/) [ hints](https://www.mmanews.com/2023/01/francis-ngannou-pfl/) at other directions he plans on going in, so it will be interesting to watch how this situation unfolds. [officially released ](https://www.mmanews.com/2023/01/francis-ngannou-ufc-farewell/) [from](https://www.mmanews.com/2023/01/francis-ngannou-ufc-farewell/) [ his contract](https://www.mmanews.com/2023/01/francis-ngannou-ufc-farewell/), being stripped of the heavyweight title.

“But it's his decision. That's what he is doing and the world goes on, and UFC goes on. There's going to be other big fights and there are other heavyweights ...

And who knows if down the road that fight is going to happen? For him it was never, ‘Oh, I’m not going to fight this guy or I’m not going to fight that guy.’ For him it was, ‘I don’t really care. And if you have a boxer go and compete in an octagon, the MMA guy, under MMA rules, the MMA guys is going to win. I personally think that Ciryl, with his skill set and his youth and so on is a bigger fight. “I wish that fight fans, sports fans, would finally understand, if you have an MMA athlete go and compete against a boxer in a boxing ring, the boxer is going to win,” Schaefer continued, explaining his disdain for the boxing move. I do believe that these are the two best heavyweights fighting each other and it’s a massive fight, so that’s what the focus is. Why do I need to pay $80 or $100 to see a fight when I know who is going to win? “So if that is the case, why do I need to see it? Whether it was this specific point that ultimately led Ngannou to pass up lucrative offers from the UFC is still unknown, but Schaefer certainly hopes this wasn’t the blocker. So we’ll move on and keep doing the best fighting the best, the best which are available.” That’s what he is doing and the world goes on, and UFC goes on. There’s going to be other big fights and there are other heavyweights lined up to fight the winner of this fight, to fight Jon after he beats Ciryl.

It has now been officially confirmed that Francis Ngannou will leave the UFC and vacate his heavyweight title after failing to agree a new deal with the ...

[targeted a fresh deal with much higher pay](https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/other-sports/mma/francis-ngannous-complicated-ufc-contract-26016664). "We offered a deal to Francis that would’ve made him the highest paid heavyweight in the history of the company, more than Brock Lesnar, more than everybody," White said. I think that probably has a lot to do with it." “We’re tabling an offer for his services, and hopefully fans will see him in the BKFC squared circle in 2023.” However he now faces an uncertain future which is unlikely to be resolved quickly with Ngannou required to consider his options. It is now expected he will face a whole host of offers from rival promotions including PFL and Bellator who have both stated their intent to snap him up.

On Saturday, it was revealed that UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou would be released, shocking the mixed martial arts community. A few days ago, ...

They have to live with that everyday. They have to live with it. But it's reality, & they have to deal with it.

Daniel Cormier rejects the notion that Francis Ngannou parted ways with the UFC so he didn't have to fight Jon Jones.

“I honestly believe this matchup is a much better matchup for us as fans, because technically you have two guys that are going to be as skilled as we have ever seen in the heavyweight division,” Cormier said. But he’s not a guy that moves around and creates a ton of angles. Because as good as Jones is, Jones isn’t a guy that moves very much. Cormier, a UFC Hall of Famer and two-time opponent of Jones, disagrees with that notion and was happy to see Ngannou get the freedom to choose his next career move. Politics aside, Cormier said he’s highly anticipating the clash between Jones and Gane. “Isn’t it ironic that Jon Jones is fighting for a vacant championship?

Ngannou recently parted ways with the UFC after a lengthy contract dispute and has been told stepping foot into the ring for his next fight won't end well ...

"He’s the best MMA heavyweight in the world right now and he needs to stay within his discipline." Ngannou got into the ring with Fury to tease a crossover fight after 'The Gypsy King' knocked out [Dillian Whyte](https://www.mirror.co.uk/all-about/dillian-whyte) last April. And he turned the deal down. "He can go wherever he wants, do whatever he wants. We’re going to release him from his contract, give up our right to match," White said. 'The Predator' hasn't fought since defending the heavyweight title against former training partner Ciryl Gane last January and UFC boss Dana White has now confirmed Ngannou is free from his contractual duties and can sign with any rival MMA promotion.

Jon Jones is set to fight Ciryl Gane for the heavyweight title after Francis Ngannou gets released from UFC. Here's what Dana White said about it.

With Ngannou gone, Jones will face Ciryl Gane for the now-vacant UFC heavyweight title in Las Vegas on March 8. “We did everything we could to make the fight happen and give him the fight. He can go wherever he wants and do whatever he wants.”

The former interim UFC heavyweight champion says Jones may be in for a rude awakening when they fight.

I can imagine a fight where we’re going to stay on the feet and maybe we’re going to try some time to go down.” I think he just wants to win his fight against me, and I don’t know what is a good way to win against me. “I don’t think he’s going to prove something else. “I think he’s going to stay well-rounded,” said Gane. Yes, when you have a big guy that just wants to kill you with one punch, it’s more easier for a guy well-rounded and smart like Jon Jones to to manage the situation. But for Gane, he understands he would need more than those to go against Jones.

Here is everything you need to know about Francis Ngannou's net worth in 2023, taking into account his salary, endorsements and more.

In a cage, in a boxing ring, boxing gloves, UFC gloves – we can make it happen. He’s a monster of a guy, I’m a monster of a guy, so it’ll be a clash of the titans for sure.” It can be in a phone booth or wherever [but] that fight will happen, or (even) on the rooftop – that fight will happen. He’s the best MMA heavyweight in the world right now, and he needs to stay within his discipline.” He will not survive in a boxing ring against anyone of any note. Obviously, he will not compete in MMA. “[Boxing] is something that I’m not taking my eyes off. “He can go wherever he wants, do whatever he wants. We’re going to release him from his contract, give up our right to match. Read More: I think that probably has a lot to do with it.” - Francis Ngannou’s Salary In 2021 – $900,000

With Francis Ngannou having left the UFC he has countless options, but Tony Bellew has said he should not take up boxing.UFC president Dana White reve.

Get up to £40 in free bets on selected events. £20) on selected events at odds of 2.00+, in 7 days. Bonuses expire in 7 days. Opt in, bet up to £40 (min. [he still plans to enter the world of boxing](https://talksport.com/sport/boxing/1186144/francis-ngannou-provides-boxing-tyson-fury-update/). [Ngannou was invited into the ring](https://talksport.com/sport/boxing/1093089/tyson-fury-ufc-francis-ngannou-dillian-whyte-ko/) in front of the 94,000 fans at Wembley Stadium.

Jake Paul has weighed in on Francis Ngannou breaking ties with the UFC over pay disputes. 'The Predator' is now a free agent and is at liberty to accept ...

He mentioned that the promotion will now have to live with their decision: He’s the heavyweight champ in MMA & will be until he loses." Paul took to Twitter to share his reaction after the promotion failed to come to terms for a contract extension with their heavyweight champion.

Ngannou reportedly turned down an offer that would have made him the highest-paid heavyweight in UFC history amid the rising displeasure of fighters within the ...

After the heavyweight’s release, Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship President David Feldman - who is known to pay former UFC fighters handsomely - said the promotion would make Ngannou an offer. White suggested Ngannou was looking for less risk in 2023 and so the Predator is no longer a part of the UFC roster. Jake Paul has aimed a fresh dig at UFC boss Dana White after former heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou turned his back on the leading promotion.

Ngannou's final fight on his UFC deal witnessed him unify the UFC heavyweight championship by defeating interim champion Ciryl Gane via a unanimous decision in ...

It's also unclear whether Ngannou will make the transition from MMA to the sport of boxing. The UFC president announced that Ngannou has been stripped of his title and released from the UFC. We got in the car, and Francis looks over at me and says, 'If I sign this deal, if I do this without making any change, without doing all the things that I said I was going to do, I'm just another sell-out, and I refuse to do that.'" He suggested that the UFC offered Ngannou good money but couldn't fulfill his other contractual demands. Explaining why Ngannou rejected a UFC contract renewal, Nicksick stated: Additionally, knee injury issues sidelined Ngannou for the remainder of 2022.