After his title-winning defense against Ciryl Gane on Saturday in Anaheim, Francis Ngannou revealed that he injured his knee during his training camp.
His manager, Marquel Martin, told
ESPN
that the Cameroonian UFC heavyweight champion needs surgery.
“
He will undergo an operation, probably in March.
The recovery time should vary between 9 and 10 months.
His internal collateral ligament is completely gone but can repair itself.
The anterior cruciate ligament will be operated
on,” Martin said.
Read alsoNgannou: a boxing shock and millions against Fury rather than revenge against Gane?
The procedure will be performed by Dr. Neal ElAttrache, a Los Angeles-based orthopedic surgeon who works with the Dodgers and Rams NFL teams.
Other prestigious UFC fighters like Georges Saint-Pierre and Conor McGregor have passed through his expert hands.
Before this operation and this long immobilization, Francis Ngannou will fly to Cameroon for a vacation and celebrate the defense of his title.
This serious injury which had made him "
not very stable on [his] knee
" against Gane, compromises a possible challenge in English boxing this year for the "Predator" who said he was ready to face Tyson Fury in a ring in 2022. At the same time, his negotiations for an extension to the UFC are at a standstill.
The champ said he recently turned down a $7 million offer from MMA's most prestigious organization.
