Cameroonian Francis Ngannou, holder of the heavyweight championship belt, has not renewed his contract with the UFC, revealed Dana White, the boss of the most powerful MMA league, on the sidelines of an evening of fights Saturday in Las Vegas.
Information that will offer a chance for a world title for the French Ciryl Gane, beaten by Ngannou, on March 4 in Las Vegas against the legend Jon Jones.
“
We have been trying to find an agreement with Francis (Ngannou) for 2 years
,” explained White.
“
He was offered a deal that would have made him the highest-paid heavyweight in the history of the organization.
And he didn't want to.
He thinks he's in a position to fight worse opponents for more money, we'll let him do that.
We are going to release him from his contract
,” he added.
Ngannou dreams of trying his luck in English boxing
Knee operated in January 2022, Ngannou, whose contract with the UFC expired at the end of 2022, had not fought for the organization since defending his title against Frenchman Ciryl Gane, still in January 2022.
Since then, the 36-year-old Cameroonian, who has 20 fights for 17 wins and 3 losses, had multiplied his desires elsewhere, not hiding his desire to fight in English boxing.
Ngannou seized the UFC heavyweight title in March 2021 by beating American Stipe Miocic by knockout, after a first failure in January 2018, still against Miocic.
