Francis Ngannou has little interest in returning to the UFC, and one among his coaches believes that may by no means change.
It’s vital to make clear as a result of there’s been a sport of phone going the place Ngannou’s head MMA coach Eric Nicksick just lately urged “The Predator” was prepared “to make himself out there to no matter choices that he wants.” That was all it took to get everybody speaking a few Ngannou return to UFC.
On Saturday in Baku, Azerbaijan, a reporter advised Dana White that Ngannou needed to return to UFC, and White mentioned he wasn’t a fan. Ngannou dropped a chilly tweet in response, writing “Did I say I’m ever coming again?”
Now his placing coach Dewey Cooper is sharing his ideas on a possible reconciliation between the UFC and Ngannou.
“I don’t see any likelihood of Francis returning to the UFC,” Cooper advised On-line Slots. “The opposite coaches on our workers might imagine in another way.”
That doesn’t imply the door is totally shut on Ngannou versus a high UFC title.
“I can see him doing a type of co-promotion factor, possibly a UFC battle, however at the side of the PFL,” Cooper mentioned. “As a result of when all this went down and we ‘fumbled the bag,’ the PFL had Francis’ again, and one factor about Francis, he appreciates the help he obtained from PFL. He’s not simply gonna overlook about that when the entire world mentioned he screwed up and he blew it, or that he was afraid to battle somebody — which was by no means the reality.”
“The PFL got here to him and had his again. In order of now he’s nonetheless with the PFL, so with the intention to do something, the PFL would undoubtedly should be concerned.”
It’s attention-grabbing to listen to this as a result of in response to sources near Ngannou, the PFL contract he signed in Might 2023 was for 2 years and expired just lately. Perhaps there’s been an extension signed, or possibly Franny simply needs to present PFL the second battle he agreed to in that preliminary contract.
Ngannou typically works on honor vibes. He actually didn’t should battle Ciryl Gane with a blown out knee at UFC 270 — his UFC contract was set to run out later that 12 months, and he might have simply rehabbed the leg and coasted to free company. However he needed to honor the variety of fights on the deal. That’s extra proof of the type of dude Ngannou is. As for the proof of him being a nasty man? We’re nonetheless ready.
