Amid the fanfare of Francis Ngannou’s victory over Ciryl Gane after UFC 270’s main event, there was one notable absence that stood out: UFC president Dana White.
UFC matchmaker Mick Maynard, not White, was the person who wrapped the heavyweight title around Ngannou’s waist, a role usually reserved for the UFC boss. White also skipped the event’s post-fight press conference and did not do any of his customary interviews with the UFC’s broadcast partners following the promotion’s first pay-per-view of 2022.
White was absent, which is notable considering Ngannou’s turbulent relationship with the UFC. The UFC heavyweight champion has used his platform to speak out against the promotion’s restrictive contracts, and much of the lead-up and conversation around UFC 270 focused on Ngannou’s ongoing battle to secure greater freedom with his career and challenge some of the promotion’s longstanding business practices.
Ngannou’s head coach, Eric Nicksick, was in the cage alongside Maynard at UFC 270, and he was candid when asked for his thoughts on White’s nonattendance after the win.
“Honestly, I didn’t really think too much about it until afterwards. The moment I saw Mick in there, I just wanted to stay present in the moment and not think about much other than how happy I was and proud I was of Francis,” Nicksick said Monday on The MMA Hour.
“But as the night went on, I wish [White] would’ve taken the high road and just went in and done it, and just been a part of that. Because the last couple weeks, I felt like Dana and Francis had been mending things. It felt as if those two were trying to heal their relationship and become better. It was a poor move .”
for him to leave.
The biggest question is now what will happen to Ngannou. In an eye-opening and wide-ranging interview on Monday’s episode of The MMA Hour, the UFC heavyweight champion dove into greater detail than ever before about his struggles with the promotion and his frustration over how his career has been handled. Ngannou stated that he would still be open to the UFC for the resolution of the problems, but he acknowledged that he is now content with his UFC career ending.
Ngannou remains the UFC heavyweight champion. However, because of specific language in his contract, Ngannou would be a free agent should the UFC remove him from his title. Ngannou’s team has also repeatedly stated their belief that Ngannou will become a free agent at the end of 2022 regardless of whether or not he still holds the belt.
At the moment Ngannou is in complete uncertainty about his future. Nicksick stated that he would support Ngannou’s fighter regardless of what happens, but he hopes for one outcome.
” I want to remain with the UFC,” Nicksick stated. “I do, because I want to compete against the best. Although I disagree with some of the actions taken by the promotion, I also understand they are a business and will do the right thing for their customers. But at the end of the day, I think that we as a team — UFC and Team Ngannou — can do a lot of great things together. It’s true. However, with their [at heavyweight] competition and the promotional offer they provide, I feel they should be .”
fair.
A knee injury the champ suffered three weeks before UFC 270 only further complicates matters in regards to how 2022 will play out. Ngannou said Monday to MMA Fighting that he will need surgery to fix a partially torn ACL and MCL in his right leg.
But, if everything goes well and Ngannou stays under UFC control, Nicksick believes that it will lead to a highly-discussed megafight with Jon Jones (former UFC light-heavyweight champion). Jones certainly had plenty to say on Saturday night.
“I don’t know. I hope so,” Nicksick said when asked if he thinks Jones really wants to fight Ngannou. “I really do, I hope so. You know, I want to have a go at him. So I think for us, too, we spent so much time thinking that that was the fight we were going to make — and when it didn’t happen, it was just like, ‘Why are we wasting our time with this guy?'”
For Nicksick, the Jones fight would “100 percent” be his top priority if the UFC and Ngannou can make amends, though he also knows Ngannou has his eyes on a boxing match against heavyweight champion Tyson Fury, so he wouldn’t mind that going down that road either.
” If they’re interested in going the boxing route, then go get the bag first and we’ll return,” Nicksick stated. “But that’s kind of been the thought process, is like, hey, you know what? Jon Jones has been added to our schedule. If we do decide to box, or something in-between, there must be some sort of agreement between Francis and the UFC. But I am open to whatever they do.
“I’m a competitor, so I want to try to get at the best.”
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