KING NGANNOU IS SO TEMPTED BY FURY’S CALL
FRANCIS NGANNOU unified the UFC’s heavyweight title but is still prepared to split from the company, with Tyson Fury eager to welcome him into the boxing ring.
Ngannou, 35, who last fought in March when he won the title from Stipe Miocic, gained a unanimous points victory over interim belt holder Ciryl Gane at UFC 270 in Anaheim, California.
Having reclaimed his spot as undisputed champion (right) in his last contracted fight, ‘The Predator’ will be a free agent if he sits out the remainder of the year.
With contract talks overshadowing the build-up to the bout, it was telling that Dana White failed to present Ngannou with his belt in the octagon afterwards, as is the usual tradition, while the UFC president also skipped the postshow press conference.
And while WBC champion Fury tweeted: “Congratulations @ francis_ngannou but if you want to make some real money come see the Gypsy King,” the big-hitting Cameroonian, who took home a purse of £440,000 for his main event clash with France’s Gane, is undecided on his next move.
Ngannou (beating Gane, below) said: “I have spent a long time wondering about my future with the company.
Nothing has changed, I am still in the same position. It is not simply money. Money is part of it, but it is also the terms of the contract.
“I don’t agree with them and I don’t feel like it is fair or like I am a free man. I don’t feel like I have been treated good and it is unfortunate I have to be in this position to say that.
“Everybody should have the right to claim what is best for them.
“We put a lot of work into this job, giving a lot of our body to make it happen, so the least we can have is a fair and square deal.
“I have been going to the UFC a lot about my future and I have kind of exhausted all my options.
“At this point my feelings towards the UFC don’t matter.
“I have been through a lot in the past year and have expressed my willingness to stay in the UFC, to have a contract.
“The only reason we are here is because at some point I wasn’t respected.”