In his personal phrases, it appears Francis Ngannou has little question that he was proper to depart the UFC.
UFC president Dana White introduced on Saturday that contract negotiations between the promotion and Ngannou had primarily failed, and that the now-former UFC heavyweight champion was successfully launched to pursue different alternatives. In line with White, Ngannou felt that he was in a “good place” the place he “might battle lesser opponents and earn more money” elsewhere.
However to Ngannou, combating lesser opponents was not what he wished. He informed Ariel Helwani that he requested a three-fight contract with no extension, sponsorships, medical insurance and a fighter advocate. However most of all, Ngannou wished freedom. And when most of these have been rejected by the UFC, he left.
“They’ve mentioned that I’m terrified of combating Jon Jones or any person, which I don’t know the place they got here from with that one,” mentioned Ngannou in a video uploaded to his official YouTube channel. “That sounds very ridiculous, for my part. With all due respect, I’ve been calling for this battle for over two years. I’ve been ready for this battle perpetually. I’ve been combating guys, even with one knee, with accidents. And now, why do I be terrified of them? After I really feel much more assured. No, I’m not scared. The one factor that I’m terrified of is to be trapped. It’s to not lose my freedom, which I worth very a lot.
“You guys understand how the UFC contract could be,” continued Ngannou. “Restrictive and as an unbiased contractor, you don’t actually have a say in that contract. You don’t have a proper, so I can’t try this.”
One of many remaining feedback White gave on the Ngannou scenario was, “for those who don’t need to be right here, you don’t should be right here,” which the ‘Predator’ mentioned was the furthest from the reality. He wished to be within the UFC, however signing a restrictive contract but once more was out of the query.
“‘Anybody who doesn’t should be right here, doesn’t should be right here.’ You recognize that’s not true, proper? You know the way restrictive the UFC contract could be,” mentioned Ngannou. “For a contract that’s supposedly for an unbiased contractor. So there’s not likely a whole lot of issues that you really want or you are able to do when you find yourself in that contract. They determine for you.
“I signed my final contract in December 2017,” continued Ngannou. “Even on the time, I knew it wasn’t a very good contract, however I knew I needed to earn my place, turn out to be a champion, have extra worth to be able to negotiate a greater deal for me. I wanted so as to add extra worth to myself and that’s what I’ve been doing up to now 5 years, which is okay. I by no means actually complained with that contract. It doesn’t matter what occurred, the one factor that I wished is the proper to ship that contract, to terminate that contract as I ought to. And transfer on into the subsequent one. I do consider that I’ve that proper, a minimum of. That’s known as freedom.
“To have the ability to terminate a contract to be able to begin one other one. And if the brand new one doesn’t fit your circumstances, you’re additionally free to not signal with out going into a nasty blood [with the promotion]. That’s how I really feel about it. It’s simply unlucky that we didn’t come to phrases, which I want we might’ve, however it’s what it’s. As an unbiased contractor, I’ve to take care of myself. I’ve to do what’s proper for me. And everybody on the market ought to do the identical for themselves.”
As for what occurs subsequent, Ngannou is happy to check free company. For the Xtreme Couture fighter, a transfer from blended martial arts to boxing is imminent.
Now that he’s launched, Ngannou hopes fights with Tyson Fury, Anthony Joshua and Deontay Wilder can come to fruition. And after that, he expects to return to MMA, the place he says he’s nonetheless the ‘finest heavyweight on the planet’.
“Free company is one thing that not many fighters of their prime, on the very prime has an opportunity to expertise,” mentioned Ngannou. “Now, I’ve it. I fought for it for the previous two years. I’ve it and I actually need to do a greater use out of it. And bear in mind, they’re going to be saying a whole lot of issues. They’re going to be attempting to bash me, to devalue me. However it doesn’t matter what, you must bear in mind who the actual king is. One of the best heavyweight on the planet. I’m the very best heavyweight on the planet and I don’t care what they are saying on the market. I’m the person.”
In regards to the creator: Kristen King is a author for Bloody Elbow. She has coated fight sports activities since 2016. (full bio)
