Following his surprising launch from the UFC, Francis Ngannou has lastly responded. Going through heavy criticism from UFC president Dana White, Ngannou made a six-minute video minute thanking the followers and explaining his choice.
Notably, Francis Ngannou responded to White who claimed Ngannou was “scared” and now not needed to face one of the best fighters on the earth. Be part of me as we play choose and jury between the UFC and Ngannou.
Trial 1: Francis Ngannou v Jon Jones
Jon Jones v Francis Ngannou would have been arguably the most important struggle in Heavyweight historical past, together with the times of Brock Lesnar. This struggle had seemingly been within the making since Ngannou earned the strap in March of 2021, however by no means got here to fruition. White made it clear Jones was able to struggle anybody. That’s a subjective declare from the UFC’s president. When Ngannou was able to go in late 2022 and Jones was in sizzling water after allegedly assaulting his spouse. At the moment, Jones was not “able to struggle anybody.”
Positive, in 2023, Ngannou is the one in charge for this struggle by no means occurring. The UFC clearly needed this struggle to occur for years, however the timing by no means labored out on either side. In enjoying choose and jury on this one, each Jones and Ngannou deserve giant quantities of blame, whereas the UFC takes a smaller reduce. Ngannou additionally made it clear on his opinion between Jon Jones and Ciryl Gane.
“Undisputed means nothing.”
These three ominous phrases are all Francis Ngannou wanted to say on how he’s viewing the UFC’s upcoming Heavyweight championship. Nonetheless, that feels a bit unfair as Ngannou may have taken the struggle with Jones. It’s straightforward for Ngannou to say he would have crushed Jones, however till he steps into the octagon with him, the MMA world won’t ever know.
Trial 2: Francis Ngannou v Worry
In brief, no, Francis Ngannou is just not scared. It’s preposterous to suppose that somebody who grew up mining sand in Cameroon and fled to France is scared to step into an octagon and struggle anybody together with his fists. Dana White clearly has no disgrace, however ought to be embarrassed for claiming Ngannou is in any means “scared” to struggle one of the best on the earth. Ngannou made his opinion clear on how he felt in regards to the UFC president’s feedback.
“That sounds ridiculous. With all due respect, I’ve been calling for this struggle for over two years and I’ve been ready for this struggle without end. I fought a man on one knee- a significant damage. And now, why would I be fearful of them after I really feel much more assured?”
I’m giving the clear win to Ngannou on this one. To imagine Francis is scared to struggle is ridiculous and Dana White ought to be embarrassed for claiming as such.
Trial 3: Francis Ngannou v Contract Negotiations
Now it’s time for a very powerful trial of all of them: who’s in charge between the UFC and Francis for the failed contract negotiations between the 2 events? UFC fighters should not employers of the group, however somewhat impartial contractors. Dana White has said on quite a few events together with his press convention final weekend “when you don’t need to be right here, you don’t need to be right here.” White additionally claimed he provided Francis Ngannou a deal that will have made him the highest-paid fighter in UFC heavyweight historical past, together with Brock Lesnar. Nonetheless, Ngannou made a press release on how cash was not the one issue.
“For a contract that’s presupposed to be for an impartial contractor, the UFC contract may be very restrictive. So, there’s not rather a lot to need or issues you are able to do whereas underneath contract. [The UFC] decides for you. I signed my final contract in December 2017 and on the time I knew it was not a very good contract, however I needed to earn my place and change into a champion to barter a brand new deal. That’s what I’ve been doing the previous 5 years and I by no means complained about my earlier contract. The one factor I needed was to terminate that contract and earn a brand new deal. That’s known as freedom.”
This one as nicely is a transparent win for Francis Ngannou. White claiming “when you don’t need to be right here, you don’t need to be right here,” is a false assertion when contracts forestall fighters from going elsewhere. Ngannou needed to wait till his deal ran out, earlier than the UFC lastly granted his launch.
Because the UFC heavyweight champion and baddest man on the planet, Ngannou ought to have been handled like a king and been given freedom in his deal, even when that included boxing fights. Think about if Ngannou fought Tyson Fury. That struggle would have been as huge as Conor McGregor vs. Floyd Mayweather and earned everybody concerned, bucket-loads of money. Had the UFC performed their playing cards in another way, Ngannou may have been one of many UFC’s greatest stars, together with his patented one-punch energy. As an alternative, Ngannou’s champion reign will largely be remembered as a what-if story, whereas the UFC will all the time need to acknowledge their failure to signal Francis to a deal.
General, whereas either side are at fault, the UFC undoubtedly is extra in charge. Fighters deserve extra rights of their contracts and the promotion shot themselves within the foot by letting Ngannou stroll. Ultimately, the individuals who lose essentially the most are the followers, who will now doubtless by no means see Ngannou struggle Jon Jones. In a debacle of a scenario by either side, the UFC ought to be ashamed of how they dealt with Francis Ngannou’s contract negotiations.
