Francis Ngannou To Entertain Offers From Boxing Promoters, MMA Organizations
Francis Ngannou, the most recent fighter to hold the UFC heavyweight title, is going to entertain offers from boxing promoters and MMA organizations.
This past weekend, UFC President Dana White revealed that his company was unable to reach an agreement with Ngannou on a new three-fight contract - which led to Ngannou being stripped of the UFC title and released from any contractual ties to the company.
If a deal would have been reached, Ngannou believes he would have made 'around' $8 million to fight Jon Jones at UFC 285.
Ngannou had planned to do three fights with the UFC, before pursuing high-profile fights in boxing.
According to the fighter, he was unable to compromise on certain terms in the contract.
As part of the deal, says Ngannou, he would have been unable to solicit outside sponsors or pursue boxing opportunities.
“In that contract, I’m not free,” Ngannou said to The MMA Hour. “I’m not an independent contractor. I have no rights. I hand over all the power to you guys. I’ve seen in the past how you guys can utilize your power against me, and I don’t want that.
“I know that I did everything right. I don’t have any regrets. I wouldn’t do anything different if I had to do it again. They didn’t want anything to do with boxing. They were like, if, and only if, and in good faith, and I’m like, I’m not betting on that.
“At some time, I feel like I was slapped in the face by money, like, ‘Take the money and shut up.’ And that couldn’t happen. It was just a matter of principle, and at that time, I knew this was it. They didn’t say on the phone, ‘This is what’s going to happen,’ but I knew.”
Ngannou would like to return to action by July, but everything depends on the offers being presented.
“I think I just need some respect, more respect at least,” Ngannou said. “It’s very important. I need some freedom. I need to feel like a man, own my freedom, control my destiny. I don’t want anybody to decide for me. I think I’m man enough to decide for my own, and so far, I haven’t been doing a bad job at all.”
