“A revenge with Ciryl Gane, I sign of course… if I stay in the UFC” Cameroonian Francis Ngannou dashed his future as a mixed martial arts fighter on Saturday after retaining his heavyweight title at the expense of the Frenchman. “Losing, I’ve been there before,” Ngannou said of Gane. “I know he’s a very good fighter, he has the ability to get up. »
“During the first two rounds, I mostly relied on my boxing, but since I wasn’t moving as well as him, I opted for another option. I didn’t think it would be a wrestling match,” he explained. “I didn’t knock him out. but I disappointed those who thought he would beat me in five rounds. I was and remain the champion. The boss is me,” he smiled.
Will the “Predator” continue in the UFC? The question arises as his contract will expire at the end of the year. It’s only January, but another fight seems unlikely. For two reasons. The first is the state of his right knee, damaged in the cruciate ligaments. “I got injured 25 days ago. So I didn’t want to slip or take a hit, even though I was ready to give up my leg to win. I now think that I will have to have surgery, ”he said at a press conference.
@ciryl_gane : “Thank you very much. Unfortunately it didn’t do it. He didn’t miss much. It’s only a postponement. We’ll continue to work and make you happy. Morale is good, we’re going when even party tonight!”
📲 #NgannouGaneRMC pic.twitter.com/B8Dk8qf8cV
– RMC Sport (@RMCsport) January 23, 2022
Challenged by Tyson Fury on social media
The second reason is his desire to change the arena, swapping the wire cage for the boxing ring, his first passion. He repeated it, as soon as his title was retained at the Honda Center in Anaheim: “It’s something I have to do before the end of my career. But at 35, time is running out for the Cameroonian that Tyson Fury, WBC heavyweight champion, did not wait for. to challenge him on social media.
What irritate Dana White, the boss of the UFC, with whom Ngannou maintains tense relations, the latter believing that he is not sufficiently remunerated. “It’s not just a question of money, although it obviously counts. I just don’t feel free, not treated well. I have expressed to them several times my desire to stay and all this frustration has made this desire disappear. I don’t feel respected,” he said.