Francis Ngannou`s journey with the UFC may not have reached its conclusion, according to his coach.
More than three years have passed since Ngannou`s last fight in the octagon, and two years since his departure for free agency and the PFL. He has competed just once since then, securing a knockout win over Renan Ferreira in October 2024. Otherwise, he has largely remained out of the spotlight. Recently, he was unfortunately involved in a motorcycle accident in Cameroon that resulted in the death of a 17-year-old girl.
While it remains uncertain if or when the 38-year-old Ngannou will compete again, his coach, Eric Nicksick, believes a return to the UFC could be a future possibility.
Nicksick mentioned Ngannou`s interest in a potential boxing match against Deontay Wilder but expressed concern about the current state of the heavyweight division. He feels Ngannou could significantly enhance the UFC`s heavyweight roster, stating, “I just feel like the heavyweight division as a whole is kind of in shambles, and I think that if we can somehow, someway get this back together, there’s so many options for Francis. Not only in the UFC, but just around. I think that he can help bridge that gap that the UFC is lacking in its star power when it comes to the heavyweight division.”
Nicksick hopes that sufficient time has passed for relations between Ngannou and the UFC to improve, adding, “I think enough time has passed. I would love to see somehow, someway that they can mend these fences and get back in competing in the UFC.”
Ngannou`s departure from the UFC in January 2023, where he left as a free agent while still holding the heavyweight title, occurred under strained circumstances. His final fight in the promotion saw him successfully defend his title against Ciryl Gane via decision, followed by lengthy and ultimately unsuccessful contract negotiations.
Despite public criticism from UFC CEO Dana White regarding Ngannou, Nicksick believes they can reconcile differences for business reasons.
“100 percent,” Nicksick affirmed. He emphasized Ngannou`s focus on business over ego, stating, “I think this is more about business than it is about ego, at least it is from Francis’ side. He wants the opportunity to be paid for — It’s like being an independent contractor. You [want to be] paid the highest amount for whoever needs your services. He doesn’t want to be stuck in a position where he’s not allowed to go box or he’s not allowed to go do these things, but he went out and did these things and he competed and made a lot of money, proved that he could do it. So, now, where does his motivation come from? It’s not about money, it’s about competition, and the best competition is in the UFC.”
During his six-year tenure in the UFC, Ngannou delivered numerous memorable moments, highlighted by some of the sport`s most devastating knockouts and significant victories against opponents such as Ciryl Gane, Stipe Miocic, Alistair Overeem, Junior dos Santos, Cain Velasquez, Curtis Blaydes, and Andrei Arlovski.
Nicksick contends that Ngannou`s potential return would not only benefit him but also invigorate the heavyweight division, which he describes as stagnant due to the inactivity of undisputed champion Jon Jones and the delayed situation involving interim champion Tom Aspinall.
Believing Dana White is a shrewd businessman prioritizing company interests over personal feelings, Nicksick suggested exploring a return. He highlighted the current state, asking, “Look at the heavyweight division right now. What’s going on? You’ve got this poor guy in Tom Aspinall that’s been holding on to an interim belt for almost 600 days now. What are we doing here? I’m not saying Francis is the answer, but it at least adds some more value to your heavyweight division if you go out and get a guy like him and bring him back. Let bygones be bygones, everybody’s making money, everybody’s happy, but it gets things moving.”
Subsequently, Jon Jones responded to Nicksick`s remarks on social media.
In a post, Jones wrote, “I’m hearing Francis Ngannou is still interested. Now we’re talking. That’s a real superfight. A clash of champions, not just hype. He held the UFC belt, I’ve defended mine for over a decade. Two kings from different roads. Not just one legend facing a mouth that’s hot right now, but two real legacies colliding. That’s the kind of fight that actually adds something special to my story. At least from my point of view.”
