Francis Ngannou

2023 - 1 - 14

Jon Jones Jon Jones

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Image courtesy of "CBSSports.com"

UFC releases heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou from ... (CBSSports.com)

Francis Ngannou is no longer UFC heavyweight champion and now free to sign with any other combat sports promotion. Ngannou's split from the UFC comes after ...

"We offered Francis a deal that would have made him the highest paid heavyweight in the history of the company. [press conference](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=66uRauzIx6g) on Saturday in the immediate aftermath of [UFC Fight Night](https://www.cbssports.com/mma/news/ufc-fight-night-results-highlights-sean-strickland-pieces-up-nassourdine-imavov-for-decision-win/). Ngannou is currently on a six-fight winning streak defeating the likes of Gane, Stipe Miocic, Cain Velasquez and Curtis Blaydes. Jon Jones](https://www.cbssports.com/mma/news/ufc-285-fight-card-jon-jones-vs-ciryl-gane-set-for-heavyweight-title-clash-in-las-vegas-in-march/) will be contested for the vacant UFC heavyweight championship at UFC 285 in Las Vegas on March 4. And Jon Jones has been willing, and ready, and able to fight anybody. Francis Ngannou is no longer UFC heavyweight champion and now free to sign with any other combat sports promotion.

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Dana White Confirms Francis Ngannou Out of UFC, Jones vs. Gane ... (Cageside Press)

UFC President Dana White confirmed following UFC Vegas 67 that Francis Ngannou is no longer with the promotion, and that the UFC has waived its matching ...

The UFC President reiterated that Jones was also willing to fight anybody, and not just for the title. “He literally didn’t care who it was on the roster, and not for the title. “This guy’s worked hard, and he feels like he’s in a position right now to fight lesser competition for more money. “We offered Francis a deal that would have made him the highest paid heavyweight in the history of the company. White was referring to the billboard-sized banner at the Las Vegas arena, which revealed both the match-up and championship stakes for UFC 285 on March 4, 2023. Ciryl Gane](https://cagesidepress.com/2023/01/14/t-mobile-arena-billboard-featuring-jones-vs-gane-lights-social-media/) heavyweight title fight at UFC 285 in March, the writing was on the wall.

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Dana White: Francis Ngannou Will Be Released by UFC After ... (Bleacher Report)

UFC President Dana White announced on Saturday that the promotion has released heavyweight champion Frances Ngannou after the two sides could not reach a...

what he made for the UFC...

It's prize fighting and the prize is money, not being taken advantage of by the UFC. [will now make](https://twitter.com/SportsCenter/status/1614460533742125058) his heavyweight debut on March 4 in Las Vegas for the vacant UFC heavyweight title against Ciryl Gane. Highest paid HW doesn't equal highest paid fighter and we know the highest paid UFC fighter was also underpaid vs. However, there was public hope earlier this week that a fight between him and Jones could still go down in March. White says they offered him a deal that would have made him the highest paid HW ever. White says they are going to wave any right to match and let him go elsewhere.

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Francis Ngannou released; Jon Jones returns, meets Ciryl Gane for ... (MMA Junkie)

Heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou is released from the UFC. Jon Jones will return at UFC 285 to meet Ciryl Gane for the vacant title.

- Viviane Araujo vs. - Jon Jones vs. Gane lost a title unification bout to Ngannou, his former teammate, at UFC 270 in January 2022. “We’ve been negotiating with (Ngannou) for more than two years,” White said, and added that Ngannou’s knee, which recently was surgically repaired, could be an issue for him, as well. That same venue is set to host the March 4 event, which will air on pay-per-view following prelims expected for ESPN and ESPN+. He’ll meet Gane (11-1 MMA, 8-1 UFC) for the belt the UFC has stripped from

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Dana White on Francis Ngannou not signing new UFC deal: 'I think ... (MMA Fighting)

Dana White says the UFC has released Francis Ngannou from all contractual obligations and waived matching rights, which now allows the former heavyweight ...

“I think he doesn’t want to take the risk,” White said of Ngannou. “We did everything we could to get him to take the deal. You’d be the highest paid heavyweight ever in heavyweight history, or you think there’s more money out there to fight somebody who isn’t the greatest of all time, somebody who is a lesser opponent. “You’re going to fight arguably the greatest fighter of all time. “More than [Brock] Lesnar, more than anybody, and he turned the deal down. As a result, White said, Ngannou is officially a free agent with the UFC waiving all rights to match any other offers.

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UFC releases Francis Ngannou; Jon Jones to fight Ciryl Gane for ... (Yahoo Canada Sports)

Dana White said the UFC offered Ngannou a contract that would have made him the highest-paid heavyweight in UFC history, but that Ngannou had turned it ...

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UFC bombshell: Dana White confirms Francis Ngannou released ... (Daily Mail)

Dana White announced that heavyweight champ Francis Ngannou will be released from his contract after turning down an offer that would have made him the ...

He has only ever been knocked down once, by Aussie Tai Tuivasa, and has a record of 9-1 - his only loss coming to Ngannou last January. Ngannou is arguably the biggest free agent in MMA history and may now pursue his longstanding boxing ambitions. 'We offered Ngannou a deal that would make him the highest-paid heavyweight of all time,' said White.

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UFC releases Francis Ngannou; Jon Jones to fight Ciryl Gane for ... (Yahoo Canada Sports)

Dana White said the UFC offered Ngannou a contract that would have made him the highest-paid heavyweight in UFC history, but that Ngannou had turned it ...

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Francis Ngannou released; Jon Jones returns, meets Ciryl Gane for ... (Yahoo Sports)

Heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou is released from the UFC. Jon Jones will return at UFC 285 to meet Ciryl Gane for the vacant title.

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Francis Ngannou will be released from UFC contract, says Dana White (CNN)

Francis Ngannou will be released from his contract and is no longer the UFC heavyweight champion after he turned down a contract that would have made him ...

“We did everything we could to make the fight happen and give him the fight. He can go wherever he wants and do whatever he wants.” Ngannou had been in negotiations for a new agreement for two years, White said, and plans were in place for the 36-year-old to fight Jones.

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Francis Ngannou, champion chez les lourds, quitte l'UFC (L'Équipe.fr)

Détenteur de la ceinture de champion chez les poids lourds, Francis Ngannou n'a pas renouvelé son contrat avec l'UFC. Le Camerounais est libre de s'engager ...

Il a été expliqué qu'il ne ferait pas jouer l'option d'égaler n'importe quel contrat extérieur pour garder Ngannou. C'est Dana White, le patron de l'UFC, qui l'a confirmé samedi soir à Las Vegas en marge de l'UFC Vegas 67. [opposant Jon Jones à Ciryl Gane](/Mma/Actualites/Ciryl-gane-defiera-jon-jones-lors-de-l-ufc-285/1374743) pour le titre de champion UFC chez les poids lourds a été rendue possible car le contrat qui liait l'organisation de MMA et Francis Ngannou, le détenteur de la ceinture, n'a pas été renouvelé.

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Francis Ngannou libéré de son contrat avec l'UFC - Arts Martiaux ... (Actu MMA)

Après l'UFC Vegas 67, Dana White s'est exprimé sur le sujet Ngannou. Le Camerounais a été libéré de son contrat avec l'UFC.

Il a assuré que le Camerounais a été libéré de son contrat avec l’UFC. Nous avons offert à Francis un contrat qui aurait fait de lui le poids lourd le mieux payé de l’histoire de l’organisation, et il a refusé la proposition.« Francis Ngannou libéré de son contrat avec l’UFC

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MMA: le champion poids lourds Francis Ngannou quitte l'UFC (Le Figaro)

Le camerounais, désireux de tenter sa chance en boxe anglaise, a quitté l'UFC faute d'accord.

Depuis, le Camerounais de 36 ans, qui compte 20 combats pour 17 victoires et 3 défaites, avait multiplié ses envies d'ailleurs, ne cachant pas son désir de combattre en boxe anglaise. «On lui a offert un accord qui aurait fait de lui le poids lourd le mieux payé de l'histoire de l'organisation. On va le libérer de son contrat» a-t-il ajouté.

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UFC - Dana White cash sur Francis Ngannou : « On lui a offert le ... (Parlons Basket)

Dana White s'est exprimé sur le départ de Francis Ngannou de l'UFC, et il n'a pas hésité à remettre la faute sur le Camerounais.

Il peut lui offrir le salaire de Lesnar mais pas la partie des recettes du pay-per-view. Nous avons offert à Francis un contrat qui aurait fait de lui le poids lourd le mieux payé de l’histoire de l’UFC. D’après Dana White, Francis Ngannou aurait reçu une offre pour devenir le combattant le mieux payé de l’histoire de sa catégorie, devant la superstar Brock Lesnar, qui a pourtant touché 2.5 millions de dollars pour son dernier combat… Dana White s’est évidemment exprimé sur le sujet, et il n’a pas hésité à remettre la faute sur le Camerounais. Visiblement, il lui aurait offert le plus beau contrat de l’histoire, mais il s’est heurté à un mur. Et d’après le président de l’UFC, qui s’est exprimé après la défaite de Nassourdine Imavov, ce n’est pas faute d’avoir essayé avec le Camerounais :

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Dana White: Francis Ngannou rejected deal to become highest paid ... (MMA Junkie)

Dana White says Francis Ngannou would've been the highest paid heavyweight in UFC history, but rejected the contract. Now he's a free agent.

And I think that probably has a lot to do with it as far as Francis is concerned. “We can’t continue to hold up the division and not come to an agreement with this guy. We’re going to give up our right to match, and he can go and do whatever he wants. Ngannou turned down the UFC’s offer for a contract renewal, White said, and left behind his heavyweight title for the chance to become arguably the biggest free agent in combat sports. “You’ll have to ask Francis that question, but in my opinion that’s what it is. He feels he’s in a good position where he can fight lesser opponents and make more money.

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Image courtesy of "Mirror.co.uk"

Francis Ngannou to be released from UFC and lose heavyweight title (Mirror.co.uk)

Ngannou will depart the UFC after being embroiled in a contract feud with the promotion, which will see him vacate his heavyweight title.

[YouTube channel.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eLgjkiMp1S4) "And the reason I tell you it's disrespectful. And UFC legend Chael Sonnen suggested that his contract demands were unfair and were also unlikely to be agreed to along the stretch. The heavyweight champion wants to fight in the boxing ring and r "And he turned the deal down. It was expected that the Cameroon star would return to the octagon against undefeated superstar Jon Jones if he was able to agree a fresh deal with the promotion. UFC kingpin Dana White has now confirmed the news at yesterday's press conference, where he suggested Ngannou was offered a new mega-money deal but turned it down.

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Twitter reacts to Francis Ngannou's UFC release, Jon Jones vs. Ciryl ... (MMA Junkie)

The MMA community was left in disbelief after news of Francis Ngannou's UFC release and Jon Jones would fight Ciryl Gane for vacant gold.

[January 15, 2023] Gane the correct fight to make in the aftermath of a failed deal? That opened the door for Jones (26-1 MMA, 20-1 UFC) vs. Did the UFC make a misstep in failing to bring back Ngannou? [as a result, parted ways](https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/2023/01/ufc-285-news-jon-jones-returns-vs-ciryl-gane-francis-ngannou-released-vacant-heavyweight-title).

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Ciryl Gane reacts to Francis Ngannou's UFC exit, expects he will be ... (MMA Fighting)

Ciryl Gane offers his reaction to the news that Francis Ngannou is out of the UFC and the opportunity to become undisputed heavyweight champion in an ...

“More when I started MMA, because I’m a fan of every sport in MMA, and when you look at a guy like Jon Jones, who’s well-rounded like this, you really appreciate it. “Both are going to help me grow my career, and both are really exciting,” Gane said. Because I’ve never had this belt, and because fighting against this guy is going to be really crazy.” The main event at UFC 285 also serves as Gane’s second opportunity to become undisputed heavyweight champion after he came up short in his previous bid against Ngannou. “I looked to the future. “I know I’ve got good footwork at first, I think I’m a little bit more well-rounded [than Ngannou],” Gane said. “When I started watching this, Jon Jones was one of my favorite fighters,” Gane revealed. Taking on somebody like Jones is exactly what Gane has always wanted, and he’s bubbling over with anticipation as he prepares for their matchup in March. Just a few days later, however, Gane got the news that he will face Jones at UFC 285 on March 4 to crown a new UFC heavyweight champion. “Me, also, I am not like that. “We’re going to wait how long? I don’t know exactly, but it’s not my worry.”

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MMA community reacts to Francis Ngannou's shock exit from the UFC (Bloody Elbow)

Well, it's official: Francis Ngannou is no longer under contract with the UFC. The news of Ngannou's departure came as a shock to the MMA community, ...

He wants to fight lesser opponents for more money”— Kevin Thang (@Skip2MyJays) Jones v Ngannou would be an absolutely massive fight, and for the sake of a couple million they’re losing out on tens… Power on another level. Good luck on the next chapter— schwick (@schwick6) Unrestricted free agency for the best MMA heavyweight in the world.— Marc Raimondi (@marcraimondi) [pic.twitter.com/VnN9lykTwa] [January 15, 2023]

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