Petty tussles are common between fighters and promoters in the fight business, but what happened between Dana White and Francis Ngannou was something UFC fans had never seen before. ‘The Predator’ left the organization in early 2023, despite being its heavyweight champion. The main reason cited behind this move was contractual disputes.
In simpler words, Ngannou felt that he wasn’t paid well. Even after numerous attempts to negotiate a deal, things did not work well between the fighter and the promotion. The result? Shots were fired from both sides on social media and on interviews.
Many fans believe that they might never witness the Cameroonian in the UFC ever again. However, Israel Adesanya doesn’t think so!
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Israel Adesanya optimistic about Francis Ngannou returning to the UFC
Talking about Ngannou in his recent video, Israel Adesanya first expressed his happiness on the 36-year-old’s boxing debut against Tyson Fury. “Very happy”, said ‘Stylebender’ in excitement. Next, he went on to express his belief that ‘The Predator’ will be back in the UFC. According to Adesanya, the former UFC heavyweight champ will step back into the MMA organization after he makes the money he wants.
“I said it already, I said he will be back in the UFC. I think he will be back in the UFC, he just has to make his bag elsewhere first. This is how I see things, I see things differently.”
Moreover, the UFC middleweight champ also acknowledged the ongoing beef between Dana White and Francis Ngannou. “Dana and him has the beef. But I just feel like he will do what he has to do and then he will be back in the UFC. And get the respect he deserves, get the money he deserves. This right here is a big win for him.”
Is Ngannou impossible to deal with?
While Adesanya is optimistic about Ngannou’s UFC return, we can’t say the same about UFC President Dana White. Appearing in the Pat McAfee Show a few months ago, White had some bold statements about ‘The Predator’. According to the UFC boss, Ngannou will never be back in the UFC as he is difficult to deal with.
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“He’s absolutely impossible to deal with. He’ll never be in the UFC again. So, he made his decision. we worked hard, man. One of my guys, Hunter Campbell, who works for me, must have done 75 dinners with his guy, trying to get him on board.” Moreover, the UFC boss also stated that he had offered a substantial sum of money to Ngannou, but the deal is off now.
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What are your thoughts on this? Will Francis Ngannou ever be back in the UFC? Comment your opinions below!