Getty
LAS VEGAS, NV – JULY 07: Francis Ngannou of Cameroon stands in the Octagon before facing Derrick Lewis in their heavyweight fight during the UFC 226 event inside T-Mobile Arena on July 7, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)
Getty
LAS VEGAS, NV – JULY 07: Francis Ngannou of Cameroon stands in the Octagon before facing Derrick Lewis in their heavyweight fight during the UFC 226 event inside T-Mobile Arena on July 7, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)
Getty
LAS VEGAS, NV – JULY 07: Francis Ngannou of Cameroon stands in the Octagon before facing Derrick Lewis in their heavyweight fight during the UFC 226 event inside T-Mobile Arena on July 7, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)
Getty
LAS VEGAS, NV – JULY 07: Francis Ngannou of Cameroon stands in the Octagon before facing Derrick Lewis in their heavyweight fight during the UFC 226 event inside T-Mobile Arena on July 7, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)
The UFC raised some eyebrows when they put the interim heavyweight title on the line for the UFC 265 main event between Derrick Lewis and Ciryl Gane in Houston, Texas. One person who was particularly displeased by the decision was the undisputed heavyweight champion, Francis Ngannou.
Watch What’s Trending Now!
There were even rumors that the promotion could strip ‘The Predator’ of his belt after having failed to reach negotiations for a date of his first title defense. Ngannou defeated Stipe Miocic in March at UFC 260 to solidify his status as the ‘Baddest Man On The Planet’. So, he hasn’t been out of action for too long, one can say.
Imago
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – MARCH 27: Francis Ngannou of Cameroon reacts after his victory over Stipe Miocic in their UFC heavyweight championship fight during the UFC 260 event at UFC APEX on March 27, 2021 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC)
The Cameroonian, who sat down for a chat with GQ recently, was asked if he believes the UFC is trying to devalue his position as the heavyweight champion of the world.
Also Read: Cris Cyborg, Jon Anik and Other MMA Stars Shed Tears as Legendary Coach Passes Away
“Absolutely! That’s how I feel. There’s one thing: if you say you understand the UFC, and how they do business, that means you don’t understand sh*t. It’s just like that: it can be very spontaneous, premature, and decisions are out of nowhere. They just pop up like that: boom! But at the end of the day, things will get done. It’s just a matter of time,” said Ngannou.
Francis Ngannou will fight Ciryl Gane next
Ciryl Gane, who made the most of his opportunity and became the interim heavyweight champion, will next fight Francis Ngannou in a title unification bout. The duo has a brief history between them as they were training partners in the MMA Factory gym in Paris.
Stylistically, a fight between the duo will an intriguing watch for the fans. Ngannou is the scariest power puncher in the entire UFC roster. Gane, on the other hand, with his tremendous movement and technical acumen, is a breath of fresh air in the UFC’s heavyweight roster
Also, being former training partners, both men will be aware of the other’s strengths and weaknesses. What do you make of Ngannou‘s statement? Can ‘The Predator’ beat Ciryl Gane? Let us know.
Watch this story: Top 5 Biggest Rivalries in the History of the UFC