Francis Ngannou claims UFC’s contracts give them exploitative power, calling it one of the reasons for not re-signing.
‘The Predator’ recently made an appearance on MMA journalist Ariel Helwani’s show – The MMA Hour. The Cameroonian discussed various topics like his contract issues with the UFC and his departure from the promotion.
While speaking about his dispute with the UFC, Ngannou stated that the fight contract imposed a lot of limitations on him and gave exploitative power to the promotion:
“First of all, I don’t want that contract. The way that it’s structured, I don’t want it. Doesn’t matter how much [money] is in that contract. Because in that contract, I’m not free…I’m not independent. In that contract, I have no right, no power. I’ve seen in the past how you [Dana White] can utilize your power on me, and I don’t want that to happen again.”
UFC president Dana White recently revealed at a press conference that Francis Ngannou had been stripped of the heavyweight title and released from the promotion.
White added that Ngannou was offered the largest sum ever offered to a UFC heavyweight, but ‘The Predator’ declined
Listen to Ngannou speak about his contract issues from the 19:00 mark below:
Francis Ngannou’s UFC exit diminishes the possibility of a super fight against Jon Jones
For years, MMA fans have been calling for a showdown between Francis Ngannou and Jon Jones. It recently appeared as though the dream matchup might become a possibility. However, with the Cameroonian’s departure from the UFC, the chances of that fight ever taking place are very low.
Ngannou’s coach Eric Nicksick was also bothered by the fight falling apart and expressed the same in his interview with The Schmo:
“That part’s always gonna bother me…in the competitive side. Because Jon Jones is the GOAT to me… So the competitor in me, yes, I’m always gonna wish that we had that opportunity to put a gameplan together, to go execute against who I think is the best ever to do it. But that opportunity might still be on the table later on down the line.”
You can watch the full interview below:
