LAS VEGAS – Regardless of what transpires at UFC 285, Xtreme Couture head coach Eric Nicksick will still consider Francis Ngannou UFC heavyweight champion.
Ngannou relinquished his title after parting ways with the UFC due to failed contract negotiations. As a result, the promotion matched up the returning Jon Jones with Ciryl Gane for the vacant belt in Saturday’s UFC 285 headliner at T-Mobile Arena.
Prior to departing, Ngannou retained his title by outwrestling Gane at UFC 270. Nicksick sees interesting storylines emerging from either a Jones (26-1 MMA, 20-1 UFC) or Gane (11-1 MMA, 8-1 UFC) victory, but he is leaning toward Jones.
