Francis Ngannou has been implored to beg UFC president Dana White for the chance to return to the UFC.
Ngannou elected to leave the promotion and vacate his heavyweight title earlier this year after failing to agree a new contract, despite being made multiple offers. 'The Predator' is now a free agent and is assessing his options with multiple offers expected to be on the table including from Deontay Wilder.
The Cameroon star has also been in negotiations to continue his MMA career outside of the UFC including via YouTube star Jake Paul who is now signed to work with the PFL. Although his future is yet to be sorted, UFC legend Chael Sonnen believes Ngannou was blindsided by an offer from Tyson Fury which is unlikely to materialise.
"Tyson Fury put out an April 1 joke on social media that he and Francis was done, and they are fighting in Wembley on May 15," Sonnen said during an interview with MMA Junkie. "Tyson Fury made a joke. Francis has changed his whole life... Because he thought he was going to make up a sport and do it with a guy who is now using it as an April Fool’s joke.
"He has to wake up, and he needs to call back his boss [Dana White]. “There are not a lot of (opponent options). If we’re playing chess here, I don’t have two or three steps for Francis. I don’t know how old Francis is. He says he’s 36. He’s at least 36. I don’t know how old he is. I’m not sure he knows how old he is. I don’t bring that up to try to be funny. His body has already given out on him.
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"He’s already telling somebody, ‘I’m on the free market. Bid a whole bunch of money for me. By the way, I’ve got a bad knee.’ Nobody in the world… no coach looks at a guy who is hurt and old and pays him a bigger check. It’s a really weird situation. I want him to get it figured out. I don’t say it to tease him. Time is ticking. Everyday he’s not signed, he’s losing."
Ngannou first spoke about potential exploits in the boxing ring after being called out to a mixed-rules contest by Fury. However it seems that option is now off the cards for now given it has gone quiet while Fury searched for an undisputed title shot in failed negotiations with Oleksandr Usyk.
