Francis Ngannou has no interest in returning to the UFC, and one of his coaches believes that will never change.
It’s important to clarify because there’s been a game of telephone going where Ngannou’s head MMA coach Eric Nicksick recently suggested “The Predator” was ready “to make himself available to whatever options that he needs.” That was all it took to get everyone talking about a Ngannou return to UFC.
On Saturday in Baku, Azerbaijan, a reporter told Dana White that Ngannou wanted to return to UFC, and White said he wasn’t a fan. Ngannou dropped a cold tweet in response, writing “Did I say I’m ever coming back?”
Now his striking coach Dewey Cooper is sharing his thoughts on a potential reconciliation between the UFC and Ngannou.
“I don’t see any chance of Francis returning to the UFC,” Cooper told Online Slots. “The other coaches on our staff may think differently.”
That doesn’t mean the door is completely shut on Ngannou versus a top UFC name.
“I can see him doing a kind of co-promotion thing, maybe a UFC fight, but in conjunction with the PFL,” Cooper said. “Because when all this went down and we ‘fumbled the bag,’ the PFL had Francis’ back, and one thing about Francis, he appreciates the support he got from PFL. He’s not just gonna forget about that when the whole world said he screwed up and he blew it, or that he was afraid to fight someone — which was never the truth.”
“The PFL came to him and had his back. So as of now he’s still with the PFL, so in order to do anything, the PFL would definitely have to be involved.”
It’s interesting to hear this because according to sources close to Ngannou, the PFL contract he signed in May 2023 was for two years and expired recently. Maybe there’s been an extension signed, or maybe Franny just wants to give PFL the second fight he agreed to in that initial contract.
Ngannou often works on honor vibes. He certainly didn’t have to fight Ciryl Gane with a blown out knee at UFC 270 — his UFC contract was set to expire later that year, and he could have just rehabbed the leg and coasted to free agency. But he wanted to honor the number of fights on the deal. That’s more evidence of the kind of dude Ngannou is. As for the evidence of him being a bad guy? We’re still waiting.
This story originally appeared on MMA Mania
