A potential return to the UFC for Francis Ngannou isn`t being ruled out.
Ngannou hasn`t competed in the octagon for over three years, having departed as a free agent to join the PFL two years ago. Since then, he has only had one fight, a knockout victory over Renan Ferreira in October 2024, otherwise remaining largely out of the spotlight. More recently, he was involved in a tragic motorcycle accident in his native Cameroon that resulted in the death of a 17-year-old girl.
While it`s uncertain when or if the 38-year-old Ngannou will fight next, his coach Eric Nicksick believes a return to the UFC could be a future career option.
Speaking to Home of Fight, Nicksick commented, “I know he`s been exploring the [Deontay] Wilder fight, and if that happens, that`s good. I just feel the heavyweight division generally is a bit disorganized right now. If we could somehow sort things out, Francis has so many potential matchups, not just in the UFC but elsewhere. He could really help fill the void the UFC currently has in heavyweight star power.”
He added, “Enough time has passed now. I`d really like to see if they can resolve their issues and him start competing in the UFC again.”
Ngannou`s departure from the UFC was under difficult circumstances, occurring while he still held the heavyweight title. His final fight for the promotion was a successful title defense via decision against Ciryl Gane. This was followed by prolonged contract negotiations with the UFC that concluded in January 2023 when Ngannou became an unrestricted free agent.
Despite UFC CEO Dana White having publicly criticized Ngannou on multiple occasions, Nicksick is convinced that putting aside differences for the sake of business is achievable.
“Absolutely,” Nicksick stated. “From Francis` perspective, I see this as more about business than ego. He wants to be compensated fairly for his services, like an independent contractor seeking the best rate. He didn`t want restrictions preventing him from pursuing boxing or other ventures. He proved he could do those things, made good money, and now his motivation isn`t primarily financial. It`s about competition, and the highest level of competition is in the UFC.”
Ngannou`s six-year tenure in the UFC was marked by highlights, including some of the most devastating knockouts in MMA history and significant victories over fighters like Gane, Stipe Miocic, Alistair Overeem, Junior dos Santos, Cain Velasquez, Curtis Blaydes, and Andrei Arlovski.
Nicksick believes a Ngannou return would not only benefit “The Predator” but also help energize a heavyweight division he sees as slowed by the inactivity of undisputed champion Jon Jones and the sidelined interim champion Tom Aspinall.
Nicksick commented, “I believe Dana is a shrewd enough businessman to prioritize the company`s interests over his personal ego. He`s level-headed enough to think, `Let`s put the past behind us; if this works out for the future, why not?` Why wouldn`t they consider it? Look at the heavyweight division now – what`s happening? You have someone like Tom Aspinall holding an interim belt for nearly 600 days. What are we doing? I`m not saying Francis is the *only* solution, but bringing him back would definitely add value to the division. If they can move past disagreements, everyone benefits, and things start happening.”
Subsequently, Jon Jones responded to Nicksick`s statements on Twitter.
Jones tweeted, “I hear Francis Ngannou is still interested. Now that`s a conversation starter. That`s a genuine superfight – a clash of champions, not just noise. He was a UFC champion; I`ve defended my status for over ten years. We are two kings from different paths. It`s not just one established figure against a current talker; it`s two significant legacies meeting. From my perspective, that kind of fight truly enhances my own narrative.”
Marcus Blakely