FRANCIS NGANNOU’s victory over Ciryl Gane could potentially be the final fight of his UFC career.
The Cameroonian-born Frenchman, 34, retained his heavyweight title last weekend in the main event of UFC 270 与一个 unanimous decision victory over his former training partner.
But upcoming knee surgery on a torn MCL and a damaged ACL will keep the former refugee on the sidelines for at least 九 月 – meaning he could see out the remainder of his UFC contract.
Manager Marquel Martin told MMA Fighting: “He’s going to have to get surgery, likely in March.
“Then the timeline can vary, 明显地, but probably looking at 9 到 10 月 [recovery time].
“So it is likely he’s going to repair the ACL and then if there is other damage that needs to be repaired like the MCL or anything else, he’ll fix that up.”
Ngannou’s existing contract with the UFC – which he inked in December 2017 – is set to expire in December.
And he’s rejected the promotion’s offer of a new £5million deal.
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Ngannou wants the terms of the agreement on offer amended so he can have more ‘freedom’ and be allowed to box.
The UFC have so far refused to give into Ngannou’s demand, a stance that has prompted the Xtreme Couture standout to entertain the prospect of free agency.
Ngannou is, 然而, eager to extend his stint in mixed martial arts‘ premier promotion but won’t do so unless his conditions are met.
During an appearance on The MMA Hour, 他说: “The term of the contract, everything that they put into [它], they hold you like in captivity.
“You can’t do anything, you have no rights. The contract is one-sided.
“You don’t even have health insurance while you’re doing this, putting your body on the line to put on the show. Risking everything.”
他加了: “You can be free and fight for the UFC. I just want to be free.
“We are supposedly independent contractors. [一个] independent contractor is technically a free person.
“That’s the reason why they need some adjustments in that contract. That’s what I’ve been fighting for.”
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