UFC champ Francis Ngannou eyes potential December return, still focused on Tyson Fury in 2023

Following Francis Ngannou’s first protection of his heavyweight title, again in January, it appeared doubtless that Ngannou was set for a protracted contract battle with the UFC. Already concerned in a dispute with the promotion over their choice to create an interim belt in 2021, the ‘Predator’ solely wanted to take a seat out till early 2023 for the ‘champion’s clause’ on his contract to run out earlier than he may probably enter free company.

On condition that he wanted knee surgical procedure—and the prolonged restoration that entails, anyway—the concept that followers wouldn’t see the Frenchman till someday subsequent 12 months appeared like a secure prediction. Nonetheless, it could simply be that issues between the Xtreme Couture expertise and the world’s largest MMA promotion aren’t so dire as all that in any case.

TMZ caught up with Ngannou to get an replace on his restoration. In accordance with the champ, he’s three months into rehab, and issues are going effectively. Though he revealed that he and the UFC nonetheless haven’t come to any new deal, he hopes to be able to battle by December.

“If every part goes effectively, I will likely be prepared by the tip of the 12 months as a result of it’ll be 9 months,” Ngannou defined, talking of his rehab (transcript by way of MMA Junkie). “(I wish to be again in) late December, or early subsequent 12 months.”

Backing up the concept that Ngannou and the UFC might discover some frequent floor is a recent interview with Dana White on the Jim Rome Show. Whereas talking of former mild heavyweight champion Jon Jones and his potential return to the Octagon, White cited Ngannou as a possible opponent for ‘Bones’—depending on Ngannou’s rehab progress.

“Jon Jones is able to go,” White stated of the longtime Jackson-Wink fighter (transcript by way of MMA Fighting). “We’re simply ready for an opponent. It’s both going to be Francis [Ngannou], relying on how lengthy his knee goes to take to get better, or Stipe Miocic.”

Whereas all that seems like excellent news for followers hoping to see Ngannou hold his MMA profession on observe, it doesn’t imply the 35-year-old has pushed his boxing ambitions fully apart. Tyson Fury prodded the Cameroonian-born fighter on Twitter, doubtless in response to the TMZ interview, and Ngannou was fast to make clear that he nonetheless needs to see the ‘Gypsy King’ inside a boxing ring, someday in 2023.

Whether or not or not he and the UFC can come to phrases and nonetheless make a serious boxing exhibition occur? That continues to be to be seen.