Francis Ngannou will be released from his contract and is no longer the UFC heavyweight champion -- after turning down a contract that would have made him the highest-paid heavyweight fighter in UFC history
“We offered Ngannou a deal that would make him the highest-paid heavyweight of all time,” said White. “He turned it down. We’re going to release him from his contract. He can go wherever he wants and do whatever he wants.” Jon Jones, who has signed an eight-fight deal, will face Ciryl Gane for the now vacant UFC heavyweight title in Las Vegas on March 8 after a three-year absence from the sport.
“We can’t continue to hold up the division to come to an agreement with this guy,” White added. “We did everything we could to make the fight happen and give him the fight. But he’s got it in his head that there’s bigger opportunities outside the UFC with lesser opponents.” Ngannou’s last fight was in January 2022 when he defeated Gane to unify the heavyweight division and he was on a six-fight winning streak.
Ireland Latest News, Ireland Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Jon Jones vs. Ciryl Gane Bout Set as UFC Releases Francis NgannouJon Jones vs. Ciryl Gane headlines UFC 285 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on March 4
Read more »
Francis Ngannou released; Jon Jones returns, meets Ciryl Gane for vacated heavyweight titleJon Jones will make his return to the octagon in March after more than three years away when he meets Ciryl Gane for the now vacant heavyweight title at UFC 285.
Read more »
Jones to face Gane for heavyweight title as Ngannou exits UFCJon Jones will face France's Cyril Gane for the UFC heavyweight title at the T-Mobile Arena on March 8 after champion Francis Ngannou vacated the belt to enter free agency, UFC president Dana White told a news conference.
Read more »
UFC releases Francis Ngannou; Jon Jones to fight Ciryl Gane for vacant heavyweight title at UFC 285UFC president Dana White said after a fight card Saturday that the promotion released heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou from his contract, and booked Jon Jones against Ciryl Gane on March 4 in the main event of UFC 285 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas for the vacant heavyweight title.
Read more »
Vatican holds funeral for Cardinal George Pell who decried Pope Francis’ ruleRight after Pell’s death, it was revealed that the cardinal was the author of a memo that lamented the current papacy as a “disaster” and a “catastrophe.”
Read more »
Vatican holds funeral for cardinal who decried Francis' ruleThe Australian cardinal who decried the papacy of Pope Francis as a “catastrophe” was given a funeral Saturday and hailed by some fellow churchmen at St. Peter's Basilica, with the pontiff imparting a final blessing for the once high-ranking Vatican prelate. Cardinal George Pell, 81, died on Jan. 10, shortly after undergoing hip surgery in a Rome hospital. As the Vatican’s finance minister for three years, Pell had been a key player in the early years of Francis’ papacy, whose goals included reforming the Holy See's finances, which had a long history of scandals and poor management.
Read more »