Francis Ngannou Might Be Free Agent After UFC 270 Title Defense

Francis Ngannou may not return to the UFC.

UFC President Dana White said Ngannou, the current UFC heavyweight champion, has yet to re-sign with the promotion. Ngannou’s upcoming title defense against Ciryl Gane at UFC 270 is his last fight on the contract.

“Our heavyweight champion is about to fight his contract out… “These things happen. Sometimes you don’t always come to terms with people,” White said to ESPN.

“…Look, if you want to be with us, we’d love to have you. If you don’t want to be with us, no problem. It’s all good. I think his contract, and this is off the top of my head, if he wins he still has time with us after this fight. He’d probably have one more fight.”

White and Ngannou’s management team, specifically manager Marquel Martin, have gone back-and-forth in a heated public dispute.

Ngannou joined the UFC in 2015.

He finally claimed the UFC gold when he dethroned Stipe Miocic in a rematch fight for the heavyweight title in March.

The Cameroonian fighter is currently ranked No. 4 in the UFC men’s pound-for-pound list. He is known for his hard punches.