Francis Ngannou doesn’t appear to be pleased with the UFC’s decision to book an interim title fight in the heavyweight division.
After the promotion reportedly hit an impasse at finalizing a date for Ngannou’s (16-3 MMA, 11-2 UFC) first title defense, it opted to move on and put together an interim championship bout between Derrick Lewis (25-7 MMA, 16-5 UFC) and Ciryl Gane (9-0 MMA, 6-0 UFC) at UFC 265 on Aug. 7.
Ngannou’s management told ESPN it was surprised by the fight considering “The Predator” is only three months removed from winning the belt from Stipe Miocic. Shortly thereafter, Ngannou took to social media and noted the organization’s unevenness when it comes to handling these situations, pointing to how he should’ve got his own interim title fight against Jairzinho Rozenstruik at UFC 249 in May 2020 after then-champ Miocic had been out of action for nine months (via Twitter):
I remember my interim title fight against Jairzinho …. oh wait 🙄
— Francis Ngannou (@francis_ngannou) June 28, 2021
I remember my interim title fight against Jairzinho …. oh wait 🙄
Nothing has been right here https://t.co/SIeM9uEfBG
— Francis Ngannou (@francis_ngannou) June 28, 2021
Nothing has been right here
It’s been a dramatic shift for the heavyweight division from where things stood just a few months ago. Coming out of Ngannou’s knockout win over Miocic in their rematch at UFC 260 in March, all signs pointed to a superfight with Jon Jones being the next move.
Negotiations with Jones quickly deteriorated, though, and the UFC brass shifted to Lewis as the first challenger for Ngannou.
Fast-forward to the present day, and now neither Ngannou nor Jones will be involved in the next title bout at heavyweight.
Ngannou wasn’t the only one surprised by the decision. Check out how some others in the MMA community reacted to the Lewis vs. Gane news.
ESPN MMA
UFC is adding an interim heavyweight title fight between @Thebeast_ufc and @ciryl_gane to UFC 265 on Aug. 7, Dana White told @bokamotoESPN.
The promotion tried to book Lewis against Francis Ngannou, but Ngannou informed them he wouldn't be ready to defend his title by August. pic.twitter.com/vHQwb77YXI
— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) June 28, 2021
Belal Muhammad
— Belal Muhammad (@bullyb170) June 28, 2021
Simon Samano
Two slaps in the face here:
One to Francis Ngannou, for obvious reasons. An interim belt ALREADY? 👋🏽
The other to Amanda Nunes, for making an interim title fight the main event over an actual title fight involving a GOAT. 👋🏽 https://t.co/EuGMn5bqb2
— Simon Samano (@SJSamano) June 28, 2021
Ben Askren
Wow that’s a swerve I didn’t see coming…. https://t.co/tcsoEGuqkB
— Funky (@Benaskren) June 28, 2021
Ariel Helwani
Let’s send it over now to Francis Ngannou for reaction: pic.twitter.com/jdVnvLvun5
— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) June 28, 2021
Mike Bohn
Winner of this will become the 5th interim UFC heavyweight titleholder.
Top of this division giving off major late-2008 vibes right now with roadblocks outside of the cage involving the champ and key players. https://t.co/oxDZdFDVCT
— Mike Bohn (@MikeBohnMMA) June 28, 2021
Derek Brunson
Ciryl Gane vs. Derrick Lewis for the interim belt 😬🔥😀. I knew Gane was going to get something big soon!
— Derek Brunson (@DerekBrunson) June 28, 2021
Matthew Wells
I have so many questions. https://t.co/0QZbY8ok5A
— Matthew Wells (@MrMWells) June 28, 2021
Aaron Bronsteter
Interestingly enough, the UFC 265 interim heavyweight contenders (Lewis and Gane) are represented by the former managers of Jon Jones (First Round Management) and Francis Ngannou (Fernand Lopez).
— Aaron Bronsteter (@aaronbronsteter) June 28, 2021
Eric Nicksick
If you only knew half the story… But you see how they’ll do you??
— Eric Nicksick (@Eric_XCMMA) June 28, 2021
Ciryl Gane
Derrick Lewis
Daniel Rubenstein
Sweet we can do Bantamweight Interim Title: Petr Yan vs winner of TJ/Cory October 30 in Abu Dhabi! @sayatmma @PetrYanUFC https://t.co/9dSRPaBJV4
— Daniel Rubenstein (@dannyrube) June 28, 2021
Marc Raimondi
Ngannou just fought three months ago, winning the UFC heavyweight title after patiently waiting for the close of the Miocic vs. DC trilogy. Now all of a sudden he has to rush back in early August after taking a well-deserved trip to visit family in Cameroon? Doesn’t seem right.
— Marc Raimondi (@marc_raimondi) June 28, 2021
Cris Cyborg
Hope to see you @SHOsports in the future champ, you will love the difference in company culture and the way the athletes are treated.
— CrisCyborg.Com (@criscyborg) June 28, 2021
