Francis Ngannou has made a surprise return to the UFC stage, appearing during the ceremonial weigh-in on Friday despite having left the promotion in 2023 after unsuccessful contract talks. He showed support for his close friend, former UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman, who is scheduled to fight Joaquin Buckley at Saturday’s Battle Night event. Although Ngannou participated in the weigh-in, he is not an official cornerman and was there purely to back Usman.
This appearance marks Ngannou’s first involvement with the UFC since his departure. Last week, Ngannou’s MMA coach, Eric Nicksick, revealed that Ngannou is open to returning to the UFC, emphasizing that his motivations have shifted from financial gain to seeking the highest level of competition found in the UFC.
Ngannou vacated the UFC Heavyweight Championship when he left in January 2023, sparking a public dispute with UFC CEO Dana White. Ngannou wanted more freedom from UFC’s restrictive contracts and sought opportunities for more lucrative boxing matches against stars like Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua. Meanwhile, White accused Ngannou of avoiding a potential fight with Jon Jones and showed little enthusiasm for re-signing him, missing Friday’s weigh-in event and expressing doubt about welcoming Ngannou back.
Currently, Ngannou competes under the Professional Fighters League banner, where he has fought once, defeating Renan Ferreira via a first-round TKO.
Fan Take: Ngannou’s potential UFC comeback is huge news for fight fans eagerly awaiting his next big challenge, potentially reshaping the heavyweight division. His return could elevate competition and bring fresh excitement back to the sport, bridging MMA and boxing worlds.
