UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou was warned that he would be stupid to leave the promotion at the end.
Ngannou's UFC contract is due to expire December 31st. He has rejected the promotion's offer for a new deal of PS5million.
UFC heavyweight champ Francis Ngannou currently is in a contract dispute with the UFC
with the UFC
The French-born Cameroonian native, aged 34, wants more freedom and the ability to box with UFC blessing. However, he is willing to try out free agency if they refuse to comply.
Bruce Buffer, a future hall-of fame commentator, believes that The Predator would be stupid to abandon the largest mixed martial arts promotion anywhere in the world.
Buffer said to Ngannou during a recent episode on his It's Time podcast: "It would have been stupid to go your way."
"The UFC IS the NFL"
Buffer believes that all other MMA promotions around the globe would be a significant step down for Ngannou, who is heavy-handed.
He said, "No offense to any other organizations. But you become irrelevant when the UFC leaves after a while. To a degree.
"Instead losing in the UFC, your contract is being terminated in the UFC and you are falling from the Octagon into Bellator [etc].
"Let's hope everyone gets together [to make a deal].
Ngannou's future in the UFC is up in the air. He'll be out of action for at least NINE months following his knee surgery.
However, he is keen to continue his time in the top promotion of mixed martial arts, but he won't do it unless UFC agrees with his terms.
During an appearance on The MMA Hour he stated: "You can be free while fighting for the UFC. I want to be free.
"We are supposedly independent contractors. Technically, an independent contractor is a person who is not dependent on another.
"That's why they need to make some changes in that contract. This is what I have been fighting for."
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