Francis Ngannou, the current UFC heavyweight champion, loses his title

After declining a new contract offer, Francis Ngannou, the UFC heavyweight champion, had his title and contract terminated.

The association’s president, Dana White, announced this and expressed displeasure that Ngannou had declined a lucrative offer that would have made him the highest-paid heavyweight of all time.

“We offered Ngannou a deal that would make him the highest-paid heavyweight of all time,” said White during the media announcement of the UFC Vegas 67 title fight between Jon Jones and Ciryl Gane scheduled for March 4.

‘He turned it down. We’re gonna release him from his contract. He can go and do whatever he wants.”

Since 2021, when advertisements touted the 36-year-old Cameroonian-French fighter as Jones’ heavyweight title opponent, he and the promoters had been squabbling over contract terms.

The largest MMA free agent, Ngannou, has apparently been courted by the Professional Fighters League and is said to be leaning that way.

In mixed martial arts, Ngannou has a record of 17 wins, 3 defeats, and 12 knockout victories.