UFC: "I don't feel considered my fair value", Ngannou always looking for recognition

The long -awaited shock between Francis Ngannou and Ciryl Gane will take place on the night of Saturday to Sunday (exclusively on RMC Sport).In an interview with RMC Sport, the Cameroonian expressed his complicated relations with the UFC but also with Fernand Lopez, his former coach who is now that of Gane.

Francis, did you imagine at the time when you were at MMA Factory that you would find Ciryl for a belt fight?

I had thought that it was a possibility because I knew he would finish at the UFC.Even if it was not yet.

Because at the start he was very young ...

Yes he was very young but he had a very good striking what the UFC was looking for.And he also had a good experience in kick boxing and he was determined at MMA.

Why did you choose to leave France, was it necessary?

It was necessary and very essential because I had to progress in terms of my game, it's been 4 and a half years that I left France and it was essential for me to settle here (in the States-United).Already improving my English for possible opportunities in the future although the United States was my childhood dream.This is the capital of combat sports.

Is it also to improve your game, be more complete?

Improve my game, improve everything around.

Through social networks, it feels like it has been your most complete preparation since you entered the UFC ...

The fight against Stipe (Miocic, during revenge) remains the most complex and complete fight because Stipe meets all the criteria of what can be expected for a UFC fighter, a MMA fighter, a championMMA.It represents a danger on all terrains such as struggle, soil and boxing.

Have you prepared yourself differently for Ciryl?

More or less but there have been certain similarities in terms of striking even if I prepared myself in fight.Even if it is not the same level of struggle.It has nothing to do.

What have you learned the most since you live in the United States?

Five years in the United States is equivalent to a whole life of experience.Experience, knowledge already of sport overall, sport itself, business side, show business, culture, everything that goes with ...

Even if you have evolved in your game, Lopez knows you perfectly ...

(He cuts) No he doesn't know me perfectly.Error number 1, Lopez he knows the Francis of 4 and a half years ago.And there again he knows what he wanted to know about Francis.Rather, he tends to see himself in the fighter than the fighter himself.And I think that's the problem of Lopez.He tends to see what he imagines being able to do in this fighter.It is difficult for him to know this person who may have his version of himself who can be improved and work on it to be improved.

Is it an advantage or an inconvenience for him to know you a little anyway?

I do not know but in both cases I would say that I know him more than he knows me.I would say that it is rather an advantage because I am almost sure that I can guess 70% what the game plan will be.

How do you get to know your game plan?

Because I know him.I know how he thinks, I spent time with the guy.I spent time more than observing it than learning unlike him who spent more time wanting to see myself in me.

Finally, is it more an advantage for you then?

In this sense I would say it is an advantage.Afterwards we must not neglect the fact that Ciryl is a talented fighter who says talented fighter says asset as the improvisation that is part, the intelligence of the fight which are decisions that you make spontaneously during the fight and whodo not necessarily come from the coach.It comes from your intelligence, from your analysis right now so you should not neglect this factor which must necessarily come from CIRyl and which possibly weighs a lot on the balance.

We have your reaction when you met them in New York.It made a lot of react to the UFC, in France.And Lopez would even have recognized that it would have been hypocritical on your part to greet them.With hindsight, would you act in the same way now?

It's weird because at the start he didn't think that. At the start, he found that it was not fair, that it was frequent. But yes it would have been hypocritical and with hindsight I would have done the same thing. Because I remember approaching, because that was a staging, the UFC staged this scenario because they prevented us from taking another passage to pass there where the camera was ready . And I found myself, I came up there on them and instinctively I thought and I thought what I do? I greet them? No Still not. Will they answer me? If I approach them, what will happen? Wouldn't that be an opportunity for Lopez to say yes he said this? Since I will see that I approached him and since there is no sound. So I wouldn't have to deny what it is saying he would have said. So the right decision, knowing that I couldn't get closer, without however being able to greet Ciryl it would have been weird. So I decided to ignore, to go. I also wanted to greet Nassourdine (Imavov) also who had just won his fight and which was good. Since very often even on Messenger I write to him to say congratulations all that. And in person I really wanted but the scene was not appropriate suddenly the decision I made and that I would still take it to move forward.

We have a bit of the impression seen from France that you have the role of the bad guy and ciryl that of the gentle.How do you live it?

UFC:

From here I don't feel that, which is a good thing.For that I will answer two elements as you said earlier I am not present in France so communication in France, I do not control.In France, we trust that Fernand (Lopez) says or what Ciryl says.And on the other hand I think that this fight has a slightly more Franco-Cameroonian aspect than a classic fight.So suddenly, at the time the Cameroonian must be the villain.Especially with the story that is told.

How do you experience it?

I don't mind, at this stage I am used to the little daily dramas.I still went through a few steps, dramas to get there.In 2018, I lost my fight against Stipe and then against Derrick Lewis.And there what I experienced, it served me as an experience of what can happen in this environment.How people can be hard and how things can change.People almost officially declared me that it was over for me that I couldn't.The proof that they were wrong, I am champion today.LED people will always speak.The fact remains that time does its work.

Where are you in your contract with the UFC?There are many rumors around this situation.

Yeah there are lots of noises around this contract because this contract is difficult.I decided that I did not sign a contract whose terms did not protect me.Because I realized that the last contract that I signed 4 years did not favor me.In fact, I was a tool for the UFC and there was no counterpart in this contract.There was no responsibility for me.It is therefore a question for me possibly to reassure myself, that I have security, that they have a certain responsibility which engages them in a possible contract that can be signed.

You are not closed to the idea of re-signing a contract?

Yes I am not closed, I was not closed.There have been several failures, several attempts that failed.Several negotiations that have not succeeded but I am not closed since I know that the UFC they have the capacity to do a good contract, to understand.It's relative, it's a normal thing to ask for rights.Humanity is not complicated, asking for respect is not very complicated, asking someone who uses you to be able to give you work without threat or without constraint, it is not complicated.

Do you feel considered at your fair value?

Not at all, I do not feel considered at my fair value.And that's the problem is that the contract with the UFC is the UFC that defines your value.You cannot explore your value on the market because it is the UFC that defines your value.In the end, you do not negotiate, they tell you what to do and you say yes or no because you are in the midst of a contract.Or you have 2 and a half years left and they offer you something, you have no choice because even if you say no you are still on contract with them and you have to fight.What most of the time people will accept and they will give them a room for maneuver which is the extension of the contract.So far I have been able to resist this temptation although it is not easy but I still come to the end.

Is your future in English boxing?We know that you like English boxing, that it is a great passion.Or is your future in MMA?

It has always been obvious that I would have fighting in English boxing before the end of my career since the MMA was not initially my project, was not my big dream.My big dream was boxing but in passing I knew MMA, things went well.But at the same time I never dropped the English boxing.So possibly boxing will be part of my career.And even if I relate a contract with the UFC, there will be the mention of English boxing.

What is the feeling when you are considered the strongest man in the world?

It depends on the definition, the approach of the strongest man in the world. I don’t think I’m the strongest man in the world and that’s the most important. When we talked about what people say to themselves, I disregard this kind of thing that can impact positive or negative. Being the strongest man in the world does not mean anything. I don't think it has a meaning. It's beautiful for promotion, for combat. There are strong people on a daily basis, that there are parents who fight tooth and nails for children, to feed children, to send them to school, to give them the best possible health care. And for that I think they are strong. Force does not reside in physical power in my opinion. Because I if I consider myself a strong man it is by my capacity to cross obstacles, to overcome the trials and not to give up life. And to fight for my principles. That’s why I’m not very much because I may have a physical strength that doesn’t really prove that I’m the strongest.

We cannot determine ... There are guys who lift trucks ...

There are guys who lift trucks and I can't lift a truck.

If you keep your belt, will you think you will greet the clan opposite or still think about what you are going to do?

Do you mean the fighter opposite?Yes.

And the coach?

I do not care actually.Especially considering the situation, I don't think it's something that fascinates me.Once again Ciryl and I have no problem, we never had one.With or without the belt, I find no reason to greet Ciryl on the passage or in the street or somewhere.While presenting a sign of recognition or respect.Personally I have no problem.So if the communication is controlled, manipulated.Reality is not that.

Small question about the African Cup of Nations.Do you look at her?

Yes !The reality is that I did not have time to follow the African Cup in full.But I’m the Lions' match because they’re in the race.They opened the CAN since it takes place in Cameroon.And Victory then Victory and the last match there was a draw but we had already qualified in the second round.And I think this is where it starts to be interesting.

Does Cameroon have a team to go to the end?

I think that Cameroon has always had a team to go to the end but Cameroon did not often have leaders to do it and I am convinced that with the arrival of Samuel Eto'o at the head of the Cameroonian FederationFootball things will change.And that you can already see that, you can see this enthusiasm in each player individually who feels engaged.Sometimes they are no longer there to fulfill contractual obligations, they are there for passion, for love because they know that the one in front is with them 100%.Even not being a football player, I have this feeling, I want to go there, score the goal and win.It’s something moving.The arrival of Samuel Eto’o, I think it will materialize by an African Cup, one more star on the Cameroonian jersey.

And the fact that it is organized in Cameroon, it must be extraordinary.Do you think it is an advantage or an inconvenience?

There are both.It weighs a little on both sides of the scale.So yes it puts more pressure on the players but on the other hand given the advantages they have, I think that the state of mind is in very good position.They have a very good state of mind that can allow them to go to the World Cup.

RMC Sport