Francis Ngannou provides update on injury, potential return to the Octagon
Francis Ngannou has provided an update on his knee injury.
Ngannou entered his UFC 270 heavyweight title defense against Ciryl Gane with a knee injury and ended up having surgery to repair a torn ACL and MCL. Since then, he has been vocal with his displeasure with the UFC as he has one fight left on his deal but is focused on his rehab which he says is getting better.
“It’s getting better, it wasn’t easy, but getting there,” Ngannou said to TMZ Sports. “It’s been only three months, so I’m still doing physical therapy.”
With the physical therapy going well, the hope for the current UFC heavyweight champion is to return in December or early next year. It would be nearly a year off which was the timeframe and would allow Ngannou to have two title defenses in this year.
“If everything goes well, I will be ready by the end of the year because it is going to be nine months,” Ngannou said. “(I want to be back in) late December or early next year.”
Although Francis Ngannou wants to return in December, he says he still needs to get a new contract done. Once he gets closer to returning, he will meet with the UFC and see what the promotion has to offer him but Ngannou has been vocal in wanting to box Tyson Fury which would hinder a potential UFC deal.
“For now, let’s fight for the situation and get everything squared up (with my contract),” Ngannou said. “Then when I get close to the return we will see where the landscape is at.”
Ngannou is coming off the decision win over Ciryl Gane to defend his belt for the first time back in January. Prior to that, he knocked out Stipe Miocic to win the heavyweight title.
