Francis N’Gannou says no interim title, “Was a mess up from the UFC”
Francis N’Gannou could not help but feel sad after his 20-second knockout against Jairzinho Rozenstruik at UFC 249 Saturday, May 9.
“That was a mess up from the UFC. I think they should have done that,” N’Gannou said.
“That night I couldn’t really enjoy my victory, I was thinking about it like OK, ‘At least I have the interim title around my waist right now. Like what is going on?’”
The UFC heavyweight division is currently on hold. Previously sidelined by an eye injury, champion Stipe Miocic is currently serving as a firefighter in his home state of Ohio during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Daniel Cormier recently urged Miocic to sign for a potential trilogy fight in August, but Micioc said he is unable to train because his gym is currently closed.
N’Gannou is waiting in the wings.
The African fighter is happy with his most recent win, but wants what Justin Gaethje now has. Gaethje earned the UFC lightweight interim championship after defeating Tony Ferguson via fifth-round TKO at UFC 249.
“It’s crazy the feeling I had after the fight. Especially seeing Justin Gaethje, it’s nothing to take from the guy, he deserves everything,” N’Gannou said. “To see that and then kind of see myself in the same position and couldn’t have the same interim title that we asked for. I was really sad about it, regardless of my victory, my win.”
Not saying too much
He won his last four-straight bouts by knockout or TKO in the first round. After losing by unanimous decision to Derrick Lewis at UFC 226 in July 2018, N’Gannou put away Curtis Blaydes, Cain Velasquez, Junior Dos Santos and Rozenstruik.
Despite building up quite a resume, N’Gannou is without any hardware to show for it. The UFC is not telling him much about it according to N’Gannou.
“The UFC is the UFC, they don’t give much explanation,” N’Gannou said. “Lately, they haven’t shared much with us. We’re trying to get some information, but they didn’t share much with us.”
