Francis Ngannou has a good idea as to why the UFC booked an interim heavyweight title bout between Ciryl Gane and Derrick Lewis just five months after ‘The Predator won the official heavyweight title with a knockout victory over Stipe Miocic at UFC 260.
The simplest explanation, says Ngannou, is that the UFC is actively trying to discredit him as champion.
“Honestly, that’s not a feeling that I have,” Ngannou told Ariel Helwani during a recent appearance on The MMA Hour (h/t MMA News). “I don’t know, I might be wrong, but I don’t feel that because in my opinion, right now, from what I’m seeing, the UFC tried to discredit me. That’s what I know. Those who promote somebody can not work together with discrediting him. You don’t do that to somebody that you want to promote.”
Ngannou pushed for a super-fight against Jon Jones following his stoppage victory over Miocic but UFC president Dana White did everything in his power to sabotage the matchup.
Ngannou will return to the octagon to fight ex-teammate Ciryl Gane in a heavyweight title unification bout at UFC 270 on Jan. 22.
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