UFC: Francis Ngannou says ‘there’s no rules’ as Miocic-Cormier trilogy holds up heavyweight division
- Heavyweight contender Ngannou says it has been a ‘frustrating’ wait at the top and wants the division ‘back online’
- ‘The Predator’ faces Jairzinho Rozenstruik at UFC 249 with the pair’s request to fight for an interim belt rejected
Heavyweight contender Francis Ngannou has admitted it’s been “frustrating” to see his division being held up by the UFC’s Stipe Miocic and Daniel Cormier trilogy talks.
“Honestly, I don’t know. I thought my last fight was for the title fight. I thought this fight would be for the title fight. But it didn’t happen,” Ngannou (14-3) said at the UFC 249 virtual media day ahead of his bout against Jairzinho Rozenstruik (10-0) on Saturday in Jacksonville, Florida.
“I don't know exactly what you can do besides win the fight. I think I'm going to win the fight [against Rozenstruik] but at this point I've realised that it's not your call. There's no rules – it's all about what the UFC wants.
“But I'm OK with that. To be honest, I don’t worry about that any more. It has been a few months ago that I deal with that. My only concern is this fight. What's next I don’t know and to be honest I don’t really care,” added the 33-year-old Cameroonian, who is on a three-fight win streak having beaten Curtis Blaydes, Cain Velasquez and Junior dos Santos – all in the first round via TKO.
Champ Miocic and former champ Cormier have won one fight apiece with a trilogy in the works, meaning there has not been much room for surrounding heavyweight contenders searching for a title fight.