With the UFC’s heavyweight division currently facing uncertainty, the name Francis Ngannou has once again entered the discussion. The former undisputed champion departed the promotion in January 2023, but his coach recently made remarks suggesting Ngannou might consider a return.
This possibility quickly caught the attention of current champion Jon Jones, who expressed strong interest in a potential fight with Ngannou, referring to the matchup as a ‘true super-fight’.
Jones’s stance drew criticism from some fans who suggested he was promoting this idea to avoid facing interim champion Tom Aspinall.
Following the attention generated by his initial comments and their impact on the heavyweight narrative, Ngannou’s coach took steps to clarify exactly what he meant.
Eric Nicksick clarifies his comments on Francis Ngannou potentially returning to the UFC following Jon Jones’ comments
In an interview with Home of Fight, Eric Nicksick stated that, in his opinion, enough time has passed since Francis Ngannou’s less-than-amicable departure from the UFC for the two parties to potentially reconcile and work together again.
The Xtreme Couture head coach added that he believes Ngannou would be open to this idea, emphasizing that for Francis, decisions have always been driven by business considerations rather than ego.
Nicksick also made a point to acknowledge that Tom Aspinall, with whom he maintains a good relationship, is completely deserving of his position as interim champion and the opportunity to become the undisputed UFC champion. He noted that simply bringing the former titleholder back wouldn`t necessarily fix the current stalemate in the division.
“I’m not saying that Francis is the answer but it at least adds some more value to your heavyweight division if you go out and get a guy like him and bring him back.”
In a recent social media post, Nicksick further elaborated on his comments to ensure they were not taken out of context.
He referenced all three major figures in the heavyweight division – Ngannou, Jones, and Aspinall – making it clear that his remarks were not intended negatively towards Jones or Aspinall.
Nicksick’s main point was simply that adding Ngannou back into the mix would make the division significantly more exciting, a sentiment that is difficult to dispute.
Eric Nicksick draws comparisons between Jon Jones vs Tom Aspinall and the Francis Ngannou fight that didn’t happen
While stressing his respect for Jon Jones, Eric Nicksick did highlight a comparison between the current heavyweight champion’s prolonged situations with both Tom Aspinall and the previously discussed fight with Francis Ngannou.
The potential Jones vs. Ngannou bout remains one of the biggest “what-ifs” in UFC history, a superfight that never happened despite both fighters being signed to the promotion concurrently.
Nicksick stated that there are certainly some parallels between how the situation with Jones and Aspinall has unfolded and the previous negotiations involving Jones and Ngannou. He believes this current dynamic only serves to validate the points they made at the time regarding the potential superfight.
“We were ready to fight anyone that came to the table, but the negotiations weren’t stalled on our end. So, I think that now over time, the truth comes to light and we don’t really have to say much about it. You’re seeing what’s going on now.”
Rupert Hartwell 
Benedict Kingsley