Photo by Dominik Bindl/Getty Images
Francis Ngannou was stepped over by Greg Hardy because he wanted the fight pushed back to a later date.
There’s a lot of confusion surrounding next month’s headlining bout between Alexander Volkov and Greg Hardy at UFC on ESPN+ 21.
Former UFC heavyweight champion Junior dos Santos was originally set to face Volkov but the Brazilian was forced to pull out due to staph infection.
That’s when heavy-hitting knockout artist Francis Ngannou offered to step in as a replacement, but the UFC went ahead and gave Hardy the opportunity instead.
UFC Moscow in 18 days?
— Francis Ngannou (@francis_ngannou) October 22, 2019
I love the UFC game, it’s so funny. #UFCMoscow
— Francis Ngannou (@francis_ngannou) October 22, 2019
The reason why Hardy was selected over Ngannou is because ‘The Predator’ wanted the fight pushed back to a later date, which defeats the whole purpose of a short-notice replacement fight.
“Obviously, two days ago they called my manager if I wanted to fight,” Ngannou said in a recent interview with TMZ Sports (h/t MMA Fighting’s Jed Meshew). “Like, when? Of course I want to fight. Where and when, with who? ‘In 18 days.’ Really? For what purpose? What is the goal for this fight because it’s a step down for me. We’re talking about what, a title shot guarantee, a contract renegotiation, what? ‘No, we’re not talking about that. Just a fight.’ So we think about it and we’re like, what is the purpose to risk to go to the fight without a training camp because it’s just 18 days. This fight was announced maybe two months ago…
“We prefer, okay let’s put the fight, Alexander Volkov and I in Las Vegas, which is like, in almost eight weeks, seven to eight weeks. That would make more sense. By then I’ll have a good training camp, appropriate training camp for the fight.”
Ngannou is on a three-fight win streak against Curtis Blaydes, Junior dos Santos, and Cain Velasquez, KO’ing all three opponents inside the first round. As one of the most hyped and talked-about fighters in the heavyweight division, the Cameroonian-born fighter is frustrated that he still doesn’t have a title shot lined up and believes the UFC ought to show him more respect.
“I’m just going crazy. I took a quick trip to Hawaii,” Ngannou said. “It wasn’t planned but I was just out there in Vegas going crazy, trying to have a fight,” Ngannou said. “I do this for living. I do this to put food on the table for me and to provide to my family. I’ve been asking for a fight since my last fight. I was still inside the octagon when I asked Dana face to face, ‘Do I get a title shot?’ He said let’s see how it plays out in August. Then after August I didn’t have news, trying to find out what happens, what’s next. Even more than two months after August, I still don’t have a fight.”
“I just want the UFC to pay me some respect and for the UFC to give me a damn fight,” he added. “That’s what I’m asking for. I was expecting to have a fight by December to make my Christmas and New Year for my family. Hey man, I need a fight. I need to make money.”
The UFC did offer him a fight, but Ngannou wanted it pushed back to a later date which would have left the fight promotion without a main event for UFC on ESPN+ 21.
UFC Fight Night: Volkov vs. Hardy takes place next month, Nov. 8 at CSKA Arena in Moscow, Russia.