Francis Ngannou is looking for a suitable next opponent, and it seems that he’s settled on Alexander Volkov.
UFC heavyweight contender Francis Ngannou has made no secret of the fact that he wants to get in there with Alexander Volkov next. He was offered a short-notice fight against the Russian in the main event of UFC Moscow, earlier this month, but felt like 18 days wasn’t enough notice to get prepared. Following Volkov’s win, Ngannou has continually campaigned for the bout and now he wants it in January at UFC 246.
Ngannou issued the challenge again on Twitter today:
@AlexDragoVolkov What’s your schedule for January 18th looks like?! Let me offer you a free trip in the most entertaining city in the world ( @LasVegas ). #UFC246 @ufc#whathappensinvegas
— Francis Ngannou (@francis_ngannou) November 30, 2019
Volkov isn’t keen on that date though. He’d prefer to push the fight back a bit to March, and maybe meet Ngannou on a yet-unannounced Paris card:
@francis_ngannou How about Paris in March? Or you are too afraid to fall in front of your audience?
— Alexander Volkov (@AlexDragoVolkov) November 30, 2019
Ngannou fired back, curiously calling Volkov out for not signing a contract before, when it was Ngannou himself that turned down the fight:
Paris in March or tomorrow in a phone booth, I will fight you anywhere. Just sign the damn contract this time. Call @danawhite ASAP. https://t.co/C2iRCugoYF
— Francis Ngannou (@francis_ngannou) November 30, 2019
Ngannou (14-3, 9-2 UFC) has won three straight fight by quick KO following the first two losses of his career. He most recently stopped Junior dos Santos in 71 seconds in June, and has been looking to get back in the Octagon as soon as possible.
Volkov (31-7, 5-1 UFC) rebounded from a late knockout loss to Derrick Lewis by methodically dismantling Hardy over three rounds in Moscow. He is currently tied for the six spot at heavyweight in the official UFC rankings, while Ngannou sits at two.