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Coach: Doctor Urged Francis Ngannou To Withdraw From UFC 270 Due To Knee Injury

Eric Nicksick, the head coach of UFC heavyweight champion, Francis Ngannou, has claimed that a doctor had urged his student to withdraw from last weekend’s UFC 270 heavyweight title unification bout with Ciryl Gane. Headlining UFC 270 on Saturday, Francis Ngannou managed to successfully unify the heavyweight championships with a unanimous decision (48-47, 48-47, 49-46) […]

Headlining UFC 270 on Saturday, Francis Ngannou managed to successfully unify the heavyweight championships with a unanimous decision (48-47, 48-47, 49-46) victory over the undefeated interim titleholder, Gane, utilizing a surprising gameplan of grappling and wrestling.

Francis Ngannou completed his contractual obligations with the UFC with Saturday’s outing

However, prior to the fight, speculation began to mount that Francis Ngannou had suffered a knee injury in the run-up to his title unification bout. And fuel was further added to the fire when the Batie native made his Octagon walk – sporting a pair of knee braces.

Securing a whopping four separate successful takedowns against Gane as well as attaining significant periods of top control in the third, fourth, and fifth rounds, Ngannou confirmed post-fight that he had suffered a knee injury.

Speaking with UFC color commentator, Joe Rogan, Ngannou confirmed that he had suffered a complete tear of his ACL and partial tear of his MCL just 25 days before his title unification clash with Gane during a training session at home base, Xtreme Couture.

Expected to undergo a surgical procedure in order to address his right knee injury, Francis Ngannou, as per his head coach, Nicksick, was urged to withdraw from UFC 270 by a doctor during a pre-fight consultation just days before the bout.

“I was a nervous wreck,” Erick Nicksick told MMA Junkie. “I think a lot of the things that my head was telling me was to pull out of the fight, and I just didn’t like the way that the knee injury was and the situation that the opponent that we had with the particular injury that we had. Obviously, we did want to get into some wrestling, but I didn’t know how we were going to be able to wrestle without having the cardio the last three-and-a-half weeks, as well as the stability of the knee, and I’ve just got to give all the credit to Francis (Ngannou). That guy’s willpower, his mental capacity, what he wanted to do, he just unwavered (sic) the entire camp.”

“We had kind of that come-to-Jesus moment last Friday before we left,” Eric Nicksick said. “We got word from a second opinion doctor out here in L.A. that he was adamant that Francis (Ngannou) should pull out. He thought that he could ultimately lose a year-and-a-half to two years after a full knee reconstruction surgery if that leg would have gone wrong, something would have gone wrong. So we got that word last Friday. We had practice that day so we all met at the (UFC Performance Institute), and thart’s kind of when I just said (to Francis Ngannou), ‘Dude, what are we doing here? I love you, bro. You’re my brother. But as your coach, I do have to tell you what I think is right, and this is what I feel is right in this situation.”

“But if you as the fighter say that you’re going to fight, I’m going to have your back 110 percent,” Eric Nicksick explained. “But I can’t live with myself without telling you how I truly feel., This isn’t about anything other than your safety and your legacy, in my opinion,’ So we agreed upon what we were going to do was, we were going to come to California fight week, (and) we were going to meet with the doctor out here in L.A. The moment we landed, we went right to his office and basically waited outside and he came out and I could tell by his face, I’m like, ‘Oh, we’re fighting.’ Once we knew that, I didn’t bring his knee up one. I didn’t say anything about it. I didn’t want to talk about it anymore because that, as far as I was concerned, was behind us. We’re going to fight with what we’ve got.”

Saturday’s victory for Francis Ngannou came as his sixth consecutively, as well as his second in a championship bout following last March’s undisputed title success against two-time opponent, Stipe Miocic.

Eric Nicksick Prefers Getting Hit By A Baseball Bat Than Kicked By Francis Ngannou

Despite Francis Ngannou (16-3 MMA) being widely renowned for his devastating knockout power. Head coach Eric Nicksick believes his fighter kicks are more agonizing than getting hit with a baseball bat. Ngannou will be making his first defence of his Heavyweight title against the UFC’s interim titleholder and former teammate Ciryl Gane (10-0 MMA) at UFC 270. The Heavyweight […]

Ngannou will be making his first defence of his Heavyweight title against the UFC’s interim titleholder and former teammate Ciryl Gane (10-0 MMA) at UFC 270.

The Heavyweight Champion trains under the direction of his head coaches Eric Nicksick and Dewey Cooper at Xtreme Couture in Las Vegas.

However, this came about after ‘The Predator’ chose to relocate camps at the end of 2018 after having multiple disagreements with his former head coach at the ‘MMA Factory’ in Paris, Fernand Lopez.

During a recent appearance on ‘The MMA Hour’ compared eating Ngannou’s leg kicks to being hit with a baseball and it was very clear what the MMA coach had an easier time dealing with.

“I’ve been hit in the back with a baseball bat before, and literally the bat, it broke. It was a wooden bat, it broke across my back, and it didn’t bother me one bit. Then I’ve been kicked by Francis to the point where I couldn’t walk for two weeks, man. Like, it’s bad. It hurts, man. It hurts bad.

“I’ll have the Fairtex (leg) pads on, and he’ll start kicking that pad — and the pad, all of a sudden, feels like it starts to get scared, and the pad starts to move apart. You’re like, ‘Oh man, this thing’s going to land hard. This thing’s going to land flush.” (Transcribed by the Mirror)

Nicksick further stated that Ngannou’s “ungodly” strength and power is something you cannot obtain and developed through training.

“It’s a different type of power, man, the way that this man can kick and punch and throw and generate power. It’s ungodly. There’s nothing that you can train to be like, that type of power,” Nicksick said.

Do you think Francis Ngannou can hand Ciryl Gane his first professional loss at UFC 270?

Coach Reveals How Ngannou Has Dealt With Dramatic UFC 270 Buildup

Xtreme Couture head coach Eric Nicksick doesn’t believe that heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou has been distracted ahead of UFC 270.

Ngannou has had to deal with quite the buildup to his matchup with Ciryl Gane, including back-and-forths in the …

Xtreme Couture head coach Eric Nicksick doesn’t believe that heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou has been distracted ahead of UFC 270.

Ngannou has had to deal with quite the buildup to his matchup with Ciryl Gane, including back-and-forths in the media with his former coach Fernand Lopez. Ngannou had a public split from Lopez and MMA Factory in which he has been accused of being a bad teammate and not paying fees.

Sparring footage of Ngannou and Gane training together at MMA Factory has also leaked to the public, with many making assumptions of how the fight could play out. But during a recent interview with ESPN’s Phil Murphy, Nicksick claims that it’s business as usual for the heavyweight champ.

“It’s a lot of the same. He doesn’t show a lot of emotion,” Nicksick said. “It’s hard to give the right analogy, but it’s a lot like a Shark cruising through the water and not bothered by anything. He’s very calm, very collect, and gathering everything through the process. Nothing’s really stood out to me that’s been alarming. It’s something else when you get him ready for a fight. It’s a Mike Tyson effect. When the lights come on, he’s always ready to go.”

Ngannou and Gane also had an awkward run-in backstage at UFC 268 in which Ngannou walked past Gane and his team without acknowledging his former colleagues. Ngannou has accused the UFC of setting the whole thing up, which Gane has disagreed with.

The UFC 270 main event will kick off the calendar year for the promotion, with Ngannou and Gane looking to prove who is arguably the baddest man on the planet. According to Ngannou’s coach, he doesn’t plan on fighting with emotion when he enters the Octagon.

What are your thoughts on the Francis Ngannou/Ciryl Gane pre-fight buildup?

Continue Reading Coach Reveals How Ngannou Has Dealt With Dramatic UFC 270 Buildup at MMA News.

Eric Nicksick – MMA Coach

DOB: N/AGym: Xtreme CoutureLocation: Las Vegas, NevadaMartial Arts Background: MMANotable Fighters: Francis Ngannou, Aljimain Sterling, Dan Ige, Paul Felder Eric Nicksick’s beginning in MMA Eric Nicksick is one of the most unexpected journeys to becoming a premiere MMA coach. He began MMA as a student, signing up for classes at Xrtreme Couture in 2007. His […]

DOB: N/A
Gym: Xtreme Couture
Location: Las Vegas, Nevada
Martial Arts Background: MMA
Notable Fighters: Francis Ngannou, Aljimain Sterling, Dan Ige, Paul Felder

Eric Nicksick’s beginning in MMA

Eric Nicksick is one of the most unexpected journeys to becoming a premiere MMA coach. He began MMA as a student, signing up for classes at Xrtreme Couture in 2007.

His first and only gym that he would ever be a part of. Nicksick has been a student of MMA and worked his way up from student to general manager and head coach of Xtreme Couture.

After 7 years of training at the gym, Nicksick was a purple belt and ran the kids program at the gym. Nick’s positive attitude and approach to teaching made him very popular among the kids at Xtreme Couture.

Eric Nicksick become GM and head coach

Through hard work, Nicksick worked his way up through the ranks at Xtreme Couture. After a decade of grinding and determination, he became the GM and head coach of Xtreme Couture.

It was unexpected that a person like Nicksick would get this role, but he more than proved himself worthy. For a while Xtreme Couture had a bit of a decline as an elite MMA gym.

But thanks to Nicksick’s leadership, he has helped make Xtreme Couture a powerhouse in MMA once again. Eric has a way of developing a bond with his fighters and they trust him 100%.

His style has attracted some of the top fighters in the world to come train with him in Las Vegas. The biggest name by far is UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou.

Notable fighters

After becoming the head coach at Xtreme Couture just a few years ago, Nicksick has begun building his fighter stable. He is the head coach of fighters like Francis Ngannou, Dan Ige, and Aljamain Sterling.

Francis Ngannou

Current UFC heavyweight champion, Francis Ngannou is the most feared fighter on the planet. The Cameroon native has quite the story of working a diamond mine as a child to becoming UFC champion.

At 26, Francis left his country and walked to France. He met his first trainer Fernand Lopez, who let Francis to train and sleep at his MMA gym.

He would quickly go pro and go 5-1 before earning a shot in the UFC. Francis began his first reign of terror in the UFC, knocking out 5 of his first 6 opponents to earn his first title shot.

Ngannou would lose his next two fights and look like a shell of what he once was. Francis was able to get his head right and improve his skills with the help of Eric Nicksick at Xtreme Couture.

The old KO artist Francis would come back better than ever and knock out his next 4 opponents. Putting him in line for a rematch with Stipe Miocic.

Francis would stuff Stipe’s takedown attempts and finish him with strikes in the second round. Earning him his first UFC title.

His partnership with Nicksick has proved to be a fruitful one. The current champ looks better than ever and will look to add to his impressive resume.

Dan Ige

The Hawaiian native Dan Ige is currently one of the top 10 best featherweight fighters in the world. Ige has been a professional fighter since 2014 and has fought in every promotion from LFA, Titan, and Pancrase.

After going on a six fight win streak, Ige would earn a shot at a UFC contract on Dana White’s Contender Series. A submission win over Luis Gomez would earn a contract with the UFC and realize his dream.

Dan would have a strong start to his UFC career going 6-1 in his first 7 bouts. He would come up short, but have a strong performance against a top 5 featherweight in Calvin Kattar.

Not discouraged, Ige would bounce back with a KO win over Gavin Tucker. Although he would lose a tough decision to the Korean Zombie in his last fight.

At just 29 and with a 15-4 record, the Xtreme Couture fighter has a lot of career left. He will look to bounce back and continue his chase towards the featherweight title.

Paul Felder

The recently retired Paul Felder was one of the toughest lightweight fighters in the UFC. He never turned down a fight and frequently earned fight on the night honors whenever he competed.

Felder went 17-6 in his career beating a number of big name opponents. Including a TKO win over current lightweight champion Charles Oliveira. Paul also was never finished in his career.

The Philadelphia native never actually trained with Eric Nicksick, but Nicksick did corner him. Felder took a last minute fight against Rafael Dos Anjos in Las Vegas.

Unfortunately due to Covid restrictions, Felder’s team could not corner him. Nicksick stepped up and offered to corner Felder for this bout.

Even though Felder lost a decision, Nicksick’s willingness to help him earned Nick much respect in the MMA community.

Eric Nicksick’s legacy as a coach

Eric Nicksick proves that hard work can pay off. His journey to becoming a well known MMA coach is an unsuspecting one.

Going from just a student in 2007 to becoming a big time MMA coach is almost unheard of, but he did it. Nicksick’s hard work was recognized in 2020 as he earned MMAJunkie’s coach of the year award.

This was not only for coaching, but opening Xtreme Couture’s doors to a number of fighters during the Covid-19 lockdown. He showed his willingness to help fighters when they needed it.

Nicksick’s coaching career is still young, but we can expect big things from the Xtreme Couture GM and head coach.

Eric Nicksick – MMA Coach

DOB: N/A
Gym: Xtreme Couture
Location: Las Vegas, Nevada
Martial Arts Background: MMA
Notable Fighters: Francis Ngannou, Aljimain Sterling, Dan Ige, Paul Felder

Eric Nicksick’s beginning in MMA

Eric Nicksick is one of the most unexpected journeys to becoming a premiere MMA coach. He began MMA as a student, signing up for classes at Xrtreme Couture in 2007.

His first and only gym that he would ever be a part of. Nicksick has been a student of MMA and worked his way up from student to general manager and head coach of Xtreme Couture.

Eric Nicksick become GM and head coach

Through hard work, Nicksick worked his way up through the ranks at Xtreme Couture. After a decade of grinding and determination, he became the GM and head coach of Xtreme Couture.

It was unexpected that a person like Nicksick would get this role, but he more than proved himself worthy. For a while Xtreme Couture had a bit of a decline as an elite MMA gym.

But thanks to Nicksick’s leadership, he has helped make Xtreme Couture a powerhouse in MMA once again. Eric has a way of developing a bond with his fighters and they trust him 100%.

His style has attracted some of the top fighters in the world to come train with him in Las Vegas. The biggest name by far is UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou.

Notable fighters

Francis Ngannou

Current UFC heavyweight champion, Francis Ngannou is the most feared fighter on the planet. The Cameroon native has quite the story of working a diamond mine as a child to becoming UFC champion.

At 26, Francis left his country and walked to France. He met his first trainer Fernand Lopez, who let Francis to train and sleep at his MMA gym.

He would quickly go pro and go 5-1 before earning a shot in the UFC. Francis began his first reign of terror in the UFC, knocking out 5 of his first 6 opponents to earn his first title shot.

Ngannou would lose his next two fights and look like a shell of what he once was. Francis was able to get his head right and improve his skills with the help of Eric Nicksick at Xtreme Couture.

The old KO artist Francis would come back better than ever and knock out his next 4 opponents. Putting him in line for a rematch with Stipe Miocic.

Francis would stuff Stipe’s takedown attempts and finish him with strikes in the second round. Earning him his first UFC title.

His partnership with Nicksick has proved to be a fruitful one. The current champ looks better than ever and will look to add to his impressive resume.

Dan Ige

Dan would have a strong start to his UFC career going 6-1 in his first 7 bouts. He would come up short, but have a strong performance against a top 5 featherweight in Calvin Kattar.

Not discouraged, Ige would bounce back with a KO win over Gavin Tucker. Although he would lose a tough decision to the Korean Zombie in his last fight.

At just 29 and with a 15-4 record, the Xtreme Couture fighter has a lot of career left. He will look to bounce back and continue his chase towards the featherweight title.

Paul Felder

The recently retired Paul Felder was one of the toughest lightweight fighters in the UFC. He never turned down a fight and frequently earned fight on the night honors whenever he competed.

Felder went 17-6 in his career beating a number of big name opponents. Including a TKO win over current lightweight champion Charles Oliveira. Paul also was never finished in his career.

The Philadelphia native never actually trained with Eric Nicksick, but Nicksick did corner him. Felder took a last minute fight against Rafael Dos Anjos in Las Vegas.

Unfortunately due to Covid restrictions, Felder’s team could not corner him. Nicksick stepped up and offered to corner Felder for this bout.

Even though Felder lost a decision, Nicksick’s willingness to help him earned Nick much respect in the MMA community.

Eric Nicksick’s legacy as a coach

Eric Nicksick proves that hard work can pay off. His journey to becoming a well known MMA coach is an unsuspecting one.

This was not only for coaching, but opening Xtreme Couture’s doors to a number of fighters during the Covid-19 lockdown. He showed his willingness to help fighters when they needed it.

Nicksick’s coaching career is still young, but we can expect big things from the Xtreme Couture GM and head coach.

Coach: Francis Ngannou Wrestling In Every Practice Session, ‘Blowing Through Guys On Takedowns’

Francis Ngannou will be ready for the wrestling of Stipe Miocic. Ngannou takes on Miocic in a heavyweight title rematch in the UFC 260 headliner this weekend. Their first meeting, of course, took place at UFC 220 in January 2018 in a contest that saw Miocic weather the early storm before going on to dominate […]

Francis Ngannou will be ready for the wrestling of Stipe Miocic.

Ngannou takes on Miocic in a heavyweight title rematch in the UFC 260 headliner this weekend. Their first meeting, of course, took place at UFC 220 in January 2018 in a contest that saw Miocic weather the early storm before going on to dominate Ngannou with his wrestling.

Ngannou was not only gassed, but clueless on the ground for majority of the fight as he went on to lose a lopsided decision. He has since bounced back as he is currently on a four-fight winning streak.

And while he is yet to show his grappling game since, he has been working extensively on his wrestling according to Xtreme Couture head coach Erick Nicksick.

“We had to implement [wrestling] in every practice that we do,” Nicksick told MMA Fighting’s Damon Martin. “So it’s not like one practice you’re sparring or hitting pads. It’s MMA. So every practice you have to focus on defending a takedown. Furthermore, you have to focus on taking guys down yourself. You have to have offensive wrestling just as important as your defensive wrestling.

“Those are some of the things, as scary as it sounds, this dude is blowing through guys on takedowns, putting guys on their backs and beating them up from the top. This guy is now enjoying the elements of wrestling offensively and defensively and understanding there is another path he can find a victory and not shy away from wrestling. You need to implement it one way or another.”

Of course, we’ll only know for sure when the fight actually takes place. That said, Nicksick is excited to see his pupil implement his new skills against Miocic.

“We can talk about it we’re blue in the face but you have to prove it,” he added. “You have to show people. Everybody is going to have their doubts until you’re able to implement it.”

Do you think Ngannou will more prepared for Miocic’s wrestling this time?