“We have been negotiating with Ngannou for more than two years. We offered Francis a deal that would make him the highest paid heavyweight in the history of the company - he would get more than Brock Lesnar, more than anyone else, but he turned down the offer, ”White said at a press conference after the UFC Fight show night 217.
Now they will try to determine the new owner of the belt in the "royal" weight John Jones and Cyril Gunwho will fight on March 4 at UFC 285 in Las Vegas.
Jones, 35, will return to the octagon after more than a three-year hiatus. The former dominant light heavyweight champion has not competed since February 2020, when he defeated Dominick Reyes via unanimous decision. As for the 32-year-old Gan, he had his last fight in September, knocking out Tai Tuivasa.