Eric Nicksick, coach of former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou, has revealed that his fighter might be open to returning to the UFC. This comes at a time when the heavyweight division finds itself in a complicated situation with Jon Jones semi-retired and interim champion Tom Aspinall waiting for a title unification bout.
"He's training, he looks happy to be back in the gym with the team," Nicksick said in an interview with 'Home of Fight'. "He's been asking for that fight against Wilder, and if it happens, great, but right now the heavyweight division is in ruins. There's no clear direction, and that creates an opportunity."
Ngannou left the UFC in early 2023 and surprised the combat sports world by signing with PFL and venturing into boxing. He faced Tyson Fury in a major crossover event, demonstrating he could compete with the best in another sport while achieving financial freedom.
Interestingly, Nicksick explained that Ngannou's priorities have shifted significantly. "Where does his motivation come from now? It's no longer about money. It's about competition. And the best competition is in the UFC," the coach stated.
The situation in the heavyweight division is indeed complicated. Tom Aspinall has been holding an interim belt for nearly 600 days, while Jones continues to delay a potential unification fight and might retire without ever facing the British fighter.
Nicksick believes Dana White might be willing to move past previous disagreements with Ngannou. "Dana is a smart businessman. I think he has enough sense to say: the past is the past. Let's explore the future," he mentioned.
Could Ngannou's potential return solve the heavyweight division's current problems? The coming months will likely provide answers to this intriguing possibility.
