He could simply relinquish the belt
I am a huge fan of Max, butI am really not sure he is the model to follow in career management, considering the damage accumulated compared to his career earnings.it's the Max Holloway approach. before Max got his first title shot, he was constantly being passed over. i'm pretty sure he has the longest win streak of any UFC fighter to not get a title shot. he went on some crazy 9-10 win streak before he even smelled a title shot. then they made him fight the champion twice, once in the champs home country. lots of UFC fighters and fans would've looked at that as unfair treatment, and it was, but he didn't complain. he just kept his nose to the grind stone and kept winning. he knew, if you keep winning they can't deny you.
Sure but look at his POV: if he signs what the UFC wants him to sign, he may very well be stuck with whatever they want to offer him. He had 1 fight a year the past 2 years because they kept him on the backburner while managing the Stipe-DC trilogy. It's understandable he doesn't want that again.Ngannou is in a perfect position to do that. his division is weak, he's destroyed most of the contenders, all he needs to do is beat Gane and literally the only fight that would make sense for him is Jon Jones. after that, the sky is the limit if he gets that fight and wins it. he'd have defeated arguably the greatest MMA fighter of all time. that's something that he can use to market himself and his brand.
Imagine making an interim belt because 5 1/2 months instead of 4 1/2 month is too much of a delay.Imagine expecting a champion to defend his belt only 4 1/2 months after fighting two rounds and sustaining zero damage. The UFC are a bunch of unreasonable slave drivers!
So the UFC shitting on fighters and lying about them to promote a fight is fine. But the fighter telling the truth in return is "airing the dirty laundry in public".I find it incredible how fighters might think that airing dirty laundry in public will end with a happy ending.
Imagine making an interim belt because 5 1/2 months instead of 4 1/2 month is too much of a delay.
I guess he is not very American, he is more like a native/tribal dude and v French.i wonder why UFC is doing him dirty. he seems like a marketable champion
what i meant by the future is uncertain, is that he could become a draw. instead of focusing on trying to fight the UFC, which never works, he should focus on trying to become a bigger draw. that's the only way that any fighter has ever gained leverage over the UFC, or at least some negotiating power.
it's the Max Holloway approach. before Max got his first title shot, he was constantly being passed over. i'm pretty sure he has the longest win streak of any UFC fighter to not get a title shot. he went on some crazy 9-10 win streak before he even smelled a title shot. then they made him fight the champion twice, once in the champs home country. lots of UFC fighters and fans would've looked at that as unfair treatment, and it was, but he didn't complain. he just kept his nose to the grind stone and kept winning. he knew, if you keep winning they can't deny you.
Ngannou is in a perfect position to do that. his division is weak, he's destroyed most of the contenders, all he needs to do is beat Gane and literally the only fight that would make sense for him is Jon Jones. after that, the sky is the limit if he gets that fight and wins it. he'd have defeated arguably the greatest MMA fighter of all time. that's something that he can use to market himself and his brand.
obviously all of this is just conjecture on my part, but he has opportunities before him that not many other UFC fighters do. he has a clear path to superstardom. it seems kind of like he's cutting off his nose to spite his face.
Dana is someone who hold's grudges if he feels you did him dirty. From his perspective, he gave Francis the opportunity and promoted him, but the tweet Ngannou sent after the Jake Paul card where he said "what are we doing wrong?" was a stab in the back as far as Dana is concerned.In short :The UFC really did him dirty.
- Straight after his last win, the UFC offered him a fight in June knowing it was impossible due to visa renewal obligations (you have to leave the US to apply for visa), UFC also told him July-August was impossible. And they immediately sent an extension letter due to him "declining an offer".
- So he went to Cameroon expecting not to fight before September.
- Then they offered him August, and he couldn't
- They offered him September, he replied he would fight whoever, wherever, but instead they booked the interim fight and sent him another contract extension letter.
- And on top of that, they put on the interim promo video clips about him not wanting to fight.
- All along and still now, they also tried to make him sign a new contract, but negotiations failed. He believes the UFC dodgy "fights offers" are a way to pressure him to sign the contract on their terms.
- He doesn't know exactly when his contract ends because of all the small writings extension clauses. Officially it ended in May 2021, but champion clauses have extended it. He is not sure he will a free agent after UFC 270.
- He doesn't blame Gane at all for the interim belt. They are not close, and have not trained together for a long time but think he is a nice guy.
Imagine making an interim belt because 5 1/2 months instead of 4 1/2 month is too much of a delay.
So the UFC shitting on fighters and lying about them to promote a fight is fine. But the fighter telling the truth in return is "airing the dirty laundry in public".
Sure..
I am a huge fan of Max, butI am really not sure he is the model to follow in career management, considering the damage accumulated compared to his career earnings.
Sure but look at his POV: if he signs what the UFC wants him to sign, he may very well be stuck with whatever they want to offer him. He had 1 fight a year the past 2 years because they kept him on the backburner while managing the Stipe-DC trilogy. It's understandable he doesn't want that again.
Right now he is the champ, but if he loses to Gane (very possible it's a tough fight) and is locked in a long contract, he may have a miserable career. If he loses to Gane and becomes a free agent, he has options.
Come on...cut the BS. If that tweet is a stab, you must be a special kind of snowflake to be offended by it. It's not even targeting anyone. And everyone knows it's a totally legit question: how can top level UFC fighters make more money.Dana is someone who hold's grudges if he feels you did him dirty. From his perspective, he gave Francis the opportunity and promoted him, but the tweet Ngannou sent after the Jake Paul card where he said "what are we doing wrong?" was a stab in the back as far as Dana is concerned.
Yeah it was bullshit. The belts don't have the prestige they once held.Imagine making an interim belt because 5 1/2 months instead of 4 1/2 month is too much of a delay.
So the UFC shitting on fighters and lying about them to promote a fight is fine. But the fighter telling the truth in return is "airing the dirty laundry in public".
Sure..
There is two very different things here: accepting/declining fights and signing or not a new contract.of course, but that's the career of a professional athlete right? every match/play/fight is a gamble. what do you suggest he do then? sit out? professional sports is a do or die career, you either do or you die. i don't see any other better option for him other than to destroy Gane and fish for that Jon Jones fight. otherwise, whatever he thinks he's doing now isn't going to work.
There is two very different things here: accepting/declining fights and signing or not a new contract.
Ngannou is happy fighting Gane or whoever else at the price set in his current contract, he has never complained about that. He has been doing his job, he shouldn't be forced to sign a contract that doesn't suit him. The UFC stretching the interval between fights to pressure him financially and mediatically is just a bully tactic.
Sure if you play ball, the UFC will treat you well in public. But that will never stop them from absolutely screwing you with the contract. And you will be a broke retired company man with a nice HOF award to show to your trailer park neighbours. If you are very nice, lucky and can talk, you may get a job as analyst/commentator.