UFC champ Francis Ngannou gives update on recovery, could return in December

UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou isn’t completely ruling out the possibility of fighting again this year.

Ngannou (17-3 MMA, 12-2 UFC) hasn’t seen action since January, when he successfully unified the titles with interim champ Ciryl Gane at UFC 270. “The Predator” came into the fight with a serious knee injury, which required surgery to repair a torn MCL and damaged ACL.

He managed to overcome it and got his hand raised in a critical fight for his career. Ngannou came into the fight betting on himself with the last fight of his contract, and he’s been very vocal about his issues with both treatment and pay.

Currently, though, Ngannou is putting all his energy toward rehabilitation, and he said things are currently on track.

“It’s getting better – it wasn’t easy, but getting there,” Ngannou told TMZ in a recent interview. “It’s been only three months, so I’m still doing physical therapy.”

Barring any setbacks in his recover, Ngannou won’t shut the door on a late 2022 return. There have been rumors of the UFC implementing an interim heavyweight title in his absence, and the organization has actively attempted to book Jon Jones vs. Stipe Miocic as that fight.

July is just around the corner, though, and if Ngannou could be ready to defend in the coming months.

“If everything goes well, I will be ready by the end of the year because it is going to be nine months,” Ngannou said. “(I want to be back in) late December or early next year.”

As far as potential opponents for his comeback, Ngannou said he can’t make any definitive statements. There’s been mutual interest between him and Tyson Fury for a combat showdown at some point in the future, but Ngannou wouldn’t be completely free to explore that possibility until his UFC contract expires.

Right now, it’s too soon for Ngannou to know who he could be fighting next.

“For now, let’s fight for the situation and get everything squared up (with my contract),” Ngannou said. “Then when I get close to the return we will see where the landscape is at.”