Francis Ngannou frustrated wasting his prime waiting for another UFC heavyweight title shot

Francis Ngannou can’t wait to get another shot at the UFC heavyweight title.

The contender and former title challenger is tired of waiting on the sideline for another title shot at champion Stipe Miocic. Ngannou (15-3 MMA, 10-2 UFC) is the No. 1-ranked contender in the UFC’s official heavyweight rankings and currently finds himself on four-fight winning streak – with all wins by knockout.

Yet despite the impressive run, it’s not known when the belt will be defended again, and much less who will be the next challenger. It’s a difficult time for Ngannou.

“I’m in a position which is very complicated,” Ngannou told Morning Kombat. “… I’m in my prime age and I’m wasting time without fighting, so it’s kind of frustrating.

“We have to get something to motivate us. We have to make money. We have to do something for fighting. Sometimes when you wake up, it’s really hard to go to the gym and train because you need that motivation. Like, ‘OK, I’m training, but for what? When will I fight?’ I don’t know. So you have no clue about anything and it’s tough to find motivation.”

UFC president Dana White spoke briefly in October of potentially booking the Miocic-Ngannou rematch for March, but there haven’t been any updates.

Miocic (20-3 MMA, 14-3 UFC) most recently defended the title in August when he outpointed Daniel Cormier in a trilogy rubber match at UFC 252. It was the first time the belt was successfully defended since August 2019.

Since Ngannou lost to Miocic for the title in January 2018, the belt has only been defended four times. “The Predator” wants to see more championship fights at heavyweight and thinks the low level of title fights is hurting the division.

“If things were moving on, this wouldn’t be an issue,” Ngannou said. “Many divisions have three or four title defenses a year. We’re talking about a division where there’s been one title defense a year, so it gives a lot of complicated positions for contenders. And then they get lined up and lined up, but no one really moves.

“I think if there would be three, four title defenses a year, everybody would fight for the title. It’s never over the limited amount of title defenses that have to be set – it just needs to keep on going. What they should do is find a way to make the heavyweight division move on again because right now, it’s stuck.”