19 January 2023 , 10:02
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Francis Ngannou has been told by former opponent Curtis Blaydes that he can compete with the best boxers following his UFC exit.
Ngannou, 36, is now a free agent after refusing to re-sign with the UFC despite several new contract offers from the promotion. UFC boss Dana White has confirmed the organisation has waived their right to match any offer that former heavyweight champion Ngannou receives, and that he is free to sign with any rival MMA promotion or crossover to boxing.
Despite being told by former boxing world champion Tony Bellew that he "wouldn't survive" in the ring, Ngannou's former opponent Blaydes thinks differently. The American, who has lost twice to Ngannou in the past, thinks Ngannou's knockout power means he could have a chance again top heavyweights such as Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury.
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"Oh he's got a shot, I know better than most that he hits very very hard," Blaydes said of Ngannou on The MMA Hour. "He hits extremely hard. I don't know if he's got the footwork, but that's something he could work on now that he doesn't have to worry about the grappling aspect of MMA. But I'd give him a shot, it's heavyweight, you've always got a shot."
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Blaydes admitted he would have liked Ngannou to stay with the UFC so he could try and avenge his past defeats to the former champion, but respects his rival for having a plan and sticking to it. Ngannou claims he lost $7million by turning down new contract offers and estimates he would have been paid $8m to fight Jon Jones, who now faces Ciryl Gane for the vacant UFC heavyweight title in March.
Francis Ngannou opted to not re-sign with the UFC (Getty Images)"I can only respect the man, he had a vision and goals and said 'this is what I want to do' and he stuck to that. He tried to get some stuff done [with the UFC] but it didn't work and I can only respect him for that. It would have been nice to get another fight against him and even it up, but I understand why he left and I hope it works out for him. There's no hard feelings or animosity," Blaydes added.
Ngannou admitted that he would like to crossover to boxing before competing for another MMA promotion, stating on his YouTube channel: "I want to do some boxing at first before MMA because regardless, maybe explore the possibility to do one boxing match then come back into MMA with another promotion."