Francis Ngannou's coach admits money was not the real issue behind UFC exit

This weekend saw Dana White stunningly announce that UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou is no longer with the promotion after the two parties failed to come to terms on a new contract.

Watch the video below:

While the news came as a shock to many fans of the sport, Ngannou's head-coach Eric Nicksick recently revealed that the contract negotiations did not stall due to financial disagreements.

In a recent interview with The Schmo, Nicksick stated:

"He knew what he wanted and he didn't budge on what he wanted, so kudos to him. The money was there and that's not what moves him. It wasn't the money that was moving him, it was other things, other terms. Some sticking points that he just couldn't wave around."

Watch the full interview below:

Francis Ngannou last fought Ciryl Gane at UFC 270, where he managed to defend and unify the heavyweight championship. However, in light of the latest developments, White announced that 'The Predator' has been stripped of his title. It was announced that Jon Jones would make his promotional comeback against Gane for the heavyweight belt.

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Sean Strickland weighs in on Francis Ngannou being released by the UFC

Sean Strickland is not a fan of how things turned out between the UFC and Francis Ngannou, and the ever-outspoken middleweight recently gave his take on the matter.

Dana White recently announced that Ngannou refused to re-sign with the promotion despite having the chance to become the highest-paid heavyweight in promotional history. The UFC has also waived the exclusive negotiating window and the matching rights clause.

Strickland, who trains along with 'The Predator' at the Xtreme Couture facility in Las Vegas, took multiple potshots at the UFC following his victory over Nassourdine Imavov at UFC Vegas 67.

Speaking at the post-fight press conference, Strickland stated:

"It's a damn shame to see Francis go. He's f**king iconic in the UFC. He's probably one of the greatest heavyweights we've ever had. It s**ks he parted ways but I hope him and Tyson Fury fight for a lot of f**king money."

Watch the clip below:

Leading up to his departure, Francis Ngannou was upfront about his intention to compete in boxing outside the UFC. The Cameroonian-French fighter also expressed interest in facing Tyson Fury in the square ring. It remains to be seen if Ngannou will pursue his boxing interests.

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