Sports

Coach Reveals Who Francis Ngannou Could Fight Next

Published

2 hours ago

13 January 2026

Francis Ngannou's Next Fight is Clear After Dana White BLOCKS UFC Return

A ‘chiseled’ Francis Ngannou means the former UFC heavyweight champion is increasingly likely to make an imminent return to mixed martial arts.

Ngannou has fought only once in MMA since leaving the UFC and taking a two-fight swing in boxing, losing to Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua in back-to-back bouts, rebounding in PFL MMA with a lightning-quick win over Renan Ferreira. Though Ngannou had been linked with a crossover fight against Jake Paul, he is yet to follow-up from his first-round thrashing of Ferreira in 2024.

However, speaking this week, one of Ngannou’s closest confidantes — renowned Las Vegas-based MMA coach Eric Nicksick — said he’s already looking ripped and expects ‘The Predator’ to attack in 2026. The only question is against who, and for what organization. Nicksick has his preference, but also added what’s likely.

Jon Jones Gives UFC Update on Alex Pereira Super-Fight

Jon Jones has issued a statement on the status of his rumoured super-fight against Alex Pereira.

Francis Ngannou is ‘Chiseled’ Ahead of Return

Speaking to MMA Fighting, Nicksick explained what he thinks might be next for Ngannou.

“He called and FaceTimed, I saw his face right away, and it was like chiseled,” he said. “He’s the lightest I’ve ever seen him … usually, he’s like a little bit more plump, and he’s been eating and stuff like that, but his knee is feeling good, so he’s getting his roadwork.”

Nicksick found out from that call that Ngannou has been “training every day and his weight was down” so there was only one thing to really ask Francis. “We got something coming up?” Nicksick said.

“And he goes, ‘Yeah, I’m working on a few things’.”

“So hopefully, we see him back in the cage in 2026. And then the sky’s the limit for him, man.”

Though Ngannou made the most millions competing twice in a boxing ring, it was in the UFC he forged his name thanks to knockout victories over the likes of Alistair Overeem, Cain Velasquez, Junior dos Santos, Stipe Miocic, and Ciryl Gane, among others.

“On a personal level, I’d love to be able to see him compete in the UFC just because of the level of competition that he would go against,” Nicksick said, preferring a return to the Vegas-based organization.

However, there’s a fresh opponent he could fight in PFL which could in theory relinquish him of his contractual obligations with that league, per rumor. That opponent is Vadim Nemkov, whose last win was also against Ferreira. “If he fights Nemkov, s***, he looked great in his last fight, too. So he’s a guy that we’ve got to take seriously.

“Whatever opponent rises, we’ll be ready for.”