
Francis Ngannou proved his place unshakable in UFC 270, winning the interim champion Ciryl Gane by unanimous judgment to unify the UFC heavyweight title.
However, one detail that sparked discussion was that when Bruce Bavo announced Nagano's victory, UFC President Dana White did not personally put a championship belt on him. Earlier, however, when Deiveson Figueiredo defeated Brandon Moreno to regain the flyweight title, it was Bai Dana himself who brought him the championship belt.
In response, Nagano said in his post-match press conference: "I don't know why, you need to ask him. I don't know anything about it, I think it was their decision, and I was just about to ask about it. ”
The conflict between Nagano and the UFC has a long history, which has led to their multiple contract negotiations. The battle against Gain in UFC 270 was Nagano's last game on his contract with the UFC, but thanks to his successful title, his contract is likely to be automatically renewed under the terms of the UFC, and the UFC has the right to sign first.
Another noteworthy thing is that Bai Dana also did not participate in the post-match press conference of UFC270, and in the past, as long as he was on the scene, he would definitely answer reporters' questions at the press conference, especially in an important event like PPV.
Ahead of the UFC 270 match, Nagano was tight-lipped about his future. Even after successfully defending his title in UFC 270, his thinking still doesn't seem to have changed much.
"I've been thinking about my future at this company for a long time and I've always wanted to know what will happen. So nothing has changed so far, and I'm still in my original position. ”
"The conflict between me and the UFC is not simply a matter of money, although it is an important part of it, but it also includes the content of the contract that I cannot agree with, I feel that I am not being treated fairly, I feel that I am not free. Unfortunately, I had to play where I am today to have a chance to say that, but I think everyone should have the right to fight for the best treatment for them. ”
'At the end of the day, we've put a lot of effort into playing well, and our bodies have endured a lot, so at least we deserve a fair contract."
If Nagano doesn't play throughout 2022, his contract with the UFC will most likely end completely at the end of the year, which means he will be a free agent next year. Nagano says he can do that, but at the same time he prefers to increase the frequency of matches, as he has basically played only one game a year over the past few years due to disputes with the UFC.
"I've only played 3 games in the last 3 years, which means there's only one game a year. It was confusing for a while, but not now, I'm used to it, I've learned to race at my own pace and decision. ”
Although in theory, UFC 270's showdown with Gain could be Nagano's last battle inside the octagon, he didn't want to ruin the bridge between himself and the UFC. While uncertain about what the next step in his career will be, Nagano is still eyeing continued collaboration with the UFC in the future.
"I have expressed my willingness to remain at the UFC and I just want a contract with enough respect. I think a big part of why we're where we are today is because the UFC doesn't respect me enough. Bai Dana could have spent less time and effort to solve all this, but his current power and position have confused everyone and made me lose the desire to continue playing. ”
"I didn't do it because it was my dream since I was a kid, it was just because it was fun. But suddenly at some point, you find that the sport isn't as fun as you think, and only confusion remains. I'm very good at concentrating on one thing, I can just think about the game itself and not think about other issues, hoping that everything can go in the right direction in the future. (UFC China Dana)
Past interviews
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