Coach says Francis Ngannou's contract suggestion could have prevented betting-accused Darrick Minner from competing
Francis Ngannou recently cut ties with the UFC after failing to come to an agreement over multiple demands made by the now former heavyweight champion.
Ngannou's coach Eric Nicksick claims one of those demands, if met, could have prevented a situation which led to Darrick Minner being involved in a betting scandal.
Minner suffered a first-round TKO loss against Shayila Nuerdanbieke in November after compromising his knee hardly a minute into the bout. The UFC launched an investigation into the suspicious betting line movement prior to the bout, leading to the release of Minner.
While the UFC currently provides insurance only for fight-related injuries, Francis Ngannou demanded general health insurance for fighters, taking a stance for lesser paid athletes even though it's likely inconsequential to him.
According to Ngannou's coach, Minner probably went into the bout with an injured knee so that he could avail insurance by claiming to have injured himself in the fight. The Xtreme Couture coach wrote on Twitter:
"Knowing that a ton of fighters fight injured, so they can claim the injury in the fight to get the insurance. If health insurance was available for the fighters in the UFC, I wonder if Darrick Minner still tries to fight on a compromised knee? 🤔"
Knowing that a ton of fighters fight injured, so they can claim the injury in the fight to get the insurance. If health insurance was available for the fighters in the UFC, I wonder if Darrick Minner still tries to fight on a compromised knee? 🤔 #foodforthought
In my mind, Minner had no choice but to fight. And others involved took advantage of that scenario.
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Eric Nicksick recounts why Francis Ngannou decided to become a free agent
UFC president Dana White claimed to have offered Francis Ngannou the most lucrative deal in UFC heavyweight history, which was turned down. While Ngannou refused to buy into vague statistics, 'The Predator' acknowledged that money was not the biggest reason behind his UFC negotiations falling through.
The former champion decided to take a stance after the UFC refused to entertain even a single one of his demands, which included fighter pay, independent fighter sponsorship and a fighter advocate for board meetings amongst others.
Francis Ngannou's coach even claimed that negotiations with the UFC brass were moving in the right direction before 'The Predator' let his principles take over. Eric Nicksick said on The MMA Hour:
“I’ll tell you this: We met with Dana and Hunter after the fight, we had a great dinner. Things were going in the right direction, I felt. We got in the car and Francis looks over at me, and says, ‘If I sign this deal, if I do this without making any change, without doing all the things I said I was going to do, I’m just another sell out. I refuse to do that.’"
Catch Eric Nicksick's comments below: