LAS VEGAS – Francis Ngannou won’t let his conflict with UFC brass serve as a distraction from his heavyweight title defense against Ciryl Gane at UFC 270 . Ngannou (16-3 MMA, 11-2 UFC), the reigning divisional titleholder, is set to put his belt on the line for the first time Jan. 22 when he meets former teammate and training partner Gane (10-0 MMA, 7-0 UFC) in a main event clash at Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif., which streams on ESPN+ pay-per-view. The road to this fight hasn’t necessarily been smooth sailing, with Ngannou’s contract status becoming something of a talking point. Ngannou has been vocal about his frustrations with the terms of his deal and his treatment from the UFC, and his team has declined extension offers ahead of UFC 270, citing inadequate compensation. If Ngannou loses to Gane, he will become a free agent, according to Ngannou’s management.
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