Francis Ngannou returns to the UFC stage and supports USMAN
Former UFC welterweight champion Usman is set to return to the Octagon in the main event of Saturday’s card in Atlanta. He spikes out his competitor Joaquin Buckley. This will be his first fight since his decision loss to Kamzachmaev in the middleweight division in October 2023. This will be his first fight at welterweight since the decision loss to Leon Edwards in March 2023.
On Friday afternoon, Usman stepped onto the stage for a ritual measurement of the card. And he brought Nganou with him.
Take a look at the pair below, as photographed by MMA reporter Oscar Willis.
Big Francis pic.twitter.com/0cy1eetwva
– Oscarswillis (@oscarswillis) June 13, 2025
Ngannou and Usman have been friends for years. Ngannou is notoriously indebted to his former welterweight champion for $200,000 in debt before leaving the UFC to pursue a bigger salary in boxing rings.
Ngannou may never compete in the octagon again, but whatever he can. His coach, Eric Nicksick, recently suggested that it could happen. Then again, Nick Sick later returned those comments.
We also know that UFC CEO Dana White has no particular interest in retrieving Ngannou.
“Perhaps not,” White said at a post-UFC 316 press conference when asked about ngannou’s return. “no.”
Either way, it’s interesting to see ngannou in town for a UFC event. He will probably cross the road on white.
