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Francis Ngannou has an opponent and date in mind for his return to the cage.
Saturday afternoon, the Cameroonian heavyweight, who sits at No. 3 in the latest USA TODAY Sports/MMA Junkie heavyweight rankings, took to Twitter to issue a challenge to fellow contender Alexander Volkov, who checks in at No. 7.
According to the tweet, Ngannou (14-3 MMA, 9-2 UFC) wants to fight Volkov (31-7 MMA, 5-1 UFC) on Jan. 18 at UFC 246 in Las Vegas.
@AlexDragoVolkov What’s your schedule for January 18th looks like?! Let me offer you a free trip in the most entertaining city in the world ( @LasVegas ). #UFC246 @ufc#whathappensinvegas
— Francis Ngannou (@francis_ngannou) November 30, 2019
Shortly after Ngannou’s tweet, Volkov countered with a an offer of his own. Volkov indicated he’d be happy to fight in Ngannou – in his own backyard.
@francis_ngannou How about Paris in March? Or you are too afraid to fall in front of your audience?
— Alexander Volkov (@AlexDragoVolkov) November 30, 2019
Ngannou seemed open to the counter offer, telling the Russian fighter he’d be happy to fight him – anywhere, anytime.
Paris in March or tomorrow in a phone booth, I will fight you anywhere. Just sign the damn contract this time. Call @danawhite ASAP. https://t.co/C2iRCugoYF
— Francis Ngannou (@francis_ngannou) November 30, 2019
This isn’t the first time Ngannou has called for a fight against Volkov. In an interview with MMA Junkie in early November, Ngannou claimed Volkov refused to fight him on multiple occasions.
“Just for the record, Volkov turned down the fight against me twice,” Ngannou told MMA Junkie. “One was July 2017 and August 2018. He clearly denied to fight me.”
Both Ngannou and Volkov are coming off of winning performances. Ngannou has won his last three fights, finishing Junior Dos Santos, Cain Velasquez, and Curtis Blaydes in a combined 142 seconds.
As for Volkov, he most recently competed at UFC on ESPN+ 21 on Nov. 9. After his originally scheduled opponent Junior Dos Santos fell off the card, Volkov was matched up with former NFL pro bowler Greg Hardy.
While Hardy was able to hang with the former Bellator champ Volkov for three rounds, the fight was largely one-sided. Volkov point-fought Hardy for the entire duration of the fight, picking him apart from the outside.
Immediately after the fight, Ngannou issued a public challenge on Twitter, much like the one on Saturday afternoon.
Well done Volkov .
Let’s go now and please don’t turn this down again.#UFCMoscow #UNCROWNEDCHAMP— Francis Ngannou (@francis_ngannou) November 9, 2019
Will Ngannou vs. Volkov get booked for UFC 246? Stay tuned to MMA Junkie to find out.
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