Jose Aldo believes Francis Ngannou made a mistake in pursuing boxing matches and walking away from UFC, suggesting that UFC has better salaries and partnerships for its fighters.
Jose Aldo will step into the squared circle for the second time on Saturday to compete under boxing rules against Jeremy Stephens in a six-round match at Gamebred Boxing 4 in Milwaukee. Aldo believes that Francis Ngannou, a recent UFC departure, mishandled his situation. Ngannou finished his UFC deal with a win over Ciryl Gane and left the organization as its champion to pursue better deals as a free agent, eyeing boxing matches against big names like Tyson Fury and Deontay Wilder, but has yet to land a deal.
“With all humbleness, I think Ngannou shot himself in the foot,” Aldo said on this week’s episode of the Trocação Franca podcast. “He had everything to sign a great contract, the biggest in heavyweight, but this desire to be a boxing champion or to fight in boxing… People see the top of the boxing pyramid getting paid big numbers but forget that the lower part is paid so little. I think the UFC has bigger salaries than boxing.” Aldo also mentioned that he thinks Ngannou is unrealistic in wanting a fight with Tyson Fury, while pointing out that fighters like Conor McGregor and Ronda Rousey have made significant money in the UFC.
Aldo had the desire to compete in boxing long before McGregor fought Floyd Mayweather in 2017, but the UFC did not approve. The Brazilian star finally agreed with the UFC in 2022, retiring from MMA after his loss to Merab Dvalishvili and being granted permission to compete in boxing while still under a UFC contract. Aldo won a decision over Emmanuel Zambrano in February in Brazil and now faces PFL fighter Jeremy Stephens on a pay-per-view card that will be streamed live on UFC Fight Pass in both the U.S. and Brazil.
In contrast, Ngannou likely won’t have the UFC as a “partner” if he manages to secure a boxing deal in 2023 or 2024. That’s why Aldo believes Ngannou’s experience won’t be as successful as McGregor’s in 2017 or his own. Aldo admits he doesn’t know the details of Ngannou’s negotiations with the UFC before choosing to walk away, but suggested both sides could have adjusted expectations for a profitable future together.