Daniel Cormier: Francis Ngannou should 'bite the bullet,' return to UFC

Daniel Cormier thinks a return to the UFC is Francis Ngannou’s best option.

Ngannou opted not to re-sign with the UFC after fighting out his contract, reportedly turning down an offer that would have made him the highest paid heavyweight in promotion history.

Ngannou is yet to find a new home, with promotions such as BKFC and ONE Championship claiming they have failed to come to an agreement with the former UFC heavyweight champion. But despite the failed negotiations with the UFC and Dana White’s insistence that Ngannou wouldn’t be welcomed back, Cormier thinks Ngannou could walk right back into big fights if he returned to the octagon.

“It sucks because Francis was the man and he leaves, and now it seems like the options are very limited,” Cormier said on his ESPN show “DC & RC.” “He responded to ONE Championship this morning saying they’re being two-faced, but I’m telling you, it felt like the same thing that was happening to Lamar. I’m watching teams like, ‘You don’t have a quarterback, but you’re not interested in Lamar Jackson?’ This guy was the MVP of the NFL. It made no sense.

“To me, it’s the same thing. But ultimately Lamar Jackson ends up back (with the Baltimore Ravens). I believe that’s what Francis Ngannou should do. Francis Ngannou should just come back, because the reality is this: The money that he was offered, I’ve heard, was a very lucrative number. If he comes back, nothing changes. He walks right back into being in the heavyweight title picture, fighting for the championship, getting paid at that championship level.”

Ngannou has a big desire to box world champions, but Cormier wonders if one big payday is worth him walking away from the UFC.

“You sometimes have to just bite the bullet and go, ‘You know what, I’m going to go back to what’s familiar.’ Because you and I both agree there are some very dangerous fights for him in the boxing arena,” Cormier said. “So while you may cash in one time, it may not be sustainable, and he’s also 36 years old. So he doesn’t have much time. He hasn’t fought since last January. He’s 36 years old. Time is of the essence for Francis Ngannou so he needs to get busy.”