Former UFC Heavyweight Champion Junior Dos Santos was recently pulled from UFC 215 after a potential failed drug test from USADA.
Francis Ngannou was his opponent at the event and he wants to remain a part of the card, but he is starting to lose hope for an opponent to surface.
“For the top 10, Alistair Overeem is the only one who is free, who is open right now,” Ngannou said to MMA Junkie. “The last time I spoke to (UFC matchmaker) Mick (Maynard) he told me they were still looking for something. I don’t think they will have something because I checked the heavyweight division, and I see that all of the top-10 fighters have a fight coming up.”
If the fight between Ngannou and Dos Santos had remained on the card, then it would have been the second former UFC Heavyweight Champion that Ngannou fought during his UFC tenure.
The #9 ranked heavyweight won’t even pass judgment on his former opponent for his USADA issues.
“I think anything is possible,” Ngannou said. “I could not judge him because I know that problem exists. Some manufacturers use illegal products to make it be more – to make it work more. But for us fighters, it’s no good, so I never take it.”
UFC 215 takes place on Saturday, September 9 from Rogers Place in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada with Demetrious Johnson and Ray Borg headlining. Fightful is providing live coverage of the event, with a post-show podcast to follow.
