Even if Francis Ngannou does return to the UFC, it will be quite some time before the heavyweight champion is back in action in the Octagon.
Ngannou’s manager, Marquel Martin, told ESPN on Wednesday that the fighter will have surgery to repair a torn MCL and damaged ACL when he returns to the United States. Ngannou is planning a trip to his native Cameroon and did not want the procedure to affect his homecoming. Ngannou is expected to need a minimum of nine months to recover.
Ngannou injured his knee during sparring ahead of his title unification bout against Ciryl Gane in the UFC 270 main event.