UFC: Ngannou-Lopez, the underside of a separation

11/09/2022 By gifsauce 377 Views

If the fight for the heavy crown will bring together Ciryl Gane and Francis Ngannou in the UFC cage this weekend in California (live and exclusively in the night from Saturday to Sunday on RMC Sport), this shock XXL puts theLight on a third thief, Fernand Lopez, current French coach and former Cameroonian coach.With whom separation has left traces and resentment.RMC Sport tells you in detail the story of this breakup.

He will not be in the cage.But he is in the center of the shock.For Fernand Lopez, the fight for the UFC heavy crown between Francis Ngannou and Ciryl Gane has a very special taste.Coach of Gane, the boss of MMA Factory can lead his foal already interim champion to a historical performance: to become the first French fighter sacred in the largest organization of MMA.But to reach this Grail, the duo will have to climb the Ngannou mountain, reigning champion who came to MMA under the orders ... from Lopez to Paris.A common course ended in the crash of a separation that has left traces.And resentment.

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The story between Ngannou and Lopez begins at the arrival of the future UFC champion in Paris, in 2013.Cameroonian migrant forced to live in a parking lot in the French capital, Ngannou dreams of English boxing but will meet Lopez, who takes him under his sporting wing as financially in his room of MMA Factory (he was under the system of the 'zero', without paying anything to train) and directs it to MMA.The relationship will quickly bear fruit.After six professional fights, including five victories, Cameroonian joined the Grande UFC in December 2015 (his coach announced three months earlier, the day of his birthday).Where he continues to martyr competition with a shattering ko.

But with the money coming, the problems happen.In 2016, he refused to pay the MMA Factory annual subscription.""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""He said to me: 'It is I who brings light in the gymnasium, I will not pay anything,"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" said Lopez at the microphone of The Mma Hour on the MMA Fighting site.I replied, 'It's madness, I have never asked you anything since your arrival' '.""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""Coach but also manager of Ngannou, Lopez must also manage negotiations on his remuneration.""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""You pay me 10% of your income on the fight but you ask me to pay the Sparring-Parts with the money you give me ..."""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" The beginnings of the separation germinate.They will accelerate with the desire of Ngannou to go to live in the United States, his dream before even leaving Cameroon for Europe.

Lopez does not want to cross the Atlantic with him, because his life is in France, but will help him to leave there, passing several calls to find him a point of sporting fall.In 2017, the year Gane met Lopez, the Cameroonian moved to Las Vegas.But he continues to collaborate with his Parisian coach, which he then calls every two days to refine his preparation.This hybrid training camp, one foot on each side of the Atlantic, will play tricks on him.""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""My regret is that I left France without really leaving it,"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" confirms the interested party in the UFC Countdown video published before his shock against Gane at the UFC 270.

Opposed to Stipe Miocic in January 2018 for his first chance for the Title des Lourds, Ngannou is not up to par and bowed on a unanimous decision.At a press conference, he salutes """"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""the game plan"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" concocted by the American and his team.Lopez sees red.Because his foal, who had for example wanted to do certain leg play exercises approaching the fight despite the requests of his coach, did not respect his.""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""I said to myself: shit, do you laugh or what? I gave you a plan and I even supported you when you did not follow it.We begged you to follow him but you said, 'No, I don't need to go to school to beat someone, I will put him ko just on my reflexes'.You could have said: 'This is my fault, sorry guys, don't only blame my coach because I am the head of my camp'.So many fighters do that.Why don't you say anything like this? """"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""

A little less than six months later, Ngannou undergoes a new defeat against Derrick Lewis after an indigestible fight - one of the worst in the History of the Heavy at the UFC - where he has shown nothing.Dana White, executive boss of the organization, does not hesitate to tackle the Cameroonian and his """"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""ego out of control"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""".His coach approves and will tell her his four truths, explain to him that he """"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""did not take the big head"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""".""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""He has badly experienced the fact that I could have the authenticity of telling him,"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" recalls Lopez at the microphone of RMC Sport.But this is my role of coach and manager.You need people of trust who can say to us: 'You are beautiful, you are strong, but there you are messing around, you go towards the wall, rectifies the shooting'.""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""The fighter seems to listen to the advice.""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""After these two defeats, he returned to France to ask me for my help, explains Lopez.And I told him that if he wanted it to happen, he had to listen to me, follow the plan, physical training.He told me he was ready to do it all.""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""

At the end of 2018, in China, Ngannou finds the way to victory by putting Curtis Blaydes Tko at the first round. """"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""Tu es de retour"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""", lui crie Lopez depuis l’extérieur de la cage.The problems too. """"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""Le mauvais Francis est revenu, raconte son ancien coach.He returned to the United States and began to do what he wanted.It worked for him but I said to him: 'I don't want to work with you'.""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""In the meantime, other episodes have fed the bitterness. Lors de la cérémonie des World MMA Awards pour l’année 2017, auréolé du KO de l'année, celui terrifiant contre Alistair Overeem, """"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""The Predator"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" ne remercie ni le MMA Factory ni son compatriote Lopez.An absence of recognition he got into the habit, after his fights as in an interview, and which annoys his coach right.

""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""I shouldn't even have to ask him, points Lopez.(…) A person who says: 'I don't have to thank my room because she takes advantage of me and my image', it is contrary to what I see in the whole world.This is where the fracture arrives.I have one of my students who says: 'I am a self-made.No one ever believed in me.I managed on my own to become champion when everyone told me that I couldn't get there '' It’s a great narration for him, for Hollywood, but it doesn't happen.It's not correct."""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" Grand écart avec un Gane qui après son premier combat chez les pros, à l’été 2018, fait un cœur avec les doigts à la caméra en lâchant tout fort: """"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""MMA Factory!""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""

A cette époque, alors que Ciryl Gane vient d’entamer sa carrière dans l’organisation TKO et se retrouve vite dans les radars de l’UFC, Ngannou aurait même selon Lopez expliqué à Mick Maynard, l’un des dirigeants et matchmakers (organisateurs des combats) de l’organisation, que """"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""Bon Gamin"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" n’était """"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""pas encore assez bon pour l’UFC"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""". Habitué à voir ses poulains vendre les mérites de leurs partenaires au moindre micro tendu, Lopez n’apprécie pas du tout: """"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""D’autres élèves avaient lâché son nom quand il le fallait. Mais qui Francis a-t-il entraîné derrière lui? Personne!"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" Et Ngannou de lui répondre ces dernières semaines sur sa chaîne YouTube: """"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""Quand il a raconté ça, je me suis dit : Mec...it's dirty.We no longer play, it is no longer for false.Associating other people with a thing is really evil.""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""

The boss of MMA Factory also recounts an episode where Ngannou refuses to pay the parking lot for the partner of Lopez, who came to pick him up at the airport.With all this, the cup is full.Lopez accompanies Ngannou one last time on the edge of the cage for the fight against the former Cain Velasquez champion, still won on KO at the first round, in February 2019.But the separation, several times in tune with the times before, is acted for good. """"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""Il était indispensable pour moi de m’installer ici, pour améliorer mon jeu et tout ce qu’il y a autour, par exemple mon anglais pour les éventuelles opportunités dans l’avenir"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""", résume aujourd’hui le Camerounais. """"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""Ce sont des personnes qui évoluent ensemble, qui se rendent compte qu’elles n’ont pas les mêmes valeurs, pas les mêmes approches, des motivations différentes, et qui du coup vont avoir envie de se séparer, analyse Lopez.Francis felt the desire not to continue with me anymore and I felt the desire not to continue with him, which was why I had asked him two-three times to leave the room.We disagreed on details, but little.They are above all human stories.""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""

Under the aegis of coaches Eric Nicksick and Dewey Cooper in Xtreme Couture, a room in Las Vegas, Ngannou continues to smash everyone until he takes revenge on Miocic to be crowned heavy champion in March 2021. Un épisode vécu """"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""seul chez (lui)"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" par Lopez, qui avait """"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""faussé compagnie à des amis"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" car il avait """"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""besoin d’intimité à ce moment-là"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""": """"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""J’ai ressenti de la fierté, qui m’a poussé à le féliciter lui et son équipe sur Twitter, de la tristesse, de la mélancolie, une pointe de jalousie.There was a mixture of all this day.""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""After a tour in Cameroon to celebrate his title, for which he never paid the slightest tribute to his training at MMA Factory, he refuses to face his challenger Derrick Lewis last August.

Already annoyed by negotiations that do not advance when he has only one fight on his contract, the UFC takes revenge by opposing the American to Gane for an interim champion belt.French is essential and the shock ngannou-gane becomes reality.What to see the past rise to the surface. L’UFC en a joué avec l’épisode de l’UFC 268, au Madison Square Garden, quand le combattant camerounais passe devant son ancien coach, Gane et son ancien partenaire d’entraînement Nassourdine Imavov (qui venait de remporter une belle victoire sur Edmen Shahbazyan) sans les saluer sous l’œil de la caméra d’un téléphone portable idéalement placé, Ngannou expliquant ensuite qu’il n’avait pas de problème avec Gane mais ne voulait pas dire bonjour à un Lopez qui a """"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""dit des choses sales sur (lui)"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""".

Journalists are also given to heart to relaunch Lopez and Ngannou on this theme at the slightest opportunity. Le premier a expliqué """"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""préférer entraîner Ciryl gratuitement que Francis pour 100.000 dollars"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" et lâché que son ancien élève n’était """"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""pas une bonne personne"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""". """"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""Quand les gens réaliseront qui est Francis Ngannou, ils seront choqués"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""", précisait-il au micro de The Bash MMA. Et de compléter pour MMA Fighting: """"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""On a passé cinq ans ensemble. Quand tu deviens quelqu’un, aide les gens!"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" Il a aussi moqué les envies de boxe du Camerounais, qui rêve de croiser Tyson Fury ou Deontay Wilder dans un ring: """"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""Tu n’aurais même pas la licence de boxe amateur"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""". Le second a lancé au magazine GQ que le problème de son ancien coach était de """"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""vouloir devenir célèbre et être sous le feu des projecteurs"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" et a """"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""rigolé"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" devant les images de sparring de début 2019 entre lui et Gane diffusées par le clan du Français car elles allaient dans le sens de ce dernier, finissant par prétendre que d’autres pas sorties montraient un KO qu’il avait infligé (""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""un accident"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""", selon lui) au """"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""Bon Gamin"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""".

Lopez a aussi affirmé qu’il connaissait """"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""ses maux, ses antécédents médicaux, ses problèmes de dos et ce qui le fatigue, ses faiblesses mentales"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""", précisant au Betway Blog qu’il l’avait """"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""aidé à retirer son short pour qu’il arrive à respirer normalement après sa première défaite"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""". Il s’est amusé à expliquer les progrès de Ngannou par un combattant """"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""plus à l’écoute grâce à son enseignement au MMA Factory"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""": """"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""Quand tu te sépares de ton ex, et que ton ex te reprochait de ne pas lui accorder de temps pour faire une balade dans un parc, tu accorderas plus de temps à la prochaine copine pour ça.As I learned from my ex to improve my relationship with my future fighter, Ciryl Gane.""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""

Ngannou, qui aurait sans doute aussi des détails à raconter sur leur relation mais qui peut remercier son ancien coach pour le choix du MMA qui s'est avéré payant puisqu'il l'a mené à un titre mondial, lui a répondu qu’il ne le connaissait plus car il avait """"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""beaucoup grandi en trois ans"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" à Vegas, où il se sent """"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""à la maison"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""", et auprès de Nicksick à qui il attribue ses progrès sur le plan mental et sa progression technique globale après s’être """"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""bien senti chez lui dès le début"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""": """"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""Je ne me battais avec personne de la salle, j’étais en paix.(…) With Fernand, we had had ups and downs since the first day.We have always disagreed on things.He had his dream, I had mine, and I moved on."""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" Il a par contre affirmé que lui-même connaissait parfaitement Lopez, """"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""comment il fonctionne, comment il réfléchit et son plan de jeu"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""", et pointé sa tendance à """"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""se voir lui-même dans son combattant"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""". Et son ancien coach de répliquer en évoquant le combat à venir face à un Gane plus technique et plus mobile: """"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""Francis ne peut faire qu’une chose.Rely on its power.If he doesn't, he will be humiliated.""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""

Le tout participe à un storytelling idéal pour vendre le pay-per-view du combat, ce qui met Lopez au centre du jeu en """"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""paratonnerre"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" – malin pour protéger Gane de la pression – mais arrange les deux gladiateurs de la cage qui touchent un pourcentage sur ces ventes.Even if the distilled scenario is more or less oriented depending on where we are. """"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""En France, on se fie à ce que Fernand ou Ciryl disent, rappelle Ngannou.The Cameroonian must be the villain, especially with the story that is told.""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""Will the MMA Factory boss are biting his fingers? The situation can heat Ngannou and overmovate it.If he keeps his belt, the latter says that he will greet his opponent but that he is not sure to do it for his former coach. Lopez, lui, lance qu’il pourrait prendre un café avec son ancien élève mais qu’ils ne seront """"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""jamais amis"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""".