Francis Ngannou just casually strolled back into the UFC like he never left, showing up at the ceremonial weigh-ins to support his mate Kamaru Usman. But here’s the thing – wasn’t this the same bloke who supposedly burned every bridge on his way out in 2023? The whole thing reeks of manufactured drama, doesn’t it?

The Cameroonian wrecking ball appeared alongside Usman ahead of his scrap with Joaquin Buckley, marking his first UFC appearance since departing the promotion nearly two years ago. According to reports, Ngannou wasn’t there in any official capacity – just moral support for his training partner. Right, because nothing says “I’m over you” like showing up at your ex’s house uninvited.

The Bitter Divorce That Wasn’t So Final

Let’s rewind to January 2023, when Ngannou vacated his heavyweight title and walked away from the UFC in what can only be described as one of the messiest breakups in combat sports history. Dana White practically had steam coming out of his ears, claiming Francis was ducking Jon Jones. Meanwhile, Ngannou was banging on about restrictive contracts and wanting the freedom to box. Classic case of he-said, she-said, except with more punching involved.

The irony here is thicker than a heavyweight’s skull. Ngannou parlayed his UFC exit into lucrative boxing matches against Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua – fights that earned him more money than he’d probably seen in his entire UFC career. Yet here we are, with his coach Eric Nicksick claiming it’s “not about money anymore” and that Francis wants back in. Pull the other one, mate.

Dana White’s Cold Shoulder Treatment

Speaking of Dana White, the UFC supremo was conspicuously absent from Friday’s weigh-ins. Coincidence? Hardly. When asked about potentially welcoming Ngannou back just last week, White’s response was, “Probably not” – which is corporate speak for “over my dead body.”

The whole situation is more awkward than a vegetarian at a barbecue. You’ve got Ngannou, currently signed to the Professional Fighters League where he battered Renan Ferreira in his debut, supposedly pining for a UFC return. Meanwhile, White’s treating him like he’s got the plague. It’s playground politics at its finest, except these children happen to be millionaires who settle disputes with violence.

The PFL Complication Nobody’s Talking About

Here’s where it gets properly messy – Ngannou isn’t exactly a free agent. He’s tied up with the PFL, having signed what was presumably a decent contract after his UFC departure. So even if White decided to swallow his pride and welcome back the prodigal son, there’s the small matter of contractual obligations to sort out first.

The timing of this appearance is suspect as well. Just days after his coach goes public about wanting a UFC return, Francis rocks up at a UFC event? That’s not coincidence, that’s orchestration. Someone’s playing chess while pretending it’s checkers, and the fans are getting caught in the middle of what amounts to a very expensive game of corporate chicken.

What’s particularly galling is you’ve got legitimate title contenders scrapping for pennies while former champions play politics and chase boxing paydays. In my opinion, the sport’s becoming more about the spectacle than the competition. But, what do you reckon – is Ngannou’s surprise appearance a genuine attempt at reconciliation, or just another publicity stunt in the never-ending circus that is modern mixed martial arts?