UFC can't erase Ngannou's legacy - Adesanya

Israel Adesanya says nan UFC "can't erase Francis Ngannou's legacy" aft it appeared to region itself from nan erstwhile heavyweight champion.

Cameroon's Ngannou near nan UFC successful 2023 and later joined nan PFL.

And successful a video published past week,, external nan UFC edited retired his sanction erstwhile Adesanya referenced himself, Ngannou and Kamaru Usman - each erstwhile title holders successful nan promotion - arsenic nan "three African kings".

Nigeria-born Adesanya was speaking earlier his conflict against South African middleweight champion Dricus du Plessis connected Saturday astatine UFC 305 successful Perth, Australia.

"You can’t erase Francis' bequest successful nan UFC, it’s portion of what we’ve done. I cognize he fights for nan PFL now but it's history - trying not to talk astir it is silly," said Adesanya.

"I cognize there's this title betwixt different promotions and nan UFC but you tin ne'er erase history - nan streets will ever remember.

"It's conscionable a batch of thorax puffing. The UFC are smart people, this is conscionable business successful nan UFC. They'll rectify it eventually."

Ngannou, 37, was stripped of his UFC heavyweight title upon his departure from nan organisation past year, citing a "lack of freedom" arsenic reasoning down failing to work together a caller contract.

In nan past 12 months, he has fought and mislaid to Britons Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua successful high-profile boxing bouts, and will make his PFL debut against Renan Ferreira connected 19 October.

Adesanya, who moved to New Zealand astatine nan property of 10, is looking to regain his middleweight crown astatine Perth's RAC Arena successful nan first all-African title bout successful UFC history.

The 35-year-old mislaid his loop to American Sean Strickland past September earlier taking a break from nan sport, revealing that competing successful 5 title bouts successful 16 months had taken a toll connected his mind and body.

In January, Du Plessis defeated Strickland and is group to make nan first defence of his title against Adesanya.

The 30-year-old joined nan UFC successful 2020 and has won each 7 fights connected his measurement to becoming nan UFC's first title holder from South Africa.

If Adesanya thumps Du Plessis, he will go conscionable nan 2nd combatant successful UFC history to go a three-time champion successful nan aforesaid section aft Randy Couture achieved nan feat astatine heavyweight betwixt 1997-2007.