Francis Ngannou sympathized with Jon Jones and other UFC fighters during the press conference for his comeback fight in May. 

Ngannou will fight Philipe Lins on the undercard of Ronda Rousey versus Gina Carano streaming on Netflix on May 16, marking his first fight since leaving PFL, with which he had just the one fight against Renan Ferreira in 2024, which had been his landing ground after leaving UFC as the Heavyweight Champion in 2022. 

Jones vacated the Heavyweight title last year when he announced his retirement from the sport, but had since said that he was in negotiations to return at the White House card in June. Dana White said this was untrue, and that prompted Jones to maintain that negotiations had happened, he was “lowballed,” and asked for his release. 

Ngannou had previously said on social media that Jones deserved his payday and offered him a conversation should he get his UFC release. But he also addressed the situation during the MVP press conference. 

“You know, I think three or four years ago, I was saying this out loud and I’ll still say this. Not only to Jon Jones, but everyone out there probably in the same situation,” Ngannou said of the situation. “Because I think most of them are in the same situation. We are not employees, we are independent contractors, and then we should be able to get what we deserve and if we don’t we will have a right to walk away and go look at other options.”

Ngannou continued to say that there is a pressure now to choose between financial security and freedom, “Because thing now is there is always contracts tying people up, and then they can get free, and then you want to set free and then they muscle you up and low ball you. But I’m happy I’m out of that.”

Ever since singing with WWE, GUNTHER has always been portrayed as a heel, and even without Imperium behind him, he continues to be a dominant figure in WWE. While veterans like Tommy Dreamer believe GUNTHER can become a babyface, the Austrian-wrestler is comfortable with where he is today.

During an interview on “The Morning Shift on 92.9 The Game,” GUNTHER opened up about the idea of becoming a babyface someday. 

“I’m not even sure how much of it is a rouse, to be honest. Yeah, just in general, it’s very easy for me,” he claimed. “I’m an old soul. I listen to old music, I watch older movies in a time when our audience mostly has TikTok brain and the attention span of a two-year-old. I love to be the disruptor who doesn’t play along with that trend.”

GUNTHER then dismissed the rest of the WWE locker room, stating that everyone else can play to the audience if they want to, while he’ll focus on the fundamentals of pro wrestling. 

“It’s proper technique, it’s proper basics, it’s authenticity, it’s making people question what’s real, and that’s what I’m focusing on,” he added, further claiming that he enjoys watching wrestlers scramble to get the audience’s approval.

“I couldn’t care less what the audience wants,” the former World Heavyweight Champion said. “I enjoy being the disruptor.”

If you use any quotes from this article, please credit “The Morning Shift on 92.9 The Game,” and provide a h/t to Wrestling Inc. for the transcription.

Welcome to Wrestling Inc.’s live coverage for “TNA Thursday Night iMPACT” on March 12, 2026, coming to you from the Gateway Center Arena at College Park in Atlanta, Georgia!

Moose promised to take down members of The System one-by-one during last Thursday’s edition of “Thursday Night iMPACT” as Alisha Edwards stood by his side, starting with Cedric Alexander in an Atlanta Street Fight before he faces Brian Myers, Bear Bronson, and Eddie Edwards. Tonight, he will be starting his quest as he takes on Alexander in said Atlanta Street Fight.

AJ Francis will be competing in his first match since scoring a win against Mance Warner via disqualification on the February 26 episode of “Thursday Night iMPACT” as he squares off with Elijah. After Frankie Kazarain invited Elijah as a guest on his talk show “The King’s Speech” and a verbal confrontation between the two men ensued, they were interrupted when Francis appeared with The Hometown Man in hand on the entrance ramp and chokeslammed him off the entrance ramp.

Although Sinner and Saint’s Travis Williams and Judas Icarus look to become the Number One Contenders to Matt Hardy and Jeff Hardy’s TNA World Tag Team Championship in a Four-Way Match, they came up short to eventual winners Bear Bronson and Brian Myers of The System. Tonight, Williams and Icarus still have the chance to get their hands on The Hardys when both teams collide with one another in the ring.

Elsewhere, TNA International Champion Trey Miguel, BDE, and Rich Swann came face-to-face backstage with Order 4 last Thursday during a tense verbal altercation that also involved Jada Stone. Following such, Order 4 members Mustafa Ali, John Skyler, and Jason Hotch will be going head-to-head with Miguel, BDE, and Swann.

Additionally, Ricky Sosa will be making his first ever appearance on “Thursday Night iMPACT” when he takes on an opponent who has yet to be announced. Freshly reinstated TNA star Steve Maclin also has something on his mind to share as he prepares to challenge Mike Santana for the TNA World Championship at TNA Sacrifice on March 27.

Ariel Helwani has clarified whether he was paid for the MVP press conference for Ronda Rousey-Gina Carano in May. 

Helwani was front-and-center for the conference, featuring headline acts Rousey and Carano, as well Francis Ngannou and Philipe Lins, welcoming everybody as the host of the sit-down. And given that Helwani is a broadcast journalist covering MMA, there had been some calls as to an issue in conflict of interest and transparency. 

Speaking on that and attempting to make it clear, Helwani said, “Of course I’m being paid for this. But let me be very, very clear. I have never taken a check, I have never taken a dime, I have never even taken a car service from MVP, or any promoter since I made that mistake in 2016.”

Ariel Helwani: I do want to make something very clear, I saw some people saying, ‘reveal that you’re being paid for this.’ Of course I’m being paid for this, but let me be very very clear, I’ve never taken a check. I’ve never taken a dime. I’ve never even take a car service from… pic.twitter.com/Nns5Isu1hC

— Jed I. Goodman © (@jedigoodman) March 11, 2026

Helwani was banned from getting credentialed by UFC in 2016, albeit briefly due to backlash, after breaking news of Brock Lesnar’s return at UFC 200. He maintained that since then he had been steadfast in refusing payment from promoters, turning down “many opportunities.”

He said that he understands why people assumed he was being paid by the promoter, because in MMA when one appears on a promotion’s broadcast they often are being paid by them. And he then went into how that is different in boxing and one does not have to work with a promoter, which is why he sought after a role in that space so he could work independently.