UFC #1 heavyweight contender Francis Ngannou’s head coach is now Eric Nicksick, gym manager at Xtreme Couture in Las Vegas. When legendary boxing coach and commentator Teddy Atlas recently showed up at the gym and worked with “The Predator” Nicksick wasn’t resentful, he was awed, as he made clear during a recent appearance on MMA Junkie Radio.

For me personally, Teddy hit more of the coaching side in understanding the timing with your family, when to say ‘no’ to certain people, explained Nicksick. He spoke a lot of things that I see, and I experience, but he helped me understand a little bit more and how to package it, how to express my feelings to the fighters – it was absolutely gold.

And as far as the technique stuff goes, he sat and worked with Francis on two or three little things and it was literally for two hours. So just the fine-tuning of some of the things we’re doing with Francis and how to be better, so it was an unbelievable interaction. I was blown away the whole time, I was trying not to be starstruck while we’re there with him, but he was a great guy and it was a great experience.

UFC president Dana White has made it abundantly clear that Ngannou is next for heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic, and Nicksick is hoping against hope that it happens in 2020.

We’re hoping so and that’s what we’re pushing on our end, said Nicksick. I know that’s what the UFC wants as well. They wanna get that December card lined up and make it Stipe and Francis, but it’s obviously gotta be on Stipe’s end as well so right now we’re just training. Since he’s been back home from Cameroon, the guy hasn’t missed a day.

h/t Farah Hannoun for MMA Junkie