Former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou has officially signed an exclusive contract with the Professional Fighters League in a move that surprised the mixed martial arts world.
The deal promises “The Predator” a seven-figure guaranteed pay for two-to-three fights in the PFL’s Super Fight division, a pay-per-view lineup that allocates 50 percent of event revenue to the fighters. He will also receive a notable role on the PFL Global Athlete Advisory Board and will be the chairman and equity owner of PFL Africa.
“I am very excited about this game-changing partnership,” said Ngannou. “I believe in the PFL’s ‘fighter first’ culture and global vision including developing the sport in Africa.”
“I believe in the PFL’s “fighter first.”
Francis Ngannou, former UFC heavyweight champion
Ngannou explained that the UFC initially offered him $8 million for a fight against Jon Jones, with potential earnings of around $10 million per fight. However, he said that he would earn much more with PFL.
The French-Cameroonian will have the opportunity to participate in boxing matches in addition to MMA bouts. He has expressed his interest in facing top boxing contenders such as Tyson Fury, Deontay Wilder and Anthony Joshua.
Due to his knee injury, Ngannou’s trainer explained that he would prioritize the boxing match as it poses less strain on his knee before returning to compete in MMA. His PFL debut is scheduled for mid-2024, when he will be 37 years old, leaving the door open for a boxing match in 2023.
“The PFL is excited to announce its groundbreaking strategic partnership with Francis Ngannou, the greatest heavyweight fighter in the world,” said PFL CEO Peter Murray.
“I’m personally looking forward to supporting Francis in his commitment to fight for communities in Africa and around the world, inspired by his vision for the Francis Ngannou Foundation.”
Reactions from fans and the UFC
The news of the move garnered significant attention on social media, with fans expressing mixed opinions on Twitter. Several MMA fans even took shots at UFC President Dana White.
Some commented that the decision was solely based on money, while others said the move was “a joke.” A user with the handle @wander_bdog called the move “the easy route” as he was “too scared” to face Jones.
“Goodluck to him! Still think Bones [Jones] would finish him in under 2 rounds though,” a tweet from Fresh Hotel EU read.
Meanwhile, another user remarked about how the UFC was unfair when it came to payment.
“Man only has to fight like twice and he’ll basically out-earn every UFC fight he ever had combined. What Dana White does with his fighters is criminal,” read a tweet from user @Brometheus0350.
Many know his fights were not exactly major commercial successes, even when facing more popular opponents. While opinions may vary about the UFC and White, it is widely acknowledged that the UFC excels in promoting and generating revenue from pay-per-view events.
The PFL faced a significant setback in terms of pay-per-view sales with the underperforming PFL 10-season championship, which reportedly garnered less than 50,000 purchases. When Ngannou eventually competes in the PFL in mid-2024, he will be up against UFC pay-per-view events and potentially lesser-known opponents.
Despite White’s desire for Ngannou to continue his career in the UFC, negotiations between the two parties ultimately broke down due to the conditions set by Ngannou. Moving forward, White said he would never allow “The Predator” to compete in the UFC again.