Francis Ngannou is one of the most explosive heavyweights in the history of mixed martial arts. ‘The Predator’ is known for his right-hand knockout power which has landed him victories over the likes of Stipe Miocic, and Alistair Overeem among others.
With a record of 17 wins and 3 losses, Ngannou has cemented his legacy as one of the best heavyweights in the world. Furthermore, he was the reigning UFC heavyweight champion when he decided to leave the company.
Lot of folks who said Francis made a huge career mistake leaving the UFC gonna be real quiet when this is official. https://t.co/nXATDMUTBe
— Tommy Toe Hold (@TommyToeHold) July 7, 2023
Now, the question is did Francis Ngannou retire from combat sports? The answer is a strong no. Furthermore, Ngannou has signed a huge contract with the Professional Fighting League (PFL).
Francis Ngannou was the reigning heavyweight champion when he decided to leave the UFC. His last match took place against Ciryl Gane which he won via unanimous decision. According to Ngannou, the contract offered by Dana White did not meet his requirements. “In that contract, I’m not free,” said Francis.
In an interaction with Ariel Helwani, ‘The Predator’ said that he requested a three-fight deal, waiving extension clauses and health insurance for all the fighters. Furthermore, he asked for in-cage sponsorships and an athlete advocate. Since most of his requests were unanswered, he decided to become a free agent.
On the other hand, Dana White said that this contract would have made Francis Ngannou the highest-paid heavyweight in the history of the UFC. For his super-fight against Jon Jones, Ngannou was being offered around $8 million. However, Francis Ngannou felt like he was “getting slapped in the face by money“.
How big is Francis Ngannou’s PFL Deal?
Francis Ngannou changed the game when he decided to sign a contract with the PFL. He was the hottest free agent and had offers from both ONE Championship and Bellator but decided to go with the PFL.
The contract includes the freedom to pursue a separate contract in professional boxing, executive ownership in PFL Africa, and a spot on the PFL advisory board which also includes MMA legend, Randy Couture. Furthermore, the deal allows Francis to choose his own sponsors which means more money.
Francis Ngannou’s PFL deal includes:
• High 7-figure per fight guarantee
• $2M guarantee for his opponents
• A share of each event’s net profits
• Freedom to box & sign sponsors
• Equity in the PFL & Chairman of PFL AfricaSafe to say leaving the UFC was the right move. pic.twitter.com/E8AdCcAfL0
— Joe Pompliano (@JoePompliano) May 17, 2023
Another very interesting aspect of his deal is that his opponents are expected to get around a guaranteed sum of $2 million. This can encourage many top UFC fighters to take a risk and sign with the PFL to face ‘The Predator’.
Along with that, ‘The Predator’ is expected to get a seven-digit figure per fight and a share of the net profit of each event. The deal looks like a win-win for Francis. Furthermore, he is already utilizing the perks of his PFL deal as he is set to make his boxing debut against Tyson Fury.