By now, it is no surprise that Francis Ngannou wants to leave the UFC. After being unhappy with his contract situation it appears that the wantaway star already has a new destination in mind.
Following his victory over Cyril Gane at UFC 270, ‘The Predator’ is currently recuperating from knee surgery. As such, he is taking time to fully recover and spending some time with his family and loved ones. Notably, Ngannou’s recent post has become a topic of discussion, as it features, who people believe is his mother, wearing a PFL t-shirt.
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Since the post, fans on social media have gone wild. Whilst many insist that Mama Ngannou is sending a message, others are wanting to see Ngannou take on Jake Paul. However, the UFC heavyweight champ’s move to the PFL is not that straightforward.
For one, Ngannou is reportedly under contract by the UFC until Jan 20, 2023. Moreover, the UFC also has a renegotiation clause for 90 days after that. As such, Francis could face legal trouble for breaching his contract and having talks with the PFL already. Although there is no evidence of Ngannou actually speaking to the PFL, one can only imagine that they are not too far away.
Currently, the UFC is said to be preparing a fight between former light heavyweight champion Jon Jones and Ngannou. Both fighters have been out of action for quite some time now, but a potential matchup would easily be the biggest fight the UFC has made in a while.
Can PFL pay Francis Ngannou more than UFC?
Recently, the PFL made a lot of noise after signing up influencer and boxer Jake Paul. Despite what people may think of him, Paul has been a very vocal advocate for fighter pay and fair compensation. Moreover, with his move to the PFL, Jake also announced the PPV Super Fight division of the PFL.
According to ‘The Problem Child’, fighters in the PPV division will make ‘50% of the revenue’. What this means for Ngannou is that even if he does fewer PPV numbers than he did with the UFC, he would be paid a lot more, due to his share of the revenue. To make matters even more interesting, Ngannou has previously agreed with Jake regarding his thoughts on fighter pay disparity as well.
With the promotion creating its roster of PPV-worthy fighters, there is no doubt about the eyeballs they will be able to attract. As such, it is almost a no-brainer that Ngannou will prefer fighting in the PFL over the UFC. Now 36, the heavyweight champ will be seriously considering the PFL’s offer, when it does come around.
With contract renegotiations soon to begin with the UFC, do you think Dana White will be able to convince Ngannou to re-sign with the UFC? When will we see Ngannou fight in the PFL? Who do you think Ngannou fights in the PFL? Leave your thoughts in the comments below.
