Francis Ngannou fires back at UFC president Dana White over PFL deal
Despite being UFC’s reigning heavyweight champion, Francis Ngannou has decided to part ways with UFC, signing an unprecedented, lucrative deal with the Professional Fighters League. Ngannou and UFC president Dana White had a longstanding back and forth regarding Ngannou’s status and next contract with the UFC, with Ngannou feeling like White and the UFC were not offering him a fair deal.
Ngannou signing with PFL officially ended all speculation regarding his future with UFC, and at UFC Vegas 73, White reacted to the news of Ngannou putting pen to paper for the first time.
“Based on what I know about the deal, which is not much, it makes no sense to me,” White said. “You’re going to pay the guy not to fight for a year and it’s already been like 18 months. He’s fought three times in the last three years. It’s just not what we do here. It’s not what we do. The day that we released him, I knew exactly what was going to happen.”
White continued saying, “I don’t think that he’s afraid of anybody. It’s just the fact that he doesn’t want to take any risk. PFL is going to pay this guy to train for a boxing match that may not even happen and they may not even be involved in. How does that make any sense? It doesn’t make sense to me.”
Ngannou was not a fan of White’s comments, taking to Twitter and responding to the statements of his former employer.
Ngannou didn’t hold back in giving his side of the story, as the heavyweight champion detailed how he held up his end of the bargain of his contract with the UFC and even battled through injury during his contract.
There’s no doubt that White and the UFC lost one of their biggest stars in Ngannou, who won 17 of his 20 fights in his UFC career, 12 by KO/TKO and four by submission. His knockout power makes him one of the most exciting watches in all combat sports, as he now takes his talents to the PFL which was founded five years ago.
Ngannou’s deal with the PFL is only for two to three fights but ensures him a “high 7-figure” purse for each fight according to Bloody Elbow. He will also receive equity in the company, a role on the PFL board of directors, and be the chairman of PFL’s expansion into Africa.
Ngannou has also openly expressed interest in a career in boxing, which he plans on pursuing in the second half of 2023 targeting opponents like Deontay Wilder and Tyson Fury. His deal with PFL will allow him to box professionally and pursue his own sponsors, as he’s anticipated to make his pro boxing debut in 2023 and his promotional debut for PFL in 2024 afterward.