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News, Blog and GuidesThe former UFC heavyweight champion has now signed with the Professional Fighters League, but why exactly did he leave the UFC in the first place?
Paul RudderEnglish_ASUpdate: May 16th, 2023 12:45 EDT
USA TODAY Sports
Having announced his new contract with the PFL, fight fans have understandably turned their attention to the details of his new deal as well as who he’s likely to face in any upcoming bouts. Yet, there are still questions surrounding the circumstances under which the Cameroonian-French fighter left the UFC.
Francis Ngannou announces PFL deal
According to his comments on Tuesday, Francis Ngannou has signed a contract with the Professional Fighters League. The news of course, brings an end to the intense speculation that surrounded the former UFC heavyweight champion’s future and what he intended to do with his career after effectively becoming a free agent.
𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗣𝗥𝗘𝗗𝗔𝗧𝗢𝗥 𝗜𝗦 𝗛𝗘𝗥𝗘! Welcome to the Professional Fighters League @francis_ngannou pic.twitter.com/WPxuQtJtTn
— PFL (@PFLMMA) May 16, 2023
“The past few months have been a very interesting time to understand and see the landscape, but I’m very excited about this deal with the PFL because they basically showed what I was expecting,” he said recently. “They didn’t just show up as a promotion that was looking for a fighter, but really came as a partner that sees more value in you as a person.”
What do we know about Francis Ngannou’s contract with the PFL?
As per a report from Bloody Elbow, Ngannou’s deal will see him committed for two or three fights, with an assurance that he will be receiving a “high seven-p” purse for each bout. Further to that, “multiple sources that had knowledge of his negotiations and the agreement have informed Bloody Elbow that this deal would not only make him one of the highest-paid fighters but also give him an almost unheard of level of freedom and favorable terms,” the report read.
I’m not a businessman, I’m a business, man ♟️ pic.twitter.com/ED9wZY0Vz0
— Francis Ngannou (@francis_ngannou) May 16, 2023
Regarding what those favorable terms are, it’s understood that Ngannou will receive a split of the profits for his events, as well as the right to have his own sponsorship deals displayed in the cage. Indeed, part of the deal even sees him now taking on the role chairman for PFL Africa. The venture has been described as “an expansion initiative to produce events on the continent.” To that end, PFL chief executive Peter Murray said PFL Africa is intends to launch in 2024, before adding that the promotion expects to be staging events on the continent by 2025.
