Former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou left the organization in early 2023 after failing to come to terms on a new contract. “The Predator” became a free agent and inked a deal with the Professional Fighters League (PFL) and landed lucrative boxing bouts.
Four months after severing ties with the UFC, Ngannou signed a deal with the PFL. In the deal was the ability to accept boxing matches, one of the hangups in negotiations with the UFC.
Before stepping foot inside the PFL cage, Ngannou faced then-undefeated WBC and Lineal heavyweight boxing champion Tyson Fury in October 2023. He knocked Fury down in the third round but came up on the wrong side of split decisions on the judges’ scorecards. It was Ngannou’s professional boxing debut.
The Cameroonian’s next fight would also be inside the ring. Ngannou faced the 2012 Olympic gold medalist and two time heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua in March 2024. He was knocked out in the second round.
Ngannou returned to mixed martial arts in October 2024 for the symbolic PFL Super Fights Heavyweight Championship against Renan Ferreira. He won by first-round knockout. That’s the last time Ngannou fought and he’s almost begging for a fight. The PFL hasn’t made Ngannou a fight offer.
“That’s the discussion that we’re having. That’s what I’m pressing on because I need that fight,” Ngannou said on the Ariel Helwani Show.
Ferreira and Vadim Nemkov fight for the inaugural PFL heavyweight championship on Saturday in France. Ngannou hasn’t been approached about facing the winner. At the end of the day, Ngannou just wants a fight.
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“Anyone that can give me a fight I think I’d be down for,” Ngannou answered when asked if anyone on the PFL roster interested him. “I just want to fight.”
“It’s been what, a little over 11 months? A little over 13 months. One year and one month. I need to fight.”
