Former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou has signed a deal with the Professional Fighters League (PFL).
‘The Predator’ opted to explore free agency after protracted contract talks with Dana White’s MMA promotion failed following his title defence against Ciryl Gane at UFC 270 in January 2022.
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Ngannou has been talking up big boxing fights with Tyson Fury, Anthony Joshua, and Deontay Wilder, but has decided to secure his MMA future while continuing to explore a squared circle debut.
On Tuesday, PFL announced an exclusive global MMA strategic partnership that gives Ngannou a leadership role with the company and also allows him to take boxing bouts.
However, the 36-year-old will not be making his PFL debut until ‘mid-2024’.
"I am very excited for this game-changing partnership with the Professional Fighters League to continue my MMA fighting career in the PFL’s PPV Super Fights Division,” Ngannou said in a PFL press release.
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“I believe in the PFL’s 'fighter first' culture and global vision, including developing the sport in Africa.
"With that, I am also proud to announce that I will serve as Chairman of PFL Africa which will be the leading MMA organisation on the continent providing great African fighters the opportunity to compete on a global platform.”
Ngannou refused to get into the specifics of his contract with PFL but did claim it’s worth more than any other offer he’s received during his time as a free agent.
“Let’s just say, all-in, my deal with PFL is more than anyone else offered,” he said during a separate conversation with The New York Times.
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“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.
“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.”
This announcement appears to be just the first for Ngannou, who is surely going to fight in 2023 after spending almost 18 months out of action due to a mixture of injury and contract issues.
It’s currently unclear who the Cameroonian knockout artist will face but it seems inevitable that he will soon confirm his boxing debut after delaying a return to MMA.