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Since Francis Ngannou departed the UFC and pursued a career elsewhere, news surrounding the Cameroonian has become stale, with not much known about his future. While his next move is still likely to be in the boxing ring, Ariel Helwani has revealed that the powerhouse is "very close" to signing with an MMA promotion.
'The Predator' has already had meetings with a number of organizations as he aims to secure a deal in mixed martial arts before venturing into boxing. Despite having no experience in the ring, he rose to fame and became one of the most feared men on the planet with his scary knockout power displays in the cage.
While discussing Francis Ngannou's current situation, Ariel Helwani revealed that he had spoken in private with the former UFC heavyweight champion and now has an idea of who the fan-favorite is on the verge of signing for.
"Francis is very close to signing a new deal with another promotion. According to Francis, he was very upfront about this. They [Ngannou and Chatri Sityodtong of ONE Championship] left the meeting on good terms, but both of them came to an understanding that because he had already verbally committed to someone, it's more than likely he's not going to ONE... I thought it was really interesting when I asked him [Ngannou] about PFL [Professional Fighters League], that was the one that really got him fired up."
Earlier this year, Jake Paul announced that he had signed with the PFL and revealed his involvement in setting up the Super Fight Division, which could potentially be a new platform for big-name fighters like Francis Ngannou.
Francis Ngannou PFL: Who is available for 'The Predator' to fight in his potential new promotion?
Francis Ngannou will undoubtedly bring a lot of eyes wherever he decides to compete, but which fighters are waiting for him should he make his debut in the PFL?
The PFL is unlike any other MMA company and shares similarities with other American sports like the NFL and the NBA. Whilst it's unclear what he will do next, it's unlikely that the 36-year-old will compete in the regular season tournament. Instead, he may choose to fight in the Super Fight Division.
Francis Ngannou's arrival in the PFL could create a lot of excitement, and his status in the sport could earn him an instant shot at the dangerous Ante Delija's heavyweight throne.
