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After months of rumors and controversies since his much-controversial UFC exit, fans finally know where Francis Ngannou is headed next.
On Tuesday, May 16, Ariel Helwani tweeted that 'The Predator' has officially signed with the PFL. He is expected to fight in the promotion's super-fight pay-per-view division next year after competing in boxing in 2023.
His deal with PFL is an MMA-only agreement. According to The NY Times, Ngannou has secured "equity and leadership roles" in the PFL with the deal, which is something he was looking for in the negotiations with ONE Championship as well before it fell through.
Ngannou will act as the chairman of the new PFL Africa division and also serve to represent fighters' interests on the company's advisory board.
His debut opponent, date, or venue has not been announced yet. Ngannou intends to compete in his first PFL fight in mid-2024.
PFL confirmed the news shortly after Helwani's tweet.
What could Francis Ngannou's PFL signing mean for MMA?
Francis Ngannou signing with the PFL ends one of the most widely covered free agency periods in the history of mixed martial arts.
The Cameroonian-French fighter walked out of the UFC despite being offered 'Brock Lesnar-esque' money that would have made him the highest-paid heavyweight ever, as per Dana White. His decision brought the conversation on fighter pay and welfare to the forefront, as the MMA world continued to talk about it long after Ngannou was stripped of the UFC heavyweight title.
Some of Ngannou's former co-fighters, like Israel Adesanya, supported his decision, while some others, like Conor McGregor, were of the opinion that it would backfire.
While Francis Ngannou refused to disclose any figure to The NY Times, he stated that PFL offered him more than anyone else in the industry. Earlier in May, Ngannou received massive social media backlash for turning down a $20 million offer from ONE Championship. ONE CEO Chatri Sityodtong later revealed that they did not place the final offer due to Ngannou demanding a decision-making position in the company.
It seems like Ngannou did not let all the noise distract him and landed the deal that not only benefitted him financially but put him in a place where he could help other fighters as well.
If Francis Ngannou can succeed in what he plans on doing, it could be a milestone in the ongoing struggle for better fighter pay that people will look back on as a trailblazing moment. it would set excellent precedence for other fighters who are in a position to do what he did.
