Francis Ngannou has found a new home with the PFL
Francis Ngannou sent shockwaves through the fight game on Tuesday when it was announced that he signed an exclusive MMA contract with the Professional Fighters League. The former UFC heavyweight champion is targeting a debut in the PFL SmartCage in early 2024. The historic contract signing guarantees Ngannou the terms he wanted when he became a free agent, including the right to box, a seat on the advisory board to represent fighter interests, equity ownership, becoming the chairman of PFL Africa, and a guaranteed base of $2 million for his opponent.
When Ngannou entered free agency, he spoke about his desire to elevate the sport, and signing with the PFL has checked many of those boxes. In a sport that’s often selfish, Ngannou made sure his future opponent would also reap financial rewards. The only heavyweights making $2 million per fight in the UFC are Jon Jones and Stipe Miocic. Being Ngannou’s debut opponent in the PFL is a sweepstake you can expect many to chase.
Now that his future in MMA is certain, Ngannou is narrowing down on a professional boxing debut in 2023. Competing inside the squared circle is something that Ngannou has talked about for a long time.
Is the BMF title here to stay?
Just hours after Ngannou revealed he signed with the PFL, UFC president Dana White revealed some shocking news himself, as he announced that the BMF title is back and will be on the line in a rematch between Dustin Poirier and Justin Gaethje at UFC 291. The first fight between the two took place in April 2018 when Poirier finished Gaethje by knockout after a back-and-forth war.
When White made the announcement, he said that the BMF title was vacant because Jorge Masvidal is now retired. Masvidal defeated Nate Diaz for the title in November of 2019, which ended up being the final win of his career. This news is surprising because White initially said in 2019 that the title is one-and-done and would never be contested for again.
Now that the BMF title is back in the mix, what’s next? If it’s being referred to as a “vacant” title, does that mean this belt will be defended moving forward? It seems likely at this point. It used to be a novelty belt, but not anymore. The BMF title allows the UFC to hold pay-per-view main events where no UFC title is involved. That was the case at UFC 244 when Masvidal fought Diaz, and it’s the case now when Poirier fights Gaethje at UFC 291.
Quick Hits
- Alex Pereira is moving up to 205 to fight Jan Blachowicz at UFC 291.
- Jailton Almeida wants to fight Tai Tuivasa in a main event in Brazil.
- Daniel Cormier believes Ngannou has set a new standard in MMA.
- Aljamain Sterling vs. Sean O’Malley is set for UFC 292.
- Kron Gracie didn’t throw any punches at UFC 288 because of “bad advice.”
- Jessica-Rose Clark and Chase Sherman are no longer on the UFC roster.
- Kyler Phillips has been suspended for banned substances by the NSAC.
- Zhang Weili will defend her title against Amanda Lemos at UFC 292.
- Paulo Costa will fight Dagestan’s Ikram Aliskerov at UFC 291.
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