Jake Paul reacts to Francis Ngannou 'best heavyweight in the f**king world' signing with the PFL
Jake Paul and Francis Ngannou will both be part of the PFL's pay-per-view league in 2024.
Finally, after a whole year and a half of being kept in the dark about what Francis Ngannou's next move would be, he has broken his silence and signed with the Professional Fighter's League.
One of the first to congratulate the former UFC heavyweight champion was non-other than YouTuber turned pro boxer Jake Paul. Paul signed with the PFL in January 2023, becoming an ambassador for the promotion's newly founded pay-per-view superfight division set to debut in 2024.
Much like MMA fans, Paul cannot wait for Ngannou's first fight in the PFL as the company continues to trend upwards and become a serious competitor against the likes of Bellator and ONE Championship.
"Francis, welcome to the PFL. Everybody, it is official," Paul said regarding the huge announcement. "This is massive, massive, massive, massive news in MMA. Congratulations Francis, you deserve this. The best heavyweight in the f**king world to the PFL!"
With the man who many view as the best heavyweight in the world joining the company along with the uber-popular Paul, it seems it is only a matter of time before they are the direct rivals of the UFC.
What to make of Francis Ngannou's PFL deal
The contract that Ngannou has signed gives him more than just a couple of fights. Per the New York Times's article which broke the news, Ngannou has signed exclusively with the promotion's super-fight pay-per-view division, hinting that he will not compete in the MMA-season format that PFL has become famous for.
The financial side of the deal has not been revealed to the public just yet but Ngannou did say, "Let's just say, my deal with PFL is more than anyone else offered."
What is more important than the money is the other benefits that Ngannou receives from this deal. His deal gives him "equity and leadership roles" within the promotion, with the cherry on top being that he will become the chairman of PFL Africa once launched.
"They didn't just show up as a promotion that was looking for a fighter," he said. "(They) really came as a partner that sees more value in you as a person."
In terms of an actual fight, Ngannou will return in 2024, although neither a date nor an opponent has yet to be announced. It has also been made clear that the deal is for MMA only, meaning that we still might see Ngannou in the boxing ring before 2023 comes to a close.