MMA Twitter reacts to Francis Ngannou signing with PFL
See the reactions, takes, and explosions that took over social media following the announcement that Francis Ngannou is signing with the PFL
Four months after an official parting of ways with the UFC, where he was the then-heavyweight champion, the free agency period of Francis Ngannou has come to an end. Ngannou has signed a deal with the Professional Fighters League (PFL).
𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗣𝗥𝗘𝗗𝗔𝗧𝗢𝗥 𝗜𝗦 𝗛𝗘𝗥𝗘! Welcome to the Professional Fighters League @francis_ngannou pic.twitter.com/WPxuQtJtTn
— PFL (@PFLMMA) May 16, 2023
The New York Times was the first to break the story.
Ngannou will debut in mid-2024 in PFL's Super Fight series, so he won't be in the promotion's traditional series format. In addition to fighting, he'll be chairman of PFL Africa and "serve on the company’s advisory board to represent fighter interests."
“Let’s just say, all-in my deal with PFL is more than anyone else offered,” Ngannou told the NY Time.
MMA Twitter goes wild after PFL acquires former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou
Francis Ngannou and Cedric Doumbe pulling up to the PFL after leaving the UFC pic.twitter.com/zCnV2EjnTf
— Phillip Kadek (@phillynextdoor) May 16, 2023
Francis Ngannou just redefined contract negotiations with MMA promotions, it’s an Michael Jordan type of deal with Nike. I’m very excited to see where this will take the PFL
— AFC logical fan🔴⚪️ (@GngSev) May 16, 2023
Francis Ngannou has now signed with the PFL with the option to compete in boxing. Who should The Predator fight in his boxing debut?
— Combat Sports Today 📰 (@CSTodayNews) May 16, 2023
(video: @octagonobsessed)
pic.twitter.com/OcrlX8h3b6
Francis NGannou vs whoever tf is PFL HW champ pic.twitter.com/R24FRAID2U
— MMA² (@mma_squared) May 16, 2023
Francis Ugannou's new PFL deal is very much welcomed.
— Tplus (@obrienthagreat) May 16, 2023
MMA in Africa would grow faster and deeper with this agreement.
UFC can stick to their exploitative deals while they watch PFL rule MMA global.
Congratulations Francis.
Not sure why anyone is surprised about Francis signing with the PFL @ChaelSonnen told us this was going to happen
— MoniverceMMA🥋 (@MoniverceMMA) May 16, 2023
PFL before & after the Francis Ngannou deal: https://t.co/AaAFlGtG6U pic.twitter.com/wrN9Bzj3Bv
— Squid Vicious MMA (@SquidViciousMMA) May 16, 2023
For Francis and the PFL, this is fantastic. Massive for both.
— Jordan Childs (@_JordanChilds) May 16, 2023
For fans, it’s just really underwhelming. Won’t be fighting until mid 2024, and against…. Who? PFL’s heavyweights suck, and there’s no marquee HW free agents. Meh. https://t.co/ae8eL9mS0y
This deal with the PFL finally brings to an end a months' long journey wondering where Ngannou's next venture in combat sports laid. In addition to the PFL, there had been rumors of him potentially joining Bellator or ONE Championship, or even going to box someone like Deontay Wilder or WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury.
Ngannou had a very public falling out with the UFC, leading to him parting ways with the UFC in January, with "The Predator" vacating the UFC heavyweight championship in the process.
The 36-year-old is 17-3 in his professional MMA career, going 12-2 in his time in the Octagon. He claimed the UFC heavyweight title at UFC 260 in March 2021 with a second-round knockout of Stipe Miocic. Ngannou's only defense of the UFC heavyweight title came against Ciryl Gane in January 2022 at UFC 270 — Ngannou's most recent MMA fight to this day.
Ngannou's UFC departure led to the dissolution of a long-awaited bout with current UFC heavyweight champion Jon Jones in Jones's heavyweight debut. It was a match that had been rumored from sometime in 2020 until Ngannou's UFC departure.
Next. What are the rules for the Professional Fighters League?. dark