MMA star Francis Ngannou is gearing up for a showdown with Tyson Fury this weekend, marking his first fight since departing from the UFC in January.
This weekend in Saudi Arabia, Francis Ngannou is set to make a remarkable debut in the boxing world as he faces Tyson Fury. ‘The Predator’ is entering the realm of boxing for the first time, having last competed in MMA in January 2022, securing a victory over Ciryl Gane at UFC 270. Earlier this year, the Cameroonian athlete parted ways with the UFC, and in May, PFL revealed his exclusive global MMA strategic partnership with the organization.
What were the reasons behind the departure of the former UFC heavyweight champion from the premier MMA promotion?
Ngannou revealed that he had presented a series of requests to the UFC during lengthy contract negotiations. Regrettably, the terms offered by the UFC did not provide him with the desired level of independence. In a January interview on the MMA Hour show with Ariel Helwani, the Cameroonian fighter voiced his discontent, expressing:
“The financial aspect of the contract isn’t the only concern; it’s about my freedom. I relinquish all control to the UFC, and that’s not what I want. I had hoped it could work out because I’ve always envisioned myself with the UFC, but it’s a matter of principle, not just money.”
Francis Ngannou left the UFC, scored himself a massive contract with the PFL and is set to fight Tyson Fury in a boxing match – did he beat the system?
— Violent Money TV (@ViolentMoneyTV) July 18, 2023
The new #JakesTakes looks at just that! Use the link below to read the article ⤵️ pic.twitter.com/0pr0JNiXqe
Additionally, Ngannou mentioned that his proposal for the UFC to offer health insurance to all its fighters was rejected. He elaborated, saying, “I wanted the UFC to consider these aspects, but they declined. I can cover my own health insurance costs, but not all fighters can. This is a matter of great importance, focusing on dignity and autonomy. I crave freedom and the ability to steer my own destiny rather than having it dictated by others.”
Following UFC Vegas 67, Dana White disclosed that the UFC had extended an offer to Ngannou that would have made him the highest-paid heavyweight in the sport’s history. White explained, “We made Ngannou an offer that would have made him the highest-paid heavyweight of all time, but he declined.
He probably still did. He left UFC thinking he was going to fight tyson Fury. Now he’s fighting in an inferior mma promotion making less than he would boxing. Depends on what he’s making at PFL.
— Catfishwithaids🏳️🌈 (@catfishwithaids) May 16, 2023
We will release him from his contract, and he can pursue his own path.” In March, the UFC president had also affirmed that Ngannou would not compete in the UFC again, stating, “No, we negotiated with him for years. It’s over; he will never be a part of the UFC again. While I hesitate to say ‘never,’ I can confidently say it’s highly unlikely. We made every effort.”
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