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FRANCIS NGANNOU SAYS HE’S CLOSE TO SIGNING WITH THE PFL OR ONE CHAMPIONSHIP

By David Tees on 3/15/2023 7:09 PM

Former UFC Heavyweight Champion Francis Ngannou left the promotion earlier this year due to an ongoing contract dispute.

It appears that Ngannou may have found his next home for fighting, with the two standouts being the PFL or One Championship.

“I have made a decision,” Ngannou said on The MMA Hour (transcript via Jed Meshew of MMA Fighting). “Without making a done deal, I know what my next move is going to be. I know that I want to fight boxing first and then after that I will fight MMA. I’m going to sign with one MMA promotion. I haven’t made a decision on that yet, [but I’m] very close. ... PFL and ONE FC right now, we are very close. We will see.”

Whenever Ngannou does fight next, it would mark the first time he has competed outside of the UFC since May of 2015.

Ngannou says his time in free agency has made him feel respected as a professional MMA fighter.

“I’m going to do what I’m doing, and what is interesting about it, obviously there is huge money down here, but also, most of this deal has been viewed as a partnership, which is great for me,” Ngannou said. “I feel well-respected, appreciated. It is different. It feels different. Listen, I never thought there was an MMA promotion that pays more than UFC, or that has [more] money than the UFC. If the UFC wants to pay somebody, they will pay you, but the way that he comes, I’m not down for it. I’d rather get something with more value. My last three years weren’t so happy, so excited. Maybe at the end of the day, this is good for everybody.”