Here are 5 things to know as Cameroon MMA star Francis Ngannou dumps UFC for PFL.
Francis Ngannou, a professional mixed martial artist of Cameroonian and French descent, has legally agreed to a number of fights with the Professional Fighters League (PFL).
Former heavyweight champion of the Ultimate Fighting Championship Ngannou accepted an unprecedented multi-fight deal with a competing promotional organization.
The controversial topics of fighter compensation and athlete influence in the developing field of mixed martial arts come to a conclusion following a period of widely publicized free agency.
Ngannou, originally from Cameroon, joined the U.F.C. in 2015 and won the heavyweight title in 2021 after starting his mixed martial arts career in France.
But Ngannou declared he was ready to leave the promotional firm if they couldn't agree on a new deal before the final fight on his U.F.C. contract in January 2022.
According to several reports, not only would he become one of the most-paid fighters as a result of this agreement, but he would also receive advantageous conditions and a degree of flexibility that is virtually unheard of.
Francis Ngannou's PFL Contract
Here are five things to know about the Cameroonian's multi-million dollars fight deal
1 Ngannou will join the advisory board of the business to represent the interests of fighters and will take on the role of chairman of P.F.L. Africa, a growth plan to stage events across the continent.
2 Ngannou will fight in the PFL's brand-new "Super Fight" category, where competitors will get at least 50% of all PPV earnings.
3 Ngannou plans to compete in mixed martial arts matches in the PFL starting in the middle of 2024 after fighting in the boxing ring at some point this year.
4 It only covers 2 or 3 fights, promises a high seven-figure payout for each contest, and distributes a portion of the event's earnings.
5 Ngannou is entitled to his own sponsors in the ring, non-exclusive boxing rights, a minimum opponent wage (potentially as high as $1 million), and no champions clauses or other extensions.
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