Former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou strikes deal with PFL
FILE - Francis Ngannou is shown during a heavyweight championship mixed martial arts bout against Stipe Miocic at UFC 220, Sunday, Jan. 21, 2018, in Boston. Ngannou's reign as one of the top heavyweights in MMA will continue in the Professional Fighters League following the former champion’s contentious split with UFC. (AP Photo/Gregory Payan, File)[ASSOCIATED PRESS/Gregory Payan]
Francis Ngannou reign as one of the top heavyweights in MMA will continue in the Professional Fighter’s League following the former champion’s contentious split with UFC. The 36-year-old Ngannou will fight exclusively for PFL in its pay-per-view super fight division. He also will serve as chairman and equity owner in PFL Africa. Ngannou was still UFC heavyweight champion when contract talks collapsed once the African fighter said his demands for health insurance and personal sponsorships were rejected. Ngannou negotiated with ONE Championship but those talks flamed out shortly before the Singapore-based made it’s United States debut last week in Denver.
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FILE - Cameroonian mixed martial artist Francis Ngannou speaks during a panel at the Bitcoin Conference, Thursday, April 7, 2022, in Miami Beach, Fla. Ngannou's reign as one of the top heavyweights in MMA will continue in the Professional Fighters League following the former champion’s contentious split with UFC. Ngannou was still UFC heavyweight champion when contract talks collapsed once the African fighter said his demands for health insurance and personal sponsorships were rejected. UFC President Dana White stripped Ngannou of the belt in January. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell, File)
Photo: ASSOCIATED PRESS/Rebecca Blackwell