Francis Ngannou, the previous UFC heavyweight champion, made headlines along with his departure from the UFC in January 2023, citing a want for freedom and ideas over monetary acquire. Ngannou’s resolution to go away the group got here after a year-long negotiation course of that failed to deal with his requests.
Francis Ngannou Leaving the UFC
Cameroon’s Francis Ngannou was attempting to make use of his affect as UFC heavyweight champion to barter for medical health insurance and the flexibility to pursue sponsorship offers for all fighters. Talking about his departure, Ngannou remarked, “It doesn’t matter how much [money] is in that contract, I am not free. I have no power”
Francis Ngannou has publicly acknowledged that he misplaced over $1 million because of the UFC’s sponsorship restrictions. Particularly, the UFC’s unique cope with Crypto.com prevented Ngannou from securing a profitable sponsorship provide from a competing cryptocurrency platform, reportedly Coinbase. Ngannou expressed frustration over the UFC’s insurance policies, which barred fighters from pursuing their very own sponsorship offers for in-octagon appearances. He criticized the group for exploiting sponsorship alternatives for its personal profit whereas limiting fighters’ potential to earn independently.
After leaving the UFC, Ngannou signed with the PFL in Might 2023. The deal consists of not solely competitors but additionally roles as chairman of PFL Africa and a member of its world advisory board. He will get paid tens of thousands and thousands per battle and in addition ensures at the least a two-million payday for his opponent. With the PFL, Francis Ngannou can be free to field and he has competed in two blockbuster boxing matches towards heavyweight royalty.
Photograph by Tim Wheaton
“I was always fighting for the freedom and the opportunity to not have something in my way… It’s my right. And I claim that.” Ngannou defined on self-determination.
From working in a sand quarry as a baby in Cameroon to being homeless on the streets of Paris, he rose to turn out to be one of the vital feared fighters in blended martial arts. Reflecting on his struggles, he stated, “I was doing a lot of push-ups and a lot of abs. And running from the cops. That was keeping you fit. Running from the cops can keep you fit more than ever”
Now, with the PFL, Francis Ngannou defeated the towering Brazilian Renan Ferreira by the use of knockout to earn the heavyweight title. By strolling away from the UFC on the top of his profession, stood up for his ideas and in addition set a precedent for fighter autonomy in fight sports activities.
