Following Francis Ngannou’s departure from the UFC earlier this year, the former heavyweight champion has taken his talents elsewhere.
Ngannou has inked a multi-fight deal with the Professional Fighters League (PFL) — marking the most valuable MMA deal for a single fighter — according to a press release. The strategic partnership will make the mixed martial artist a chairman and a minority equity owner in PFL Africa. What’s more, he will anchor the PFL’s PPV Super Fight Division and serve on PFL’s Global Athlete Advisory Board.
“I am very excited for this game-changing partnership with the Professional Fighters League to continue my MMA fighting career in the PFL’s PPV Super Fight Division,” Ngannou said in a press statement. “I believe in the PFL’s ‘fighter first’ culture and global vision including developing the sport in Africa.”
The new partnership has onboarded Ngannou to fight exclusively in MMA for the PFL’s new PPV Super Fight Division, the press release details. The division builds economic partnerships and provides 50% of PPV fights revenue. Along with Ngannou, it features combat sports stars Jake Paul and Kayla Harrison.
Hailing from Cameroon, Ngannou aims to give African fighters access to opportunities to compete in one of the fastest-growing global sports leagues.
As previously shared by AfroTech, he runs the Francis Ngannou Foundation gym, where men in his home country can train and build a community.
PFL Africa events are expected to provide MMA content across the continent.
“Beyond working with Francis to advance the sport of MMA and scale PFL globally, I’m personally looking forward to supporting Francis in his commitment to fight for communities in Africa and around the world, inspired by his vision for the Francis Ngannou Foundation,” PFL CEO Peter Murray said.
Ngannou is set to make his PFL Super Fight debut in mid-2024.
