Francis Ngannou is now a free agent. Earlier today, Sherdog’s Mike Pendleton reported that Ngannou has been released by the PFL, before fighting out his contract.
“The Predator” had signed a multi-fight deal with the Professional Fighters League in 2023 after a messy split with the UFC. His PFL contract allowed him to compete in other sports, including boxing.
He was also the chairman of PFL Africa, a part of the PFL’s global advisory board, and an equity owner. However, he missed the promotion’s debut African event in 2025, leaving the PFL brass disappointed.
Francis Ngannou made his PFL SmartCage debut in 2024 at the Battle of the Giants card, where he dismantled Renan Ferreira to win the PFL Super Fights Heavyweight Championship.
That was the first and last time he fought under the PFL banner.
Last year, he had even accepted a callout from PFL heavyweight champion Vadim Nemkov, but the negotiations never materialized.
PFL CEO John Martin had previously confirmed that “The Predator” still had one fight remaining on his contract and that the promotion had something big planned for him.
However, it now appears those plans fell through, as the negotiations did not proceed, and Ngannou was released earlier today. Check out PFL’s official statement below:
The Professional Fighters League has made the decision to part ways with Francis Ngannou. We have great respect for Francis as both an athlete and a person, and we wish him success in the next chapter of his combat sports career. The PFL remains focused on recruiting and signing the best athletes in the sport while continuing to deliver world-class competition for fans around the globe.”
Before his PFL debut, the former UFC heavyweight kingpin had secured two major paydays by boxing Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua. Although he lost both of the boxing bouts, he reportedly earned nearly $25-$30 million (combining both bouts), according to multiple sources.
What could be next for Francis Ngannou?
A return to the UFC seems highly unlikely for Francis Ngannou at this point, given his super-strained relationship with Dana White.
However, with the UFC White House event approaching, Ngannou could re-sign with the UFC and feature on the June 14 card, although the chances are slim and feel like a pipe dream for MMA fans currently.
If not the UFC, it will still be interesting to see whether the 39-year-old decides to continue his career in boxing or MMA. If yes, which organization he will sign with NOW remains the question of the hour.
