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Tag: Francis Ngannou

  • PFL Chairman Donn Davis Lays Out Expectations For Francis Ngannou In 2025

    PFL Chairman Donn Davis Lays Out Expectations For Francis Ngannou In 2025

    Francis Ngannou has an exciting year ahead as he balances his pursuits in both boxing and MMA.

    In his return to MMA, Ngannou delivered a dominant victory over Renan Ferreira at PFL: Battle of the Giants, reigniting fan interest in what the former UFC heavyweight champion will do next.

    Ngannou has expressed his openness to competing in both sports, though his next move hinges on discussions with the Professional Fighters League (PFL). The promotion’s founder and chairman, Donn Davis, confirmed that Ngannou remains under contract with the organization and shared insights into their collaborative planning process.

    “He is still under the same contract with us,” Davis explained during a Town Hall-style interview with MMA Fighting. “We’re happy, he’s happy. No. 2, we work very partner-like with Francis. We plan, ‘What does he want to do? Why does he want to do that? What are the full options?’ We sit down with him like you would any real partner.”

    Davis indicated that Ngannou is likely to compete in both boxing and MMA in 2025 but suggested the former could come first due to the lucrative opportunities available.

    “If I had to guess, I would think boxing will be first, given the opportunities he has,” Davis said. “I don’t want to say anything about that. That’s his business for him to announce, but he has unbelievable boxing opportunities. So I think that’s more likely to come first, and MMA is likely to come second.”

    According to Davis, Ngannou’s fans can expect to see him compete in one fight in each sport this year.

    “What I believe you’ll see from Francis this year is one MMA in PFL and one boxing from Francis,” Davis concluded. “So I think fans of Francis will see him do one of each this year.”

    As Ngannou’s next steps unfold, the combat sports world will eagerly anticipate his dual-sport ambitions and the challenges that lie ahead.

  • Bellator Champ Calls For Francis Ngannou’s Intervention As Gripes With PFL Continue: ‘Will You Ever Speak Up For Us?’

    Bellator Champ Calls For Francis Ngannou’s Intervention As Gripes With PFL Continue: ‘Will You Ever Speak Up For Us?’

    The mounting discontent among Bellator fighters signed under the PFL banner has reached a fever pitch, prompting a reigning champion to call on Francis Ngannou to step in.

    The PFL finalized its takeover of Bellator MMA in November 2023, allowing it to operate as a distinct entity and enabling its roster of fighters to transition seamlessly under the PFL spotlight.

    After a difficult first year post-acquisition, it was reported by Ariel Helwani this week that the Bellator name has officially been consigned to history. It will now be rebranded as the PFL Champions Series, a platform dedicated exclusively to title bouts for the PFL’s newly established divisional championships.

    Amid recent developments, a cloud of uncertainty has settled over several Bellator champions, including Patricio Pitbull and Corey Anderson. Both have been vocal critics of the PFL for some time, accusing the budding MMA promotion of failing to uphold the terms of their original contracts while taking pointed jabs at its management.

    Pitbull has persistently called out top-tier PFL executives, including Donn Davis and Peter Murray, on social media, demanding his release from the promotion. He points to the alleged lack of clarity regarding his fighting future and the scarce opportunities offered to him since the merger.

    The reigning Bellator featherweight champion recently took to X, once again venting his frustration with the organization amid the ongoing turmoil. In a series of fiery posts, Pitbull accused the PFL of ruthlessly cutting fighters from its roster and “forcing” others into accepting massive pay cuts.

    He further claimed that the organization is manipulating contracts, making it nearly impossible for fighters to become free agents and pursue opportunities elsewhere.

    “Self called co-leader in MMA and fighters first organization is cutting a bunch of fighters and forcing others to take pay cuts of up to 70%. No respect for fighter contracts and what they’ve accomplished,” Pitbull wrote on X.

    The 37-year-old Brazilian went a step further, calling on the PFL’s biggest star and reigning Super Fights Heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou to use his influence to address the ongoing issues and stand in solidarity with those caught in the crossfire.

    “Hey Francis Ngannou are you aware of all the absurd things PFL is doing to fighters and putting on the new contracts? Will you ever speak up for us? I’m thinking it’s time we start a PFL Fighters Union. What do you think?”

    Pitbull has been absent from the cage since March 2024, when he defended his featherweight title with a stunning third-round knockout of Jeremy Kennedy at the Bellator Champions Series in Belfast, Northern Ireland.

  • VIDEO: Francis Ngannou & Dakota Ditcheva Feature As PFL Counts Down Top 15 Finishes Of 2024

    VIDEO: Francis Ngannou & Dakota Ditcheva Feature As PFL Counts Down Top 15 Finishes Of 2024

    While the year was far from smooth for the Professional Fighters League (PFL), its events still had plenty of memorable moments.

    2024 marked the first year of PFL action post-acquisition of the Bellator MMA brand. Unfortunately, canceled events and disgruntled fighters have largely dominated headlines for the promotion, with champions Patricio Pitbull and Patchy Mix most notably requesting their releases following public complaints over their treatment.

    But as the organization battles issues away from the cage, the action inside it has still often delivered, with 2024 seeing some of the promotion’s most brutal finishes to date.

    And the PFL recently counted down the top 15 in a YouTube video, featuring Francis Ngannou’s rapid knockout of Renan Ferreira in his MMA return and Dakota Ditcheva’s punishing attack on Taila Santos’ body in their flyweight title clash.

    Those two weren’t able to secure top spot, however, with that instead going to middleweight contender Costello van Steenis. “The Spaniard” moved to 2-0 this year by viciously sleeping João Vitor Dantas in just 48 seconds at last month’s championship event in Saudi Arabia.

    2025 will no doubt see plenty more memorable finishes added to the PFL’s highlight packages, with the first opportunity for additions coming on Jan. 25 in Dubai.

    The opening event of the new year sees Bellator Lightweight Champion Usman Nurmagomedov and Irish up-and-comer Paul Hughes collide with gold on the line in the Road To Dubai: Champions Series main event. Meanwhile, the likes of Nathan Kelly and Ibragim Ibragimov make up the undercard contests.

  • Francis Ngannou Reiterates Push For Tyson Fury Rematch After ‘The Gypsy King’s’ Second Usyk Loss

    Francis Ngannou closely observed Tyson Fury’s recent rematch against Oleksandr Usyk in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

    Usyk retained his WBA (Super), WBO, and WBC world heavyweight titles by defeating Fury via unanimous decision, with all three judges scoring the fight 116-112 in the Ukrainian’s favor.

    The defeat marked the Englishman’s second consecutive to Usyk following a split decision loss in May. Despite these setbacks, Ngannou remains eager for a rematch with “The Gypsy King.”

    When asked about the defeated challenger’s potential next opponent during an interview with Pro Boxing Fans, Ngannou threw his name into the hat.

    “What I want to see now is Tyson Fury and Francis Ngannou. That’s all what matters for me.”

    Ngannou and Fury share a notable history. In their 2023 meeting, Ngannou shocked the boxing world by knocking the former WBC champ down before narrowly losing on the judges’ scorecards. Following that bout, Ngannou faced Anthony Joshua but was knocked out in the second round.

    Returning to mixed martial arts, Ngannou achieved a first-round knockout against Renan Ferreira in October, marking his debut with the Professional Fighters League (PFL). The victory was particularly poignant as Ngannou dedicated it to his late son, Kobe, who passed away earlier this year.

    As the combat sports community speculates about future matchups, Ngannou’s focus remains on a rematch with Tyson Fury, aiming to settle unfinished business in the ring.

  • Francis Ngannou Maintains ‘Something Unfair Definitely Happened’ With Anthony Joshua Fight

    Francis Ngannou Maintains ‘Something Unfair Definitely Happened’ With Anthony Joshua Fight

    Francis Ngannou would be hesitant about a rematch with Anthony Joshua after how the lead-up to their fight this year unfolded.

    The former UFC heavyweight champion faced Joshua in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and suffered a second-round knockout loss. Since then, “The Predator” made a successful return to MMA in October, securing a KO victory over Renan Ferreira at the PFL Super Fights: Battle of the Giants event, also held in Saudi Arabia.

    In a recent interview with Radio Rahim of Seconds Out, Ngannou revealed his reservations about a rematch with Joshua down the line, pointing to unsettling circumstances surrounding their initial fight week that he’s previously brought up.

    “The rematch with Joshua, to be honest, I feel very off and not very comfortable in that fight,” Ngannou admitted. “It’s something that could happen, but what I do know for sure is that I want the rematch with Fury. Again, I’m not a conspiracy theorist, but I didn’t like the Joshua fight. I think things wasn’t right, nothing was right, and if it’s gonna be the same scenario, I’m not interested.”

    Ngannou elaborated on his concerns, reiterating complaints about what he considered unfair treatment during the fight preparation process.

    “Something unfair definitely happened. I don’t have the full picture, but I have seen some myself that wasn’t right. I was in the locker room for almost four hours, for example, which is not something that does happen in a fight. So, just from that, not to talk about the entire week.”

    While Ngannou hasn’t ruled out the possibility of facing Joshua again, his sights seem firmly set on a rematch with Tyson Fury, with whom he shared an intensely competitive boxing bout earlier in his crossover career.

  • Francis Ngannou ‘Doesn’t Care’ About Jon Jones Anymore, Knows What Fight He ‘For Sure’ Wants

    Francis Ngannou ‘Doesn’t Care’ About Jon Jones Anymore, Knows What Fight He ‘For Sure’ Wants

    Francis Ngannou is tired of being asked questions about a potential fight with the UFC’s heavyweight champion, Jon Jones. The two of them colliding in the UFC was a huge talking point towards the end of 2022 until the saga ended with Ngannou leaving the promotion and vacating the title which was later won by Jones.

    With the two men now being at the top in different promotions, it seems unlikely that they will face off with another if the UFC and PFL don’t go into business with each other but Turki Alalshikh might be the only person that could make that happen. During an interview with Seconds Out during fight week for Oleksandr Usyk vs. Tyson Fury 2 in Riyadh, Ngannou was asked about whether a meeting with the consensus greatest of all time is still of interest to him.

    From Ngannou’s point of view, he has always claimed that he is happy to compete against Jones, stating that he has never been the one that has stopped it from happening. The PFL star said that he is no longer giving this fight any of his energy because whether we ever see it or not isn’t a decision that rests on his shoulders.

    “It’s been four years that I’ve been saying it, I’m confused that people keep asking me this question,” Ngannou told Seconds Out. “It’s been four years! That’s not my problem, I don’t care about it anymore. If it happens, yes, if it doesn’t, f— it.”

    It’s not clear what Ngannou’s next fight will be right now although there may be some more clarity on that following his conversations with Alalshikh in Saudi Arabia this week. Ngannou has picked Usyk to beat “The Gypsy King” for a second time on Saturday night and this result could potentially lead to him getting a rematch with Fury following their closely contested fight in his boxing debut last year.

    “What I do know for sure is that I want a rematch with Fury,” he said.

    Ngannou isn’t interested in avenging his other boxing loss which came earlier this year against Anthony Joshua. Another name that has been spoken about is Deontay Wilder who would seemingly be a more enticing option for Ngannou than the MMA bouts that are out there for him right now.

    “The rematch with Joshua, honestly I felt very off and not very comfortable in that fight,” Ngannou said. “It’s definitely something that could happen, but … I’m not a conspiracy theorist but I didn’t like the Joshua fight. I think things wasn’t right. Nothing was right. And if it’s going to be the same scenario, I’m not interested.”

  • Former Boxing World Champion Amir Khan Explains Why Francis Ngannou Would Beat Deontay Wilder

    Former Boxing World Champion Amir Khan Explains Why Francis Ngannou Would Beat Deontay Wilder

    Following his return to MMA at PFL’s Battle of the Giants in October, there has been a lot of conversation regarding what will be next for Francis Ngannou. His first-round finish over Renan Ferreira doesn’t leave a whole lot of interesting matchups for him in MMA but he does have the option of going back to boxing for his next contest.

    Ngannou has boxed twice since departing the UFC in January of 2023 and though he is without a win on his pro record, a lot of fans thought that he should have got his hand raised against Tyson Fury back in October last year. One name that has consistently been mentioned in connection with the former UFC heavyweight champion is Deontay Wilder.

    “The Bronze Bomber” is still one of the biggest names in the heavyweight division but following his recent form, he would seemingly be a better opponent for Ngannou than the likes of Fury and Anthony Joshua. Wilder has not looked the same in his latest outings and losses against Zhilei Zhang and Joseph Parker and though it looked like he might retire, the knockout artist appears to be gearing up for one more.

    In a recent interview with The Sports Daily, former world champion turned analyst Amir Khan said that he would pick Ngannou to win that fight if he does get booked to face Wilder next time out. Based on his back-to-back losses, Khan isn’t sure whether Wilder has the same hunger anymore and getting in the ring with Ngannou is a dangerous prospect to begin with.

    “Wilder’s last fight was really bad. You always look at the last fight and Wilder is done to be honest with you. I like Wilder but Ngannou has the power to hurt him.

    “Ngannou is not the best boxer but he put on a good fight against Fury and got knocked out against AJ. Ngannou is going to win that fight. Unless Wilder comes in as a different fighter with that fire in his belly.”

  • Brendan Schaub: Only Francis Ngannou Return Would Live Up To Dana White’s Tease For 2025

    Brendan Schaub: Only Francis Ngannou Return Would Live Up To Dana White’s Tease For 2025

    Dana White teased fight fans in his final UFC press conference of 2024 by claiming that there is something in the works for 2025 that will have fans losing their minds when it gets announced. Speaking after the promotion’s Fight Night event in Tampa, the UFC boss spoke about how they always manage to exceed the previous year after going all out.

    Without giving anything away, he said that alongside the big fights that have already been announced for next year’s schedule, there’s something fresh off the press that nobody will be able to predict ahead of time.

    “I anticipate a lot of big fights, I’ve got something in the works right now that’ll drive you [media] crazy. All you guys will be running around. I got something in the works that you will never f**ing see coming for 2025. It literally started to come together last night. Yeah, we got some fun stuff coming up.”

    In a response to White’s comments, former UFC fighter Brendan Schaub attempted to speculate what this mind-blowing fight announcement could possibly be. The return of the former lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov would elicit that kind of reaction in Schaub’s opinion but he also knows that “The Eagle” has made it very clear that he will not go back on his decision to retire.

    One potential major shift in the MMA landscape that Schaub did pinpoint is the current status of Francis Ngannou. “The Predator” recently made his return to the cage in his PFL debut at Battle of the Giants where he stopped Renan Ferreira in the first round.

    After tearing right through his Brazilian foe, there were two big questions on everyone’s mind, who is out there for Ngannou to face next and is he still the best heavyweight on the planet considering that he never lost the UFC title having vacated it when he departed the promotion? Schaub believes that Ngannou stepping back inside the Octagon to mix it up with the likes of the division’s two titleholders, Jon Jones and Tom Aspinall, would come out of left field and set the bar extremely high for 2025.

    “With the internet today, and like the rumors and fake news, it’s damn near impossible to blow somebody. No matter what he [White] says, when I heard them like, ‘What could it be?’ The only thing that would blow me, like blow me hard, like b*st hard, would be if it’s Francis. He has one fight left on PFL contract. He’s going to finish that out fighting who, God knows what poor soul they’re going to find to get knocked out by him.

    “And then, he’ll be a free agent. If they’re like, ‘We got Francis back in the mix. Francis is going to fight the winner, guaranteed winner, of Aspinall-Jones.’ That would blow me. But that’s where I’m at. That’s very difficult to get done. Outside that, what else could it be?”

  • Turki Alalshikh Has Two Options In Mind For Francis Ngannou’s Next Fight

    Turki Alalshikh Has Two Options In Mind For Francis Ngannou’s Next Fight

    Francis Ngannou has exciting options for his next fight, according to Turki Alalshikh, Chairman of the General Entertainment Authority in Saudi Arabia.

    In his return to MMA, Ngannou secured an emphatic victory over Renan Ferreira at PFL: Battle of the Giants, leaving fans eager to see what the former UFC heavyweight champion will do next.

    Following the fight, Ngannou expressed his openness to competing in both MMA and boxing, though he noted that his next steps depend on the PFL presenting its offer.

    Alalshikh discussed Ngannou’s potential future during the DAZN Ariel X Ade show, where he floated the idea of a boxing showdown with Deontay Wilder.

    “Why don’t we see Ngannou against Wilder?” Alalshikh mused. “I need to sit with Wilder. In two minutes, I can gauge his condition and determine if he’s ready or not. I don’t want to waste time and money anymore. I need to check first if he’s still got it.”

    Ngannou, who plans to attend the anticipated Usyk vs. Fury rematch in December, is already in discussions about his future.

    “We have a lot of business together,” Alalshikh added. “I have two options on the table for Francis: one in MMA and one in boxing. I want to discuss them with him.”

    Alalshikh also emphasized his ambition to push boundaries with their MMA operations, promising big plans for the future.

  • PFL CEO Says ‘Saudi Partners’ Want Jon Jones vs. Francis Ngannou Superfight

    PFL CEO Says ‘Saudi Partners’ Want Jon Jones vs. Francis Ngannou Superfight

    According to the PFL, the only side stopping a heavyweight megafight between Francis Ngannou and Jon Jones is the UFC.

    Talk of Ngannou and Jones colliding has existed ever since the former rose to the mountaintop in the UFC with a knockout of Stipe Miocic. With “Bones” having expressed his intention to move up in pursuit of two-division glory, “The Predator” laid down the gauntlet.

    Jones, however, took a further two years to make the transition to heavyweight, and by the time he was ready to return, Ngannou had departed the organization following a lengthy contractual dispute.

    The former light heavyweight kingpin ultimately succeeded the Cameroonian on the throne, and that’s only increased debate over who would emerge victorious between the pair.

    Ngannou’s new employer, for one, appears keen to find out.

    Be it founder Donn Davis or CEO Peter Murray, the PFL higher-ups have repeatedly expressed a willingness to co-promote a superfight between Ngannou and Jones with the UFC.

    During an interview with Adam Catterall for talkSPORT MMA while in Riyadh for last week’s 2024 PFL World Championship, Murray reiterated that. He even suggested his promotion’s “partners” in Saudi Arabia are keen for the fight to come together.

    “Yeah, I mean, we’re supportive of it,” Murray said. “I mean, the fighters want the fight. Jon Jones wants the fight, Francis wants the fight, we want the fight, our partners here in Saudi want the fight. And so, you know, it comes down to, does the UFC want to step up to it or not? Period.”

    The PFL became the latest sporting entity to sign a deal with Saudi Arabia in 2023, selling a minority ownership stake to SRJ Sports Investments. The deal marked the first for the fund, which was launched by the PIF (Public Investment Fund). It was reported that the agreement was for investment in excess of $100 million into the PFL.

    This year, meanwhile, saw the UFC head to the Middle Eastern nation for the first time. In addition to touching down in Saudi Arabia, Riyadh Season also became the first title partner of a UFC event when it sponsored the Sphere show this past September.

    With that connection in mind, perhaps a co-promoted clash between Ngannou and Jones isn’t quite as impossible as it seemed 12 months ago.

  • Dan Hardy: Jon Jones ‘Certainly Not’ World’s Best Heavyweight

    Dan Hardy: Jon Jones ‘Certainly Not’ World’s Best Heavyweight

    Jon Jones isn’t just the reigning UFC heavyweight champion, he’s largely considered to be the greatest of all time. However, as Dan Hardy spoke about in a recent interview with MMA Fighting, that doesn’t necessarily mean that he’s the best in his weight class right now.

    Many believe that with the sheer amount of heavyweights he has beaten compared to Jones, interim champion Tom Aspinall might be the best in the weight class even if he doesn’t have the longevity of somebody like “Bones” just yet. Francis Ngannou left the UFC without ever losing his heavyweight title and in his PFL debut against Renan Ferreira, he showed that he also has to be in the conversation.

    Hardy believes that if there was a fight to decide the best heavyweight on the planet, Jones wouldn’t even factor into the equation.

    “I think Jon Jones is the pound-for-pound best. I think he’s the best representation of mixed martial arts generally that we’ve ever seen. I think he’s still evolving, which is terrifying. But is he the best current heavyweight on the planet? I don’t think so.

    “I think the winner of Aspinall versus Ngannou would be the answer … no disrespect in any way to Jon. Current heavyweight champion but not the current best heavyweight on the planet. Certainly not.”

    Hardy went on to describe Jones as “bottom of the rung” in regards to the incredible physicality that Aspinall and Ngannou bring to the table as legitimate heavyweight-sized competitors though he would hold advantages in other areas.

    “The creativity of Jon Jones and the wisdom, the fight IQ, that reigns supreme. I just wonder if he’s got that ability in the heavyweight division with someone as fast as Tom Aspinall and someone as powerful as Francis Ngannou. There were times when Stipe [Miocic] landed [on Jones at UFC 309] and I think if Ngannou lands those shots, Jon Jones doesn’t get back up.

    “I also think the speed of Tom Aspinall would allow him to land punches against Jon Jones and Ngannou that both of those guys wouldn’t see coming and wouldn’t be able to stop. The question is would he be able to do that kind of damage to knock them out. I don’t know. I’ve seen Francis take some big shots. I know obviously he got knocked out by Anthony Joshua but at the same time, you’re talking of an elite level boxer who’s an incredible athlete at the same time. I mean, it’s just so difficult to pick one.”

  • Ngannou On Claim Jon Jones Is ‘Ducking’ Tom Aspinall: ‘There’s A Negotiation Situation Here We Don’t Know’

    Ngannou On Claim Jon Jones Is ‘Ducking’ Tom Aspinall: ‘There’s A Negotiation Situation Here We Don’t Know’

    Francis Ngannou has shared his perspective on the ongoing situation involving Jon Jones and Tom Aspinall.

    Recently, Jones revealed that he is in discussions with the UFC to make a comeback in 2025 for at least one fight. However, the question remains: who will the heavyweight champion face in his return?

    After his dominant third-round victory over Stipe Miocic in the main event of UFC 309 at Madison Square Garden, Jones outlined his future aspirations. He expressed interest in fighting reigning light heavyweight champ Alex Pereira. Despite speculation about a logical showdown with interim heavyweight titleholder Tom Aspinall, “Bones” has made his preference clear, suggesting that Aspinall needs the fight more than he does.

    Ngannou, now a prominent figure in the world of combat sports beyond the UFC, offered his take on the situation while speaking with TMZ Sports. He hinted at possible behind-the-scenes negotiations influencing Jones’ decision.

    “I think there’s a negotiation situation here that’s involved that we don’t know all the ups and downs (about),” Ngannou said. “We all know the situation that they use in the negotiation to say, ‘Oh no, he doesn’t want to fight this guy – he’s scared.’ And then that’s how the machine works.”

    Ngannou pointed out that Jones holds significant leverage in determining his next fight, while Aspinall, as an emerging name, stands to gain much more from the potential matchup.

    “He’s in the position to claim what he wants, as he said. He said, ‘Aspinall needs that fight. I don’t need it.’ And when you look at it, it’s pretty much true. There’s nothing that he’s going to have more in that fight other than money. But for Aspinall, who’s someone coming and trying to cement his way in the division, that will be everything.”

    Ngannou’s comments shed light on the complexities of high-stakes negotiations in combat sports, where fighters balance legacy, risk, and financial incentives.

    As Jones weighs his options, fans will eagerly await confirmation of his next opponent — whether it’s a return to his light heavyweight roots against Pereira or a heavyweight unification clash with Aspinall.

  • Francis Ngannou Waiting To See What PFL Offers Before Making Next Fighting Decision

    Francis Ngannou Waiting To See What PFL Offers Before Making Next Fighting Decision

    In his return to MMA, Francis Ngannou achieved a decisive victory over Renan Ferreira at PFL: Battle of the Giants. Now, fight fans are eager to see what the former UFC heavyweight champion has planned next for his career.

    Ngannou recently spoke with TMZ Sports about his future, revealing that his next fight is still undecided. He explained that the delay is due to his waiting for the PFL to present its next offer. If he doesn’t find their proposal appealing, Ngannou hinted at a potential return to boxing.

    “I will wait a couple of months to see if the PFL pulls something up. If not, I’ll see if there’s something in boxing. But it’s not like it’s top of mind—I know I can do either. Since we last spoke, nothing has changed. In my vision, if I have a couple of fights left, I’d like one of them to be in boxing.”

    There’s been speculation that Ngannou could face Jake Paul, the polarizing social media star-turned-boxer who recently scored a decision win over Mike Tyson. However, Ngannou made it clear he has no interest in such a matchup.

    “No, no, no, no. Come on. Don’t be silly,” he said dismissively. “Maybe if we put the two Paul brothers in the cage and locked it, there’d be something to do there. Come on. Respect me a little bit.”

  • Chael Sonnen Has Firm Stance On Jones vs. Ngannou Prediction After UFC 309: ‘In Hindsight…’

    Chael Sonnen Has Firm Stance On Jones vs. Ngannou Prediction After UFC 309: ‘In Hindsight…’

    A former opponent of UFC Heavyweight Champion Jon Jones’ has a strong opinion on how a clash with Francis Ngannou would have played out inside the Octagon following this past weekend’s event.

    Jones returned to action in defense of his title at Saturday’s UFC 309 pay-per-view. The Rochester native was putting the heavyweight gold on the line for the first time at Madison Square Garden, having had injury derail his plans to do so in late 2023.

    As was scheduled to be the case last year, “Bones” shared the cage with returning former champ Stipe Miocic, despite the presence of an interim titleholder in Tom Aspinall. And as many had predicted given Miocic’s age and lengthy layoff, Jones tore through the veteran en route to a brutal body-kick TKO stoppage in round three.

    But the result did little to affect the bid of Jones’ doubters to dismiss claims he sits as the world’s best heavyweight, with Aspinall front and center in that debate following his recent results.

    Also in the conversation is Ngannou, who departed the UFC as lineal heavyweight kingpin at the start of 2023 and recently made a successful debut under the PFL banner.

    But when it comes to “The Predator,” one man with experience facing Jones has little doubt how that bout would have gone had he stayed in the UFC…

    During a recent episode of his Good Guy/Bad Guy show alongside Daniel Cormier on ESPN MMA’s YouTube channel, Chael Sonnen spoke on Jones’ recent triumph in New York City.

    “The American Gangster” was impressed, so much so that he now firmly believes the heavyweight iteration of Jones would have had little trouble dispatching Ngannou inside the cage.

    “Do you know what Jon would have done to Francis Ngannou in hindsight?” Sonnen said. “Now that we look back, Jon would have picked that big man a part. I mean, I’m just sharing with you, like, that’s a big man’s nightmare. Jon’s not a heavyweight; Jon is fighting at heavyweight. There’s a massive difference.”

    A clash between Jones and Ngannou remains the stuff of fantasy, in spite of both the latter and his organization’s higher-ups calling for a cross-promotional showdown between the two behemoths.

  • Francis Ngannou Sends Messages To Both Jon Jones & Stipe Miocic After UFC 309

    Francis Ngannou Sends Messages To Both Jon Jones & Stipe Miocic After UFC 309

    PFL champion Francis Ngannou had a close eye on what unfolded when Jon Jones and Stipe Miocic finally shared the Octagon this past weekend.

    Over a year on from their originally scheduled fight date, Jones and Miocic collided inside the prestigious surroundings of Madison Square Garden on Saturday night, with the former putting his heavyweight title on the line for the first time at UFC 309.

    Those who feared a difficult night at the office for the returning former champion, who hadn’t competed in three and a half years, had their worries come to fruition.

    After a difficult first round in which he was taken down and battered with elbows, Miocic was eventually finished in round three when a brutal spinning side kick to the body sent him to the canvas.

    The result saw Jones add a successful heavyweight defense to his already illustrious résumé, and that unsurprisingly drew a reaction from a man he’s long gone back and forth with.

    Taking to X with his reaction moments after the main event concluded, Ngannou returned the favor by repeating the “I see you” line Jones posted in response to the Cameroonian’s winning debut under the PFL banner last month.

    “Jones looked great out there tonight,” Ngannou wrote. “Congrats Jonny boy. I see you (wink)”

    While a possible showdown between Jones and Ngannou looks set to enter the “what if” realm of matchups, “The Predator” had a lengthier address for a man whom he has thrown down with — twice.

    Following his defeat in New York City, Miocic announced his retirement, and Ngannou was among those paying tribute to the former two-time heavyweight king on social media.

    “Thank you, champion @stipemiocic, for all you’ve done for our sport and, above all, for the class you embody and the example you set,” Ngannou wrote. “I’m grateful for how our battles have shaped me into a better fighter; those moments taught me more than years in the sport. Enjoy your well-earned retirement and best wishes for all your future endeavors.”

    Miocic faced MMA’s hardest hitter twice in the UFC, first outpointing Ngannou to become the first man to beat him in the Octagon at UFC 220.

    Three years later, the pair renewed hostilities at the Apex, where “The Predator” got his redemption and crowning moment in violent fashion.

  • Deontay Wilder Welcomes Francis Ngannou Clash After Dismissing Retirement Calls

    Deontay Wilder Welcomes Francis Ngannou Clash After Dismissing Retirement Calls

    Following his successful return to MMA last month, it isn’t clear yet what Francis Ngannou’s next step will be. There was a lot of pressure and emotion surrounding his long awaited PFL debut against Renan Ferreira.

    Not only was Ngannou coming off his first knockout loss where he was stopped by Anthony Joshua in his second boxing match, the former UFC heavyweight champion was motivated to return to competition in the memory of his late son Kobe. Getting his hand raised in the PFL by any means neccesary was his primary focus but after dominating Ferreira and finishing him in the first round, there isn’t a clear next challenge for him in MMA.

    Even with a record of 0-2, there are still some big fights left for Ngannou in the boxing world and though it might not be on the same level as his fights with Tyson Fury or Joshua, a meeting with Deontay Wilder would still be a big draw even if both men are coming off of knockout losses in the ring.

    Wilder was finished in the fifth round by Zhilei Zhang in June in what looked like could be the final outing of his 48-fight career. “The Bronze Bomber” recently revealed in an interview with TMZ that he’s working towards a return after taking some time off.

    “The best is yet to come, I always say that. We’re still going, we’re still here, you know what I mean we just getting things together man. I’m just handling a lot of things, I had a lot of outside distractions that I had to get rid of.”

    Wilder also spoke about the potential of facing Ngannou next time out, sending his potential opponent a message of support after the difficult year he has gone through.

    “Even since I’ve been off and stuff like that, it’s been a lot of offers coming in, a lot of things, different countries and stuff like that and even with Francis, what’s up brother. I hope everything’s going good for you man and I’m sorry for your loss. I can only imagine what it’s like to lose a child man, I never hope to even feel that feeling of it but I wish, I hope life is going beautifully for you bro and yeah, that’s a conversation I’m still looking to getting in the mix and talk about.”

  • Francis Ngannou Called Out By Three-Division Champ For 2025 Superfight To Decide ‘Best Heavyweight In The World’ 

    Francis Ngannou Called Out By Three-Division Champ For 2025 Superfight To Decide ‘Best Heavyweight In The World’ 

    The top heavyweight competing in Asia’s leading martial arts promotion plans to prove his superiority over the rest of the pack by facing and defeating PFL champion Francis Ngannou next year.

    Having not competed in MMA since January 2022, Ngannou made his highly anticipated return to the sport in which he made his name last month following a two-fight stint in the boxing ring.

    Debuting for the PFL, “The Predator” headlined a pay-per-view event in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia opposite Brazil’s Renan Ferreira. While the 2023 PFL heavyweight title winner was expected to pose a threat by many, he was battered en route to a knockout defeat within the first round.

    The result saw Ngannou crowned the inaugural PFL Super Fight heavyweight champ, and he subsequently reaffirmed his belief that no heavyweight comes close to matching him.

    Unsurprisingly, the uber-confident Anatoly Malykhin has something to say about that.

    During a recent interview with MMA Knockout, the three-division ONE Championship king reiterated his desire to do battle with another of the planet’s most devastating heavyweight knockout artists.

    And the Russian’s fire for that fight appears to have been flamed by “The Predator’s” claim to global supremacy in the division following his successful return to the cage last month in the Middle East.

    “2025, for me, is a year when a really big fight should happen, that’s what I want. Because Ngannou, Francis Ngannou, recently said that he’s the best fighter on the planet, which he cannot and should not be saying until he faces me,” Malykhin said. “So my fight against Ngannou is something that needs to happen in 2025. I think everybody looks forward to that, everybody wants that fight, and we need to have it to decide once and for all who is the best heavyweight in the world right now.”

    Anataoly Malykhin
    Image: ONE Championship

    And beyond himself, “Sladkiy” sees plenty of threats to Ngannou from Russian brutes already under the PFL banner, naming 2024 PFL heavyweight finalist Oleg Popov and former Bellator champion Vadim Nemkov.

    “Francis Ngannou is a strong fighter. I watched his fight (with Ferreira), he’s got a great skillset,” Malykhin stated. “He has got some great opposition in PFL. That’s Oleg Popov, who’s definitely gonna win the (heavyweight tournament). Everybody needs to keep his eyes on Popov, this guy is going to be absolutely amazing. I can see great things coming for him. And of course there is Vadim Nemkov, who is another amazing Russian fighter.

    “As for Ngannou, I think that it was more of a psychological pressure for him to come back into the ring after such a long break from MMA. But I think he did well, he did well,” Malykhin continued. “But his words after the fight, I think were a little bit premature. He shouldn’t have said that he is the greatest heavyweight in the world.”

    For now, Malykhin’s sights are on a different African heavyweight behemoth — one currently competing alongside him in ONE.

    The heavyweight, light heavyweight, and middleweight champ will put the first of those titles on the line against Senagalese powerhouse Oumar “Reug Reug” Kane tomorrow night at ONE 169.

    The build-up to their showdown at the Lumpinee Boxing Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand has been a heated one, with the pair almost coming to blows at the hotel and press conference faceoff during fight week.

  • Francis Ngannou’s Coach Breaks Down How He Would Game Plan For Jon Jones

    Francis Ngannou’s Coach Breaks Down How He Would Game Plan For Jon Jones

    Unfortunately, it looks like the biggest fight in the heavyweight division across MMA may never happen. The prospect of seeing Jon Jones move up to heavyweight to face Francis Ngannou was one of the most talked about fights that we didn’t get to see when both men were in the UFC.

    Unfortunately, Jones debuting in his new weight class saw him win the vacant title that was left behind when Ngannou departed the promotion and signed to the PFL. Though this super fight between champions is something that the PFL is very keen on, it seems incredibly unlikely that a deal will ever take place between the two promotions.

    It’s still going to be used as a talking point for fans for many years to come and in a recent interview with Kevin Iole, Ngannou’s coach spoke about how he would have tried to approach the fight if it had happened inside the Octagon. Eric Nicksick broke down where he believes they would have had success in the fight.

    Like many would assume, competing against the consensus greatest of all time in a technical back-and-forth would not have been the desired strategy for the Xtreme Couture head coach.

    “I definitely think you had to put Jon on his back foot, you had to put pressure on him, you had to put him up against the corner post and you couldn’t get in a technical fight with Jon and you couldn’t allow him to dictate the hand play right, where he starts to occupy your hands and that’s a slow paced type of fight where Jon is very technical there and he starts to pick you apart with elbows and the clinch and the knees and the things that he does so well.

    “For me, I thought we got to get this guy on his back foot and we got to apply pressure right away and make it an ugly fight, don’t make it a technical fight. You’re going to have to make this grimy and try to get out of there, try to get him out of there in the first two-three rounds. I think the longer a fight would have gone between him and Francis, it would have favored more Jon and that was where I felt like if we put a game plan on him, we were going to have to put the pace on him.”

  • Daniel Cormier: ‘Sharpest Businessman’ Dana White Can Make Jon Jones vs. Francis Ngannou

    Daniel Cormier: ‘Sharpest Businessman’ Dana White Can Make Jon Jones vs. Francis Ngannou

    Francis Ngannou couldn’t have had a better return to MMA as he knocked out Renan Ferreira in the first round to win the PFL heavyweight championship on October 19, 2024. Jon Jones, on the other hand, is finally returning to the Octagon against Stipe Miocic on November 16, 2024.

    Ngannou was the UFC heavyweight kingpin before Jones moved up to the division. Many fans eagerly wanted to see them fight, but before anything could materialize, Ngannou left the UFC and signed with the PFL. He also boxed in high-profile matchups against Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua.

    “The Predator” was recently asked on The Ariel Helwani Show if he could still fight “Bones”. The lineal heavyweight MMA champion claimed that the superfight is not completely off the table and that figures like Turki Alalshikh might play a role in it.

    Alalshikh, as the head of Saudi Arabia’s General Entertainment Authority, has helped organize several major combat sports events over the last few years.

    Daniel Cormier reviewed Ngannou’s statements on his YouTube channel recently. He admitted that White’s rocky relationship with the PFL champ is a problem, but Riyadh Season’s inclusion could shake things up.

    The former UFC champ mentioned that Riyadh Season sponsoring UFC 306 was a huge development, and might have laid the foundation for crossovers like Jones vs. Ngannou.

    “Dana does not like Francis, that is a massive problem. Massive problem. But hell, when in the world do you put that over business. I don’t know that he will, he’s one of the smartest, sharpest businessman you’ve ever met. If the dollars make sense, the fight could potentially happen,” DC continued. “If Francis is to be believed, and Francis has had these conversations, we’re now entering a world where multiple partnerships already established in this realm. ESPN UFC, ESPN PFL, Riyadh Season UFC. Ladies and gentleman, maybe, just maybe, we get that fight.”

    DC also believes White is smart enough to put personal differences aside for a lucrative business opportunity. He isn’t sure that Ngannou and Jones will fight in MMA, but he’s not ruling out the possibility entirely.

  • UFC Omits Francis Ngannou’s Title Win Over Miocic From Top 100 Apex Knockouts

    UFC Omits Francis Ngannou’s Title Win Over Miocic From Top 100 Apex Knockouts

    The UFC’s attempt to erase heavyweight great Francis Ngannou from its history continues.

    The knockout artist departed MMA’s leading promotion at the start of 2023, bringing to an end a lengthy contractual dispute that saw the Cameroonian fail to secure the terms he was after.

    He’s since found them under the PFL banner, where he’s made the most of the freedom granted to him to explore a career in the professional boxing ring and begin a role as chairman for the promotion’s Africa expansion.

    After two blockbuster boxing matchups against Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua, Ngannou made his long-awaited return to the cage last month in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Headlining the PFL’s latest pay-per-view, “The Predator” became the inaugural Super Fights heavyweight champion by battering Renan Ferreira en route to a first-round TKO.

    The weeks since have seen Dana White attempt to detract from Ngannou. The UFC CEO has claimed that he didn’t like and even wanted to release Ngannou — who went on to win the title and become one of the greatest heavyweights of all-time — following his loss to Derrick Lewis in 2018.

    He’s also insisted that Ngannou is “all about the money,” but simultaneously claimed that he turned down a more lucrative future in the UFC. That’s without mentioning the narrative that he ran from Jon Jones despite calling to fight “Bones” in the same year he defeated Stipe Miocic to capture gold.

    And speaking of his title crowning, it would seem the UFC is doing what it can to erase the memory of it.

    As the promotion prepares to stage the 100th UFC Fight Night to be hosted at the Apex this weekend, it compiled the “top 100 Apex knockouts” in a recent YouTube video. In terms of KOs witnessed there, not many were more brutal and important as Ngannou’s to finish the great Miocic in 2021.

    With that in mind, surely it cracked the top five? Top 10? At the very least the top 50, right?! Okay, but it’s in the top 100, surely?!

    The full video is below, so you can see for yourself which 100 knockouts were apparently better than Ngannou leaving the consensus heavyweight GOAT sleeping on the canvas…

    Ngannou’s omission, which was first highlighted by MMA Orbit’s Logan Offord, is far from the first time that the UFC has been accused of attempting to eliminate the 38-year-old from its history.

    The promotion has previously described Tafon Nchukwi as the first and only Cameroonian fighter in UFC history, of course ignoring Ngannou’s presence in that regard.

    And just this past August, controversy swirled when Israel Adesanya’s comments were edited to take his mention of Ngannou as an African champion alongside him and Kamaru Usman out during the UFC 305 Countdown episode.

    “The Last Stylebender” publicly spoke out against that, leading to White accepting responsibility for what he branded a mishap and call the former two-time middleweight champion to apologize.

    But judging by the recent YouTube video, that incident evidently didn’t do much to alter the ‘avoid mentioning Ngannou’ approach.

  • Ben Askren Not Shocked By Dana White’s Bashing Of Francis Ngannou: ‘When He Can’t Get What He Wants…’ 

    Ben Askren Not Shocked By Dana White’s Bashing Of Francis Ngannou: ‘When He Can’t Get What He Wants…’ 

    Former Bellator and ONE Championship titleholder Ben Askren can relate to Francis Ngannou’s recent back and forth with UFC CEO Dana White.

    The aftermath of Ngannou’s successful return to mixed martial arts and PFL debut earlier this month has largely centered around the disparaging comments made by his ex-employer.

    White has claimed that he didn’t like and even wanted to release Ngannou — who went on to win the title and become one of the greatest heavyweights of all-time — following his loss to Derrick Lewis in 2018.

    The UFC boss has also accused the Cameroonian of being “all about the money” while simultaneously insisting that Ngannou turned down a more lucrative future in the Octagon. That’s in addition to saying he ran from Jon Jones despite “The Predator” calling to fight “Bones” in the same year he defeated Stipe Miocic to capture gold.

    Though White has usual set of backers in the community, many have poked holes in the UFC president’s remarks. That includes someone previously on the receiving end of such a barrage.

    During a recent episode of his Funky and the Champ YouTube show alongside Daniel Cormier, Askren likened Ngannou’s situation to his own when a potential UFC signing back in 2013 fell through.

    From PFL standouts Ngannou and Cris Cyborg to former fighters like himself and Randy Couture, “Funky” noted the multitude of examples when it comes to White berating athletes who go against him.

    “Dana spent years lying, saying I didn’t want to fight the best, I didn’t want challenges, I was running away, and that couldn’t have been further from the truth,” Askren said. “So, it sucked to have this guy – it’s essentially slander, saying things about me that I knew weren’t true. Dana has this part of his personality when he can’t get what he wants, and in that case, he didn’t offer me a contract, so he kind of got what he wanted. But then I think because I was continuing to have success and people were continuing to follow me, he wanted me off in a dark corner where everyone ignored me or something.

    “He’s done the same thing with [Cris] Cyborg, I believe Randy Couture had a similar experience, obviously now Francis. If I thought really hard I could probably think of some other ones. But there’s this weird part of Dana’s personality where, if he doesn’t get exactly what he wants, he just starts crapping on people,” Askren continued. “And because he has a big microphone and because he’s generally very truthful and generally correct, people just believe him. So I had to deal with many years of Dana telling lies about me that were very harmful to me, that he had no reason or basis for doing.”

    In this instance, Ngannou has had plenty of support from the MMA masses. A number of fans and media members have called White out for his recent remarks and accused him of contradictory statements regarding “The Predator.”

    The Cameroonian himself doesn’t appear fazed. In addition to securing the contractual terms he was after away from the UFC, Ngannou has also been able to fulfil his dream of competing against the best competition in boxing.

  • Francis Ngannou: Dana White Can’t Stand He Lost, I Won ‘Everything’

    Francis Ngannou: Dana White Can’t Stand He Lost, I Won ‘Everything’

    Francis Ngannou has responded to Dana White’s comments regarding his departure from the UFC after 2023. Ngannou, who vacated his heavyweight title to explore free agency, went on to secure highly lucrative matchups against boxing icons Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua.

    In his return to MMA, the former UFC heavyweight champion achieved a decisive finish over Renan Ferreira at PFL: Battle of the Giants. Earlier this week, White suggested that financial incentives drove Ngannou’s recent career choices. White shared that he even considered releasing Ngannou after he suffered back-to-back losses to Stipe Miocic and Derrick Lewis in 2018.

    In a recent interview, Ngannou addressed White’s remarks, expressing confusion over why White continues to criticize him. “Regardless of everything that happened, I’m not about him,” Ngannou said in an interview with Sirius XM Fight Nation. “I went out there, did a fight, had a good fight for my son’s memory, but the guy can’t stand— I don’t know what his problem is. He can make everything up as he wants. That’s his problem. I think he needs to make peace with himself.”

    Ngannou elaborated on his perspective, adding, “(He) could’ve just said, ‘We didn’t find an agreement. We couldn’t come to a deal, but good luck to him.’ That’s it, you know? Good for him, and we continue our lives. What’s the problem here? I think the problem is he can’t handle this loss.”

    White’s Intentions

    Ngannou believes White struggles to accept how things played out and even questions whether White wishes to see him fail in the new chapter of his career. For his part, Ngannou is committed to focusing on his own path forward.

    “Dana has lost in this situation, and the only thing is that he cannot stand it,” Ngannou stated. “Bro, I won everything. Now I have made more money than I would have ever made in the UFC. I’d say maybe twice what I could have made in my entire UFC career if I had continued there. I’m not just saying from the moment that I stopped. Either way, even if I’ve made less, if I’m not making as much as I could’ve in the UFC, that would be my problem. Why is he so pissed about me not making that much money? C’mon, man, live your life.”

  • Dana White: I Was ‘Begged’ Not To Cut Francis Ngannou In 2018

    Dana White: I Was ‘Begged’ Not To Cut Francis Ngannou In 2018

    Dana White remains firm in his stance on Francis Ngannou’s departure from the UFC, even after Ngannou’s recent return to MMA. In his comeback fight, the former UFC heavyweight champion secured a decisive finish over Renan Ferreira at PFL: Battle of the Giants.

    Ngannou’s 2023 UFC exit was turbulent, as he vacated his heavyweight title to pursue free agency. Since then, he has taken on boxing giants Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua in highly lucrative matchups.

    At a Power Slap 9 post-event press conference on Thursday, White was asked to share his thoughts on Ngannou’s recent performance. He suggested that financial incentives were the main driver behind Ngannou’s recent career choices.

    White’s Initial Plan to Cut Ngannou in 2018

    White shared that he had considered releasing Ngannou after he suffered back-to-back losses to Stipe Miocic and Derrick Lewis in 2018.

    “I was going to cut Francis when he lost two in a row,” White said. “Somebody around here begged me not to do it. It wouldn’t have mattered to me either way. There’s a much deeper story to this whole thing. He would’ve made more money if he’d stayed in the UFC. He didn’t want to fight Jon Jones. That’s a fact, my friend. We’re moving on.”

  • Daniel Cormier: It’s Never Been Clearer That UFC Has ‘No Competition’ After PFL Event 

    Daniel Cormier: It’s Never Been Clearer That UFC Has ‘No Competition’ After PFL Event 

    Daniel Cormier is confident that the UFC won’t struggle to maintain its status as the MMA leader following the recent PFL pay-per-view.

    The Professional Fighters League has long looked to establish itself as a “co-leader” in the sport of mixed martial arts, and the promotion had one of its most important events to date this past weekend.

    In Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, the PFL’s latest PPV went down. Toward the end of what’s been an up and down first year post-Bellator acquisition, the organization looked to thrill audiences with the likes of Francis Ngannou and Cris Cyborg.

    Those two names headlined, competing for and winning inaugural super fight championships. While the Brazilian won hers in a memorable five-round war opposite Larissa Pacheco, “The Predator” rolled through Renan Ferreira in under four minutes to successfully mark his comeback to the cage.

    Suffice to say, the card ended in style and with plenty discussing the events that unfolded inside The Mayadeen. But when it comes to the PFL’s production as a whole, many remain unimpressed.

    That notably included UFC star Conor McGregor, who insisted that his employer has “zero competition” in a now-deleted tweet during the PFL event.

    And during a recent episode of his Good Guy / Bad Guy show alongside Chael Sonnen on ESPN MMA’s YouTube channel, Cormier shared that sentiment.

    “It’s competition, but is it really competition? The WWE and AEW has some sort of competition. The WCW, when they were there, was competition to the WWE,” Cormier said. “Conor McGregor spoke on this last weekend. He said, ‘The UFC has no competitors.’

    “I felt like, even though we were watching the biggest star outside the UFC, it was never more clear to me that there really is no competition,” Cormier continued. “Is it good that the UFC doesn’t have a competitor that can really push them?”

    The PFL appears more than happy with how the Battle of the Giants PPV played out and was received, however. Founder and chairman Donn Davis claimed as much during a recent Town Hall-style interview with MMA Fighting’s Mike Heck.

    He painted a contrasting picture when it comes to the PFL’s prospects of becoming legitimate competition, citing his organization’s “research” to state that the viewership figures for the Oct. 19 card outperformed those of every UFC event of 2024 thus far.

  • PFL Founder Claims Ngannou vs. Ferreira Viewership Outperformed ‘Every UFC Event This Year’

    PFL Founder Claims Ngannou vs. Ferreira Viewership Outperformed ‘Every UFC Event This Year’

    PFL founder and chairman Donn Davis has claimed that there isn’t a UFC event in 2024 that generated the kind of viewership his promotion’s latest pay-per-view did.

    The Professional Fighters League returned to PPV this past weekend when Riyadh, Saudi Arabia played host to Battle of the Giants. The event was topped by two inaugural super fight championships, which were won by MMA legends Francis Ngannou and Cris Cyborg.

    With those two making their long-awaited returns to the cage in addition to Bellator gold being on the line between Johnny Eblen and Fabian Edwards, not to mention an exciting clash between Paul Hughes and AJ McKee, the Oct. 19 event was highly anticipated.

    On that note, Davis recently conducted a Town Hall-style interview with MMA Fighting’s Mike Heck. The PFL chief took questions on a variety of topics from the mixed martial arts community, including some centered around the latest action inside the SmartCage.

    When discussing how the event this past Saturday night performed, Davis made some bold claims. The PFL founder said his promotion’s research has shown that Battle of the Giants outperformed every event the UFC has put on this year in terms of viewership.

    “I can’t answer the first question (how many PPV buys?). The second question (did it meet projected goals?), yes it did,” Davis said. “I actually made a post an hour ago…we actually provided eight viewership goals that we put out. Almost everything on this event, I put out one hour ago. What you will see is pretty astounding global audience numbers for this event.

    “This event, by our research, beat every viewership number of every UFC event this year, and was very, very close to ‘Ring of Fire’ (Tyson Fury vs. Oleksandr Usyk)…the biggest boxing event in five years,” Davis continued. “Overall, the same global viewership metrics of ‘Ring of Fire’. That was really something that was our stretch goal, and that’s what we achieved.”

    As many pointed out in the comments below the PFL founder’s post on social media, the graphic doesn’t include viewership via pay-per-view on ESPN and DAZN and instead focuses on social media figures.

    But Davis went on to explain why a changing landscape in the broadcast and media realm means PPV buys are no longer the be-all and end-all when determining the success of an event in terms of global viewership.

    “Right now, economics flow a very different way. In the sports world, it used to be just PPV buys. But now, money is made many different ways,” Davis stated. “Sponsorship, social media, host fees; there’s an economical bundle that is very different now. So there’s many metrics that matter.”

    It’s difficult to verify Davis’ claim without knowing the exact parameters used for social media engagement. But in terms of promotional accounts only, it’s worth noting that the most viewed post on the @PFLMMA account was Ngannou’s knockout of Ferreira, which accumulated 948,000 views.

    That falls significantly short of @ufc numbers throughout the year, with one example being numerous posts during April’s UFC 300 event. Of note was a video of Max Holloway’s buzzer-beating KO of Justin Gaethje, which surpassed 7.8 million views.