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UFC alum Francis Ngannou pegged to make PFL move soon following Octagon departure: ‘I know he’s coming’

Former undisputed UFC heavyweight champion, Francis Ngannou has been backed to make a move to the PFL (Professional Fighters League) in the near future following his start-of-year Octagon departure, by former UFC welterweight title challenger, Dan Hardy. Ngannou, a former undisputed heavyweight champion under the banner of the UFC, saw his contractual obligations with the […]

Ngannou, a former undisputed heavyweight champion under the banner of the UFC, saw his contractual obligations with the promotion come to an end back in December of last year.

Stripped of his status as undisputed champion and removed from the official organizational rankings, Batié native, Ngannou also saw his period of exclusive negotiating with the UFC waived by the promotion, who showed the Cameroon native the proverbial door.

Most recently competing in professional mixed martial arts back in January of last year atop a UFC 270 card in Anaheim, California, Francis Ngannou defeated Ciryl Gane in a unanimous decision title unification success.

Weighing up a potential professional boxing transition against former WBC heavyweight champion, Deontay WIlder of note, Ngannou confirmed recently that both the PFL and the Chatri Sityodtong-led ONE Championship were leading the face for his signature.

Dan Hardy expects the PFL to successfully push for Francis Ngannou’s signature

And according to Hardy, who himself recently joined PFL as their European head of fighter operations, expects Ngannou to follow in his path and join the organization’s heavyweight ranks next.

“We’ll [the PFL] have Francis Ngannou in no time coming over and fighting for it,” Dan Hardy told Middleeasy during a recent interview. “I just feel it in my bones. I know he’s coming. I just know he’s coming. I can just feel it. It makes sense. His demands for the UFC is exactly what the PFL are offering.”

“So, everything that he was asking for from the UFC, it’s already on the table over here as long as the money’s on the table alongside to match the heavyweight king’s purse, then I think you’ll be happy and I think we can certainly do that for him,” Dan Hardy continued. (Transcribed by BJPENN.com)

Winning the undisputed UFC heavyweight crown back in March 2021 in a championship rematch against Stipe Miocic, Ngannou stopped the Ohio veteran with a thunderous second round KO at the UFC Apex facility.

Gilbert Burns predicts finish of Colby Covington in potential UFC clash: ‘That fight is going to happen’

Ahead of his UFC 287 co-headlining return next weekend against soon-to-be common-foe, Jorge Masvidal, one-time welterweight title challenger, Gilbert Burns claims that no matter where a potential future fight with former interim gold holder, Colby Covington lands, he’s confident of finishing the Clovis native. Burns, the current #5 ranked welterweight contender, most recently featured on […]

Burns, the current #5 ranked welterweight contender, most recently featured on the main card of UFC 283 back in January in his native Brazil, stopping the streak of division record holder, Neil Magny – submitting the veteran with a first round arm-triangle choke in Rio de Janeiro.

Returning to the Octagon next weekend in Miami, Florida – Burns, a resident of the ‘Sunshine State’ is likely entering enemy-territory in his pivotal co-main event slot against hometown favorite, Masvidal, as the duo attempt to leapfrog the aforenoted, Covington into the welterweight title picture.

Gilbert Burns welcomes potential fight with Colby Covington in the future

Welcoming the possibility of fighting the #2 ranked challenger, Covington before they hang up their respective gloves, Burns claimed that he would be confident of either knocking out or submitting the former.

“I hope, I hope because I’ve been calling this guy (Colby Covington) out forever,” Gilbert Burns told MMA Junkie during a recent interview. “He’s been smart. He sits out and fights Tyron Woodley and then – relax. And then he fights for the title again. He picks another guy that’s not in his prime coming from another loss, (Jorge) Masvidal. Then he wins and gets another title shot. He’s been smart. I hope that one day we can get this [fight] done.”

“I believe I can finish Colby,” Gilbert Burns continued. “I’m a dangerous striker, and if he takes me down, thank you. So, I hope that fight happens. Now, I’m 100 percent focused on Masvidal, but that fight [with Covington] is going to happen, I believe.”

Calling a return to the Octagon at UFC 290 during International Fight Week in July, Covington, who has predicted a beating “from pillar to post” for undisputed welterweight champion, Leon Edwards, expects to fight the Birmingham native next.

Justin Gaethje says he would likely quit the UFC if Conor McGregor receives title shot next: ‘I would be devastated’

Former interim UFC lightweight champion and current #2 ranked contender, Justin Gaethje has claimed that if former duel-weight champion, Conor McGregor receives a shot at Octagon gold with a win over expected next-opponent, Michael Chandler later this year, he would likely leave the Dana White-led organization. Gaethje, a former interim gold holder under the promotion’s […]

Gaethje, a former interim gold holder under the promotion’s banner, most recently co-headlined UFC 286 earlier this month in London, England – halting the run of Rafael Fiziev in a close, back-and-forth majority decision success.

The victory returned Arizona back to the winner’s enclosure, after he had unsuccessfully challenged for undisputed lightweight gold against former champion, Charles Oliveira on home soil in the ‘Copper State’ last May.

As for McGregor, the Dubliner, who is without a lightweight victory since a 2016 coronation against common-foe, Eddie Alvarez, has been out of action since headlining UFC 264 back in July 2021, fracturing his left tibia and fibula in a first round doctor’s stoppage TKO loss against another common-opponent, Dustin Poirier.

Justin Gaethje would likely depart the UFC if Conor McGregor is granted title tilt

Himself targeting an end-of-summer Octagon comeback – potentially in a rematch with fellow former interim titleholder, Poirier, Gaethje claimed he would “probably” leave the organization if McGregor is granted a title tilt with a win over Missouri veteran, Chandler.

“Would I quit if Conor (McGregor won and they [the UFC] gave him a title shot? Probably,” Justin Gaethje told ESPN during a recent interview. “That’s how hurt I would be by the actions of the company I represent. But that’s out of my control.”

“I just really hope that doesn’t happen,” Justin Gaethje explained. “We can imagine a lot of things, but there’s a possibility that that’s the scenario [that happens]. Which I would be devastated [about], for sure.”

Without a professional victory since January of 2020, McGregor defeated another common-opponent, Donald Cerrone with a 40-second TKO at the welterweight limit.

Gaethje also recently felt the wrath of Crumlin striker, McGregor earlier this week, the 34-year-old labelling the former interim champion a “handicap” in a now-deleted Twitter post.

Deontay Wilder chomping at bit for Francis Ngannou bout: ‘I would love to go for Africa for that fight.”

Former undisputed WBC heavyweight champion, Deontay Wilder maintains he is still firmly interested in a boxing showdown with former undisputed UFC heavyweight champion, Francis Ngannou following the latter’s departure from the organization back in Jan…

Wilder, a former undisputed WBC heavyweight champion, snapped a run of back-to-back knockout losses to current titleholder, Tyson Fury toward the tailend of last year, defeating Robert Helenius with a thunderous first round KO at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.

As for Batié native, Ngannou, the former undisputed heavyweight champion has been sidelined since UFC 270 back in January of last year, defeating then-interim division titleholder, Ciryl Gane in a unanimous decision effort in Anaheim, California.

Undergoing reconstructive knee surgery in the immediate aftermath of his victory, Ngannou failed to return to the Octagon before his January departure from the UFC, seeing his contractual obligations with the Dana White-led promotion come to an end in December last.

Weighing up potential moves to both the PFL (Professional Fighters League) and ONE Championship in his return to mixed martial arts, Ngannou has also voiced his interest in not one, but two matchups against former WBC kingpin, Wilder.

And following months of speculation, the Tucasloosa native appears more than interested in making at least one of those bouts – possibly in Africa, a reality.

“Most definitely, I love Francis (Ngannou),” Deontay Wilder told Trill Boxing during a recent interview. “When I met him at the UFC Apex in Vegas, he was talking about doing it that time. I’m still interested in it and I would love to go to Africa for that fight.”

“When he (Francis Ngannou) was with Dana (White), me and Dana sat down and talked about it,” Deontay Wilder explained. “When he brought the idea to me the whole saying was, ‘if it makes dollars, it makes sense.’ That’s all they need to know. I know he’s doing his own thing and I’m proud of him for following his heart, doing what he feels.” (Transcribed by Mirror)

Deontay Wilder claims Francis Ngannou turned down MMA fight with him

However, according to Wilder, the potential of a mixed martial arts bout with Ngannou has fallen to the wayside already.

“Ngannou don’t want to do MMA,” Deontay Wilder told ESNews. “I told him we can do MMA and boxing, I want to be the first to do that, but he said he’s going to want to stick to boxing. And I mean, I respect that, he said he don’t want to break me. I always been a ‘don’t judge a book by it’s cover’ type of person, his power is real.”

Israel Adesanya admits it’s make or break against Alex Pereira at UFC 287: ‘This is my last shot’

Former undisputed UFC middleweight champion, Israel Adesanya has claimed he is facing his final opportunity to defeat Alex Pereira next weekend at UFC 287 in Miami, Florida – given his history against the Brazilian berserker. Adesanya, a former undisputed middleweight titleholder under the UFC banner, most recently headlined UFC 281 back in November of last […]

Adesanya, a former undisputed middleweight titleholder under the UFC banner, most recently headlined UFC 281 back in November of last year at Madison Square Garden against the above-mentioned, Pereira, dropping his title in an eventual fifth round standing TKO loss.

The defeat came as City Kickboxing staple, Adesanya’s first at the middleweight limit in his professional mixed martial arts career.

Seeing his title reign come to a shocking end, the Nigerian-Kiwi had successfully defended his crown against Yoel Romero, Paulo Costa, Marvin Vettori, Robert Whittaker, and prior to his defeat to Pereira, Jared Cannonier during International Fight Week in July of last year.

Attempting to sway the tide following three separate combat sports defeats to former duel-weight GLORY Kickboxing champion, Pereira, Adesanya admitted that it was most likely make or break next weekend in the ‘Sunshine State’ for him against the Sao Paulo phenom.

“I’m hunting, and I mean that in every sense of the word,” Israel Adesanya said on his YouTube channel. “The mindset is different, definitely. Even, Eugene (Bareman) and I are on the same page. The mindset is definitely different.”

“I like it because it puts it all on me, and it’s kind of poetic in a way,” Israel Adesanya explained. “ One life: Roll the dice. This is my last shot, and I’m going to give to it all I’ve got in every sense of the word.”

Israel Adesanya insists he has Alex Pereira’s number despite losses

Throughout the build-up to next weekend’s pay-per-view headliner, Adesanya maintains that despite suffering three defeats to Pereira during their respective careers, the Brazilian knows in himself that the former has his number, and is capable of defeating him.

Former boxing champion Carl Froch offers to fight UFC star Conor McGregor in MMA: ‘He’s too small’

Former WBC super middleweight champion, Carl Froch, has made the surprising offer to step inside a mixed martial arts cage, and take on former undisputed UFC lightweight and featherweight champion, Conor McGregor – detailing how he would even fancy his chances in a fight with the “small” Dubliner. Froch, a former undisputed WBC super middleweight […]

Froch, a former undisputed WBC super middleweight title in reigns in both 2008, and 2011, retired from professional boxing back in 2014, landing a second consecutive victory over British rival, Georges Groves in a WBA super middleweight title fight at a soldout Wembley Stadium.

As for McGregor, the 34-year-old former duel-weight UFC champion has been sidelined from active competition since fracturing his left tibia and fibula in a first round doctor’s stoppage TKO loss to Dustin Poirier at UFC 264 back in July 2021.

Competing just once professionally in boxing, McGregor clashed with former multiple-weight and time world champion, Floyd Mayweather back in 2017, dropping an eventual tenth round standing TKO loss to the Grand Rapids veteran in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Carl Froch fancies his chances in an MMA fight against UFC star, Conor McGregor

Welcoming the opportunity to follow Crumlin striker, McGregor to his own battleground, however, Froch, who turns 46 years old in July, offered to fight the former in a cage, describing the former lightweight and featherweight champion as “too small”.

“I’d fight Conor McGregor in the cage,” Carl Froch said. “I could be getting myself in trouble here or into a position I can’t wiggle out of, but I think I’d take him on in the cage. He’s too small.” (H/T Michael Benson)

Carl Froch: “I'd fight Conor McGregor in the cage. I could be getting myself in trouble here or into a position I can't wiggle out of, but I think I'd take him on in the cage. He's too small.” [Froch on Fighting]

— Michael Benson (@MichaelBensonn) March 29, 2023

Also welcoming the opportunity to share the Octagon with former world champion boxer, Froch, McGregor instructed acclaimed promoter and Matchroom Boxing leader, Eddie Hearn to arrange a fight between the two.

“@EddieHearn, get this signed up, lad,” Conor McGregor tweeted in response to Carl Froch’s comments.