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Francis Ngannou’s Next Challenge: MMA or Boxing? PFL Champ Aims for 2025 Comeback

After capturing the heavyweight title in the PFL, Francis Ngannou is uncertain whether he will have his next match…

After capturing the heavyweight title in the PFL, Francis Ngannou is uncertain whether he will have his next match boxing or MMA. But ideally, the Cameroonian-born athlete will return to action sometime in 2025.

Francis Ngannou Next Fight

The 38-year-old Francis Ngannou had tremendous success competing in MMA with the UFC. He was feared for his punching power and was able to capture the UFC heavyweight world title by way of knockout. After successfully defending this championship he walked away from the organization.

Once he left the UFC, Francis Ngannou had massive payday offers for him in boxing and with the PFL. He had two blockbuster boxing matches facing champions Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua. In the PFL, competing in MMA, he was able to stop the top-ranked knockout striker Renan Ferreira, who was a PFL champion.

Francis Ngannou PFL 1 — Photo By Tim Wheaton

After defeating Renan Ferreira by first-round knockout, Francis Ngannou has two options ahead of him: compete in MMA with the PFL or have a boxing match. Speaking in an interview with Ariel Helwani, he explained:

“It could be either one (MMA or boxing). I don’t know yet. I don’t have any hand in that one. I don’t have a decision. I think it also depends on promotion. I don’t know. If next, PFL, they come up with something with a fight or a date, maybe we’ll work on it. If it’s boxing, same thing.” [Ht MyMMANews]

Either way, ‘The Predator’ Ngannou is set to make millions of dollars. In MMA, with the PFL, he is getting paid over $10 million per fight plus bonuses. His two boxing matches earned him a combined $30 million. Additionally, he is able to help build up the sport as the leader of PFL Africa, and he has peace of mind because in MMA he has guaranteed his opponent a massive payday giving them at least $2 million for fighting him in the PFL.

Francis Ngannou vs. Renan Ferreira — Photo by Tim Wheaton

Conor McGregor: “I’ll Support You 100%” in Paul Hughes Bout Against Usman Nurmagomedov, takes shots at Khabib

Ireland’s Paul Hughes will soon face the Khabib Nurmagomedov trained Usman Nurmagomedov, for the Bellator title, and wants Conor…

Ireland’s Paul Hughes will soon face the Khabib Nurmagomedov trained Usman Nurmagomedov, for the Bellator title, and wants Conor McGregor in his corner for this matchup. ‘The Notorious’ said he is absolutely into supporting Hughes for his title match against the Dagestani athlete.

Paul Hughes

The Cage Warriors champion signed with the PFL earlier this year. In his promotional debut, he out-pointed the prodigy AJ McKee over a three-round decision. With this win in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, he sets himself up as the top contender to face Usman Nurmagomedov for the Bellator Lightweight Title.

Usman is a cousin of Khabib Nurmagomedov and has long been a training partner. Khabib would be in Usman’s corner during the Hughes title match. Thus, Hughes has asked his Irish countryman and rival of Khabib, Conor McGregor to be in his corner. In his post-fight interview, the Irish fighter said:

“Yeah, that’s obvious. [Usman Nurmagomedov] is what I want. I said I was here for the biggest fights, the highest-pressure moments, and to make the most money possible. Usman is next, no question. There’s a lot of hype around this fight, and I’m here for it … How crazy would that be? We might need some extra security that night, though. We’ll need more security! But I’m down for it. It’ll be fun.”

Conor McGregor

Conor McGregor changed the face of MMA when he made history as a two-division UFC Champion. But he might be best known for his blockbuster match against his rival Khabib Nurmagomedov. Hearing the calls from Paul Hughes, McGregor said that he would be in attendance to support Hughes against Nurmagomedov. In a deleted Tweet, ‘The Notorious’ said:

“Paul my man I will go to the arena and support 100% for sure and if it kicks off I’ll be in there before you could even say ‘The [Nurmagomedovs] are juice head inbred rats married to their cousins’. Your team and corner have done a tremendous job with you! They will take you all the way! You’ve got this! We are with you brother, bring home the Gold!”

Conor McGregor Khabib Usman Paul Hughes — Screenshot by Curtis Calhoun

Conor McGregor: “I’ll Support You 100%” in Paul Hughes Bout Against Usman Nurmagomedov, takes shots at Khabib

Ireland’s Paul Hughes will soon face the Khabib Nurmagomedov trained Usman Nurmagomedov, for the Bellator title, and wants Conor…

Paul Hughes

“Yeah, that’s obvious. [Usman Nurmagomedov] is what I want. I said I was here for the biggest fights, the highest-pressure moments, and to make the most money possible. Usman is next, no question. There’s a lot of hype around this fight, and I’m here for it … How crazy would that be? We might need some extra security that night, though. We’ll need more security! But I’m down for it. It’ll be fun.”

Conor McGregor

“Paul my man I will go to the arena and support 100% for sure and if it kicks off I’ll be in there before you could even say ‘The [Nurmagomedovs] are juice head inbred rats married to their cousins’. Your team and corner have done a tremendous job with you! They will take you all the way! You’ve got this! We are with you brother, bring home the Gold!”

Johnny Eblen Blames Conor McGregor for Surge in Retired Fighters Returning After PED Use

Johnny Eblen thinks Conor McGregor is responsible for an unsettling trend in the world of MMA. Earlier this month,…

Johnny Eblen thinks Conor McGregor is responsible for an unsettling trend in the world of MMA.

Earlier this month, UFC Hall of Famer Donald ‘Cowboy’ Cerrone announced his plans to come out of retirement for two more fights inside the Octagon, his goal being to reach 50 fights under the Zuffa (WEC and UFC) banner. However, his declaration of intent has been met with very little excitement. In fact, practically everyone is of the opinion that it’s a bad idea, including UFC CEO Dana White.

Following his fight at the PFL ‘Battle of the Giants’ pay-per-view in Riyadh over the weekend, Bellator middleweight titleholder Johnny Eblen expressed his disdain for the idea of a ‘Cowboy’ return and placed blame on McGregor for the recent trend of fighters coming out of retirement after getting juiced up.

“I just don’t think it’s a good idea to retire, take a bunch of steroids, and then come back and fight again,” Eblen said, speaking to the media at the PFL ‘Battle of the Giants’ press conference. “It’s not a good look. I think Conor [McGregor] paved the way, I think he’s influencing a lot of other people to do it, and I think people are trying to fight past their prime and use all these substances and it’s just not natural, it’s not good.

“Your brain doesn’t heal from steroids. So all that CTE just adds up. I’m very against steroids, I’m very against people fighting past their prime.”

Conor McGregor wasn’t as upfront about his alleged PED use as ‘cowboy’ was

While on the red carpet for the UFC 2023 Hall of Fame ceremony, Cerrone was very open about his use of banned substances following his retirement from the sport a year earlier.

“I mean, right now, all the good sh*t after the non-USADA approved sh*t, I feel like I’m f*cking 21 again,” Cerrone told reporters last year on the UFC Hall of Fame red carpet. “You know what I’m saying? I’m telling you, guys — any of you fighters when you’re done, go ahead and get on the TRT and put your wife in a bind because that’s when you’ll feel like an 18-year-old boy again” (h/t MMA Junkie).

Though Conor McGregor was not nearly as open about his alleged PED use while recovering from the broken leg he suffered against Dustin Poirier in July 2021, ‘Mystic Mac’ certainly didn’t deny using additional substances to help with the healing process.

That on top of the flood of pictures featuring an absolutely jacked McGregor on social media led almost everyone to believe that he was on the juice while out of the USADA testing pool.

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On Saturday, Eblen successfully defended his Bellator middleweight championship against Fabian Edwards for the second time in 13 months. After finishing Edwards via TKO in the third round of their first meeting, the champ needed the full 25 minutes to ensure he walked away with his title intact in Saudi Arabia.

‘Pressure’ is a perfect 16-0 in his MMA career with four submission victories and three by way of KO/TKO.

GOAT Recognizes GOAT: Jon Jones Praises Cris Cyborg’s PFL Title Win in Saudi Arabia

Jon Jones was very impressed with Cris Cyborg’s latest world title-winning performance over the weekend. Making her Smart Cage…

Jon Jones was very impressed with Cris Cyborg’s latest world title-winning performance over the weekend.

Making her Smart Cage debut at the PFL’s ‘Battle of The Giants’ pay-per-view event in Saudi Arabia, Cyborg entered her bout as the reigning Bellator featherweight champion. Following an entertaining 25-minute war with two-time PFL tournament winner Larissa Pacheco, Cyborg left as the first-ever PFL Super Fights champion, adding yet another piece of gold to her already impressive collection.

Her unanimous decision win over Pacheco garnered the attention of fighters and fans alike, including undisputed UFC heavyweight titleholder Jon Jones who shared his appreciation for Cyborg’s performance on Saturday night.

“I’m incredibly proud of Cris Cyborg right now. OG showing how it’s done,” Jones wrote on X.

Cyborg Responds to Jon Jones

Cyborg responded shortly after, calling ‘Bones’ the GOAT and thanking him for his kind words.

“Thank you Jon, you are the [goat emoji] and I appreciate this,” Cyborg replied.

With the win, Cyborg has not won 17 title fights over the last 15 years. Along the way, she’s captured gold in practically every major mixed martial arts organization, including Strikeforce, Invicta FC, UFC, Bellator, and PFL.

At 39 years old, it’s clear that Cyborg hasn’t lost a step inside the cage, but even she knows that eventually, she’ll have to lay down her gloves for good and call it a career. Sadly, it sounds like that may be sooner rather than later.

“It took a long time to fight,” Cyborg told reporters at the post-fight news conference. “My last time, I fought one year ago. I wanted to fight more times, for me to defend my title, because I want to complete 20 years in my career. This year is 19 and I want to go to my next chapter of my life and have a kid. Next plan, I’d like to defend my title as soon as possible.”

Jon Jones Reacts to Francis Ngannou’s Triumphant PFL Debut: “Congratulations Champ”

UFC heavyweight champion Jon Jones put his previous bad blood with Francis Ngannou aside to congratulate him on his…

UFC heavyweight champion Jon Jones put his previous bad blood with Francis Ngannou aside to congratulate him on his first-round finish against PFL giant Renan Ferreira.

Ngannou returned to MMA after nearly three years away from the cage on Saturday in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Headlining an event with the reigning PFL titleholder Ferreira, Ngannou wasted zero time taking down the behemoth Ferreira, ultimately finishing the Brazilian with ground and pound in the first round.

If you missed Ngannou’s finish at Battle of the Giants, watch the highlight below.

The former UFC heavyweight champ Ngannou signed with PFL last year after a long, rocky contract dispute with the UFC brass. The UFC stripped Ngannou of the heavyweight title upon his departure, and he then turned his full attention towards boxing fights with Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua.

Jones and Ngannou’s careers have been linked for years, stemming from the potential UFC superfight that never came to fruition. Despite past tensions, Jones credited Ngannou with his performance in the PFL SmartCage.

Jon Jones Applauds Francis Ngannou on Dominant PFL Debut

In a recent tweet, Jones congratulated Ngannou on his performance.

What an amazing job Francis did tonight, displayed a complete MMA game. Great kicks, great takedowns. It feels good to see him shine. Wow congratulations Champ, I see you.

— BONY (@JonnyBones) October 20, 2024

Jones won Ngannou’s stripped UFC title by submitting Ciryl Gane at UFC 285. He’s scheduled to defend his UFC heavyweight championship against Stipe Miocic at UFC 309 in New York City next month.

Ngannou captured the UFC heavyweight belt by knocking out Miocic at UFC 260, before defending it against Gane at UFC 270. During his UFC tenure, he earned some of the most brutal knockouts in the promotion’s history.

Despite their UFC clash never coming to fruition, Jones and Ngannou teased fans with a cage-side faceoff at a PFL event last year. While their unanimously desired super fight is likely off the table, their heavyweight reigns will be discussed in the same breath.