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PFL founder Donn Davis has ended speculation surrounding Francis Ngannou’s future with the promotion, stating that the former UFC heavyweight champion remains committed to the organization.
Since his explosive first-round knockout win over Renan Ferreira in October, Ngannou has been inactive in MMA but vocal about his next move. After leaving the UFC and facing numerous hurdles, his PFL debut was an emotional one, marking a new chapter in his career.
Following his victory, ‘The Predator’ hinted at a return in the spring, with Donn Davis confirming in January that Ngannou’s next fight would take place in the boxing ring.
However, a recent report from combat sports journalist John S. Nash suggested that Ngannou’s contract might be nearing its end, with a potential termination date set for next month. This sparked rumors that the heavyweight star could be parting ways with the PFL.
Davis quickly refuted these claims, taking to social media to call Nash’s report “fake news.” He clarified that Ngannou still has at least one fight left on his PFL contract and emphasized his long-term role as the chairman of PFL Africa. Ngannou’s involvement in the MMA business was one of the key reasons he opted to leave the UFC, and Davis reaffirmed that their partnership remains strong.
While Ngannou has not personally addressed the contract rumors, his focus is currently on boxing. Last month, he confirmed ongoing discussions with Turki Alalshikh regarding a potential showdown with former heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder. Wilder, who last fought in Saudi Arabia in a knockout loss to Zhilei Zhang, remains a top target for Ngannou’s next challenge.
“I will do boxing next,” Ngannou confirmed. “I want to. I’m not done with boxing. It’s not that MMA is easy – it’s the sport that I understand better and I have more experience in – but I say go for boxing. [I’m passionate about fighting Deontay Wilder] because there’s an 80% chance that somebody will go to sleep. It will be one or the other.”
Ngannou added, “Maybe not in his past two fights, but Deontay Wilder is known as a guy that knocks everybody out or tries to knock you out. I’m going against that guy, and I myself can knock someone out. Deep inside me, there is a little bit of ego, like I know I hit harder.”
As speculation continues, Ngannou’s next move remains one of the biggest talking points in combat sports. Whether it’s in the boxing ring or back in the PFL cage, ‘The Predator’ is still a major force to be reckoned with.