Francis Ngannou is the talk of the combat sports world and for obvious reasons.
On Tuesday morning, it was announced that the former UFC heavyweight champion ended his free agency after signing a lucrative contract with the PFL that gives him an equity stake in the organization, a leadership role as the chairman of PFL Africa, the flexibility to pursue boxing, and more.
This got many in the combat sports community talking as the news followed months of speculation following Ngannou’s unprecedented move to fight out his UFC contract while still champion.
Below are some of the reactions to Ngannou’s move to the PFL.
MMA Junkie
Francis Ngannou gets what he wants in a deal with PFL that gives him the flexibility to box and a leadership role within the organization to head PFL Africa. 🌍
Full story: https://t.co/LwMjupGf4n pic.twitter.com/Xq7wDFbfud
— MMA Junkie (@MMAJunkie) May 16, 2023
Francis Ngannou
I’m not a businessman, I’m a business, man ♟️ pic.twitter.com/ED9wZY0Vz0
— Francis Ngannou (@francis_ngannou) May 16, 2023
PFL
𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗣𝗥𝗘𝗗𝗔𝗧𝗢𝗥 𝗜𝗦 𝗛𝗘𝗥𝗘! Welcome to the Professional Fighters League @francis_ngannou pic.twitter.com/WPxuQtJtTn
— PFL (@PFLMMA) May 16, 2023
Jon Jones
Calling yourself the baddest man on the planet from across the street, who does that? Lol
— BONY (@JonnyBones) May 16, 2023
Erick Nicksick
“And then Twitter was saying Ngannou fumbled the bag because he didn’t accept to fight Jon Jones..” #BMFOTP pic.twitter.com/CxIjV3D33n
— Eric Nicksick (@Eric_XCMMA) May 16, 2023
Terrance McKinney
Congrats on the biggest deal in mma history 🔥🔥🔥
Also, we got fight news comin soon – opponent locked in ☑️ pic.twitter.com/xj7UwMK8oW
— Terrance McKinney (@twrecks155) May 16, 2023
Renato Moicano
Nice see Ngannou in pfl… how much we talking about money wise !? #mma
— Renato Moicano UFC (@moicanoufc) May 16, 2023
Brendan Schaub
MMA debut won’t be till to 2024 cause Francis will have a massive boxing match this year. Right? https://t.co/Mu2kAe8Pr1
— Brendan Schaub (@BrendanSchaub) May 16, 2023
Ben Rothwell
Ok @francis_ngannou is officially the #1 HW to call out.
I’m your huckleberry 💪
Congratulations on the signing 👍🙏 pic.twitter.com/BFtdn0q5d2
— Big Ben Rothwell (@RothwellFighter) May 16, 2023
Jessica-Rose Clark
Yes!!! Congrats @francis_ngannou and @PFLMMA https://t.co/DD1o8gXXK8
— Jessy Jess (@missjessyjess) May 16, 2023
Natan Levy
I guess I’m ready to fight @francis_ngannou 😂 https://t.co/6F9jOhXlWL
— Natan Levy ✡︎ (@Natan_Levy) May 16, 2023
Jake Paul
The baddest man in the planet has officially joined. pic.twitter.com/nfQlh9R4ru
— Jake Paul (@jakepaul) May 16, 2023
Luke Thomas
May we all be so lucky as to "fumble the bag" as much as Francis Ngannou has just once in this life.😭😂 https://t.co/kBlW8dkrNy
— Luke Thomas🏋️♀️ (@lthomasnews) May 16, 2023
Simon Samano
It should be obvious to everyone by now that Francis Ngannou’s mission was always bigger than simply being “the baddest man on the planet” while owned by the UFC. https://t.co/VmkiWPJ0B2
— Simon Samano (@SJSamano) May 16, 2023
Jake Shields
Congrats to @francis_ngannou for signing to the PFL
It’s also nice seeing fighters make more money outside the UFC pic.twitter.com/3mblFEVSnv
— Jake Shields (@jakeshieldsajj) May 16, 2023
