When I spoke with Professional Fighters League CEO Peter Murray early on Mon, Oct. 30, about Francis Ngannou’s performance on Saturday in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, against Tyson Fury, the first thing the former NFL executive said to me was, “he shocked the world. It was amazing. Best combat sports athlete on the planet. Francis won. MMA won, and PFL won.”
It’s hard to argue with most of that reaction. Those thoughts were commonly expressed on social media Saturday, through the weekend, and into the early part of the following week after Ngannou dropped Fury and narrowly lost a controversial split decision in a non-title bout against the lineal heavyweight champion.
Ngannou didn’t simply land a lucky shot on Fury’s temple.
He more than held his own as a boxer, inside during in-fighting situations and at a distance where the massive Fury normally has his way with opponents.
When it comes to crowning Ngannou as the best combat sports athlete on the planet, you will get some serious arguments from Jon Jones, Canelo Alvarez, and perhaps even from a top freestyle wrestler like Iran’s Kamran Ghasempour, who hasn’t ventured into mixed martial arts as of yet. Even still, and considering the small sample size, Ngannou’s reign as UFC heavyweight champion and his performance against Fury etches his name on a stone all his own.
Did Fury take Ngannou lightly? According to Murray, “he underestimated Francis.”
It doesn’t appear that’s anything Murray or the rest of the PFL contingent has done since they entered into a historic agreement with the former UFC heavyweight champion turned global combat sports phenomenon.
“We believed in Francis before we signed him,” Murray told me. “We believed in his ability to achieve his goals in both sports. We’re excited about him making his PFL Superfights debut in 2024 and launching PFL Africa in 2025, and Francis is the chairman.”
Aside from a stunning KO win from Ngannou, things couldn’t have gone much better for the fighter or organization he signed a groundbreaking deal with earlier this year, ending one of the most celebrated mixed martial arts free agency periods in history.
Ngannou turned down a lucrative deal to return to the UFC, where he was the reigning champion and chose to sign with the PFL, where he was offered a leadership position, partnership, and perhaps most importantly, the freedom to pursue the boxing career he dreamed about since he was a little boy in Cameroon.
Just a week ago, that boxing dream seemed like a bucket-list fantasy that Ngannou would be able to check off because of his fame and talent in MMA. After his performance against Fury, it feels like a legitimate second career–and a highly-paid one.
According to Murray, the PFL’s agreement with Ngannou doesn’t prohibit him from taking another boxing match before he makes his PFL debut. However, there is an expectation that Ngannou kick off the organization’s Superfights division in 2024.
That event was already set to be a big one, but with Ngannou’s success, participation, and the event set to take place back in Saudi Arabia, per Murray, it now seems as if it could be one of the most significant MMA events of 2024.
“Saudi Arabia is the new fight capital of the world,” Murray said. It is tough to argue as things are trending in that direction. We’ve not only seen Fury and Ngannou clash in Riyadh. Back in 2019, heavyweight Anthony Joshua defeated Andy Ruiz there in their rematch to regain his titles.
In March 2023, Cormac O’Donnell of Arab News made a similar prediction about Saudi Arabia and its potential to become the new boxing mecca.
“What is certain is that Saudi Arabia will be mentioned in promoters’ discussions whenever any big-time fight is announced,” O’Donnell wrote. “Its reputation for high-water mark production quality, warm welcomes for all and open minds will make Saudi Arabia the pre-eminent future capital of boxing.”
The production for the event felt like a combination of the Olympic’s opening ceremonies and the Grammys, complete with performances from Lil Baby, Becky G, and a boxing ring that rose through the floor as their performer’s stage moved backward.
With all the attention surrounding Ngannou, Murray says there has been an increase in fighters expressing an interest in facing Francis in his PFL debut. “A number of the best fighters in the world would love the opportunity,” Murray said. That’s great for business and potentially for the PFL’s Superfight division.
Read the full article here
