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After Multi-Million Dollar PFL Deal, Ex-UFC Champ Heaps Praise on Francis Ngannou for Unselfish Act

Published 05/19/2023, 9:02 AM EDT

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Francis Ngannou and the UFC parted ways on bad terms back in January. Post his exit from Dana White‘s promotion and weathering over four months of grueling negotiations with prominent promotions, ‘The Predator’ finally discovered a new home. The former UFC heavyweight champion has sealed a multi-million-dollar deal with the PFL. Additionally, his agreement with the promotion has some astonishing perks, allowing the Cameroonian fighter to sit pretty atop his newfound success. With this feat, he is receiving high praise from the MMA community and has been endorsed by the former UFC champion, Junior Dos Santos.

Dos Santos and Ngannou locked horns in the UFC in a thrilling showdown back in 2019. The Brazilian fighter strode into the octagon, his confidence soaring on the back of a three-fight winning streak. However, the formidable Cameroonian shattered his momentum during their clash. Ngannou swiftly put an end to Dos Santos’ winning spree, delivering a thunderous knockout finish in the first round.

Junior Dos Santos praises Francis Ngannou

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Speaking to ‘MMA fighting’, the former UFC fighter Junior Dos Santos reflected upon Francis Ngannou’s free agency. With their history in the octagon and shared understanding as free agents, Dos Santos extended his support to Ngannou’s career trajectory.

While discussing the scenario, the former UFC Heavyweight Champion said, “People focus on themselves first. [They say], ‘I’ll get something for me and screw the rest.’ It didn’t feel that way with Francis Ngannou. It felt important for him to make a difference.”

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He continued, “The least we can do is congratulate Francis Ngannou for his actions and for sticking to them. Many others would have bent to the system, like we’ve seen many times before. He wanted it on his terms, and he’s doing it on his terms.”

Despite being on the receiving end of his fierce blows, ‘Cigano’, a free agent himself, appreciated Ngannou’s decision to forge his own path forward on his own terms.

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What are your thoughts on Francis Ngannou joining the PFL? Do you think he can portray the same dominance in this new setting as well? Let us know in the comments below.

Watch this story: As Francis Ngannou Joins PFL, Take a Look at the Deadliest Finishes by the Former UFC Champ

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Written by:

Mayur Soni

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Mayur Soni is a UFC writer at EssentiallySports. His journey as an MMA fan started with Conor McGregor’s historic 13-second knockout of Jose Aldo in 2015, which sparked his love for the sport. Since then, he has closely followed the sport and gained an in-depth understanding of its nuances, which reflects in his insightful and analytical writing.
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Edited by:

Rohini Kottu