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Francis Ngannou Reveals Billionaire Floyd Mayweather’s Role in His UFC Exit

Published 05/26/2023, 10:37 AM EDT

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In his pursuit of free agency, Francis Ngannou encountered a series of challenging obstacles. However, his exit from the UFC proved to be as dramatic and controversial as it could get. After a lengthy period of negotiations and months of hunting for the ideal promotion to continue his fighting career, ‘The Predator’ finally bid farewell to Dana White‘s promotion back in January. On the other hand, this departure permanently closed the doors between the Cameroonian fighter and the UFC.

Despite the setbacks, Ngannou persevered and engaged in negotiations with multiple promotions, seeking the perfect new home for his fighting career. After an arduous journey, he was ultimately embraced by the Professional Fighters League[PFL] with open arms. The PFL not only welcomed him but also presented him with a monumental multi-million dollar contract, emphasizing their belief in his exceptional abilities. The departure from the UFC marked a turning point in Francis Ngannou’s fighting career, leading him down a path of transformation and strategic adaptation, influenced by none other than billionaire boxer Floyd Mayweather.

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The influential role played by Mayweather in Ngannou’s UFC exit has recently come to light, shedding light on the dynamic strategies employed by these elite athletes in the fight game.

Francis Ngannou is embracing the Floyd Mayweather mindset

In a recent interview with LeBatardShow, Francis Ngannou weighed in on joining PFL, future fights, etc. During the conversation, the interviewer inquired whethere he drew any inspiration from seeing the likes of Jake Paul and boxing legend Floyd Mayweather having their own business. Responding to that, the 36-year-old said, “From the moment we started this- [when]I wanted to go free agent, Jake Paul wasn’t around. He came after.”

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However, Mayweather’s expertise resonated deeply with ‘The Predator’, as he recognized the value of strategic maneuvers and the power of self-belief. Further talking about the billionaire boxer, Ngannou stated, “But yes, as you are referring to Floyd, yes. That was something that I thought about. But not really like to go promote myself. But [like] you should bet on yourself, you know. So, that was the example that I look up to, kind of.” 

Moreover, this new journey has brought on all the perks and benefits for Ngannou that he desired since the initiation of his thoughts on becoming a free agent. And now, drawing inspiration from Floyd Mayweather to an extent, he has embraced his role as a businessman in addition to being a fierce competitor, recognizing the importance of strategic moves both inside and outside the octagon.

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What are your thoughts on Francis Ngannou joining the PFL? Do you think it makes for a brighter future for the fighter? Let us know your take on this in the comments below.

Watch this story: After Becoming PFL Africa Chairman, Let’s Take a Look at Francis Ngannou Foundation for Cameroon

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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:

Anuj Jacob