UFC commentator and former two-division champion Daniel Cormier was originally unimpressed with Francis Ngannou’s departure from the organization. Now that Ngannou has signed a record-setting deal with the PFL, and locked in a massively lucrative boxing match with Tyson Fury, Cormier is taking it all back.
“First off, I’m sorry, Francis. I want to fumble your bag, too, Francis. Can I ask you a question?
Daniel Cormier Formally Apologizes To Francis Ngannou
Do you have to be a little bit naive to go out in that world like that and know your value to the point that you will even when it looked dark to stand on your loyal and go, ‘It’ll happen for me.’
Francis had just enough of that, and now he finds himself — he’s going to make more money than he ever could have imagined making in his entire life because guess what?
They’re fighting in Saudi Arabia, which, somehow, literally just bought the PGA. How much money do you have to have to buy golf?
Francis and Tyson Fury are going to make so much money, it’s crazy.” Ngannou will fight Tyson Fury this October in Saudi Arabia. The fight will be sanctioned by the WBC, and will go on both fighters’ professional records, but Fury’s WBC belts will not be on the line.
Exactly how much money the fight will make is unclear as yet. However, Ngannou’s longtime manager Marquel Martin recently revealed that his client will make more in one night than in his entire 14-fight UFC career beforehand.
Last time a major MMA name picked up a colossal amount of money from a boxing match, it derailed their MMA career.
This was Conor McGregor’s record-breaking boxing match against Floyd Mayweather, from which the Irishman made over $100 million. Since then, McGregor has won just one fight, and fought only four times in the intervening seven years.
For this reason, Cormier wonders if Ngannou will ever actually make his PFL debut. Ngannonu is expected to make his debut for the promotion in 2024, but if he picks up McGregor money in October, Cormier argues that we may well see the last of Francis Ngannou.
“It’s a crazy, crazy turn of events for Francis Ngannou, but we are both insanely happy for him. I want to be wrong in this situation. I’m happy that he’s getting paid in that way.”
What’s your prediction for Francis Ngannou’s next move? Let us know in the comments.
