Dan Hardy, a former UFC welterweight contender and current analyst, recently made news for his remarks on Francis Ngannou’s future in the sport. Hardy, who is also the PFL’s head of European fighter relations, told MiddleEasy that he believes the heavyweight champion will shortly join the PFL.
Dan Hardy is confident that Francis Ngannou will join PFL
Ngannou recently left the UFC after the organization allegedly failed to fulfill his contract demands during contract negotiations. Ngannou has stayed a free agent despite rumors of a boxing match against Deontay Wilder or Tyson Fury. Hardy, on the other hand, is confident that the PFL can provide everything that Ngannou sought from the UFC, and that the PFL is ready to match his purse.
“We’ll have Francis Ngannou in no time, coming over and fighting for it. I just feel it in my bones… I just know he’s coming,” Hardy said.
Hardy also stated that Ngannou’s demands for the UFC are precisely what the PFL provides, including the opportunity to fight against top-tier opponents and make a sizable purse. He stressed that as long as money is on the table to equal Ngannou’s purse, he thinks the PFL will satisfy the heavyweight king. He declared that the agreement was as good as inked.
While Hardy’s comments do not rule out the chance that Ngannou will join the PFL, they do raise the possibility that the heavyweight champion is contemplating a move to the organization. The PFL has made major advances in recent years, including the acquisition of prominent free agents such as former UFC lightweight champion Anthony Pettis and former Bellator lightweight champion Michael Chandler.
Francis Ngannou Expresses Desire to Pursue Boxing Career Before Returning to MMA
Francis Ngannou, however, has expressed his desire to pursue his boxing career before signing with a new MMA promotion. While Ngannou is currently in talks with promotions such as PFL and ONE Championship, his primary goal is to make a name for himself in the boxing ring before returning to MMA.
In a recent conversation with Brett Okamoto of ESPN MMA, Ngannou revealed his plans to potentially face off against boxing legends such as Deontay Wilder or Tyson Fury in the near future. However, he made it clear that his first fight must be in the boxing ring, and only then will he consider returning to MMA.
Ngannou stated, “There’s no rush, but I’m having serious conversations with PFL and also with ONE.”
If the 117 kg MMA star joins the PFL, it would surely be a huge coup for the group. Ngannou’s raw strength and impressive knockout wins have elevated him to the ranks of the world’s most feared fighters, and his participation in the PFL could help raise the organization’s reputation and draw even more top-tier talent.
Only time will tell if Dan Hardy’s forecast comes true, but the thought of Francis Ngannou joining the PFL is undoubtedly exciting for MMA enthusiasts.
