As first reported by Sherdog, PFL has released ex-UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou.
The promotion sent out the below statement early Friday:
“The Professional Fighters League has made the decision to part ways with Francis Ngannou. We have great respect for Francis as both an athlete and a person, and we wish him success in the next chapter of his combat sports career. The PFL remains focused on recruiting and signing the best athletes in the sport while continuing to deliver world-class competition for fans around the globe.”
The 39-year-old Ngannou made only one PFL appearance, defeating Renan Ferreira via first-round knockout in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on Oct. 19 of 2024.
On Jan. 14 of 2023, the UFC stripped Ngannou of his heavyweight belt when he and the promotion couldn’t agree on a new contract that would’ve set up an epic title fight between Jon ‘Bones’ Jones and Ngannou. The promotion waived its one-year matching rights.
Ngannou signed a multi-fight deal with PFL on May 16 of 2023. The contract allowed him the freedom to compete in other sports like boxing.
Ngannou faced then-WBC and Lineal heavyweight champion Tyson Fury in a boxing match on Oct. 28 of 2023, although Fury’s belts weren’t on the line.
Ngannou stunningly dropped Fury in the third round, and many felt he was deserving of a decision win. However, Fury won via split decision (95-94, 96-93, 94-95).
Per CompuBox, Fury outlanded Ngannou 71-59 in total punches, but Ngannou had a 37-32 advantage in power punches.
Before making his PFL debut, Ngannou was back in the squared circle again to take on Anthony Joshua in Riyadh on March 8 of 2024. It didn’t go as well as the bout vs. Fury.
Joshua finished Ngannou by knocking him out cold in the second round.
Ngannou hasn’t competed since beating Ferreira. He’s now a free agent once again, sporting a seven-fight winning streak in MMA that includes five first-round knockout victories.
For those hoping Ngannou is poised for a return to the UFC, don’t count on it. If Dana White’s remarks about Ngannou since he left the promotion are any indicator, it’ll never happen.