Donn Davis Dismisses Rumors Of Ngannou Leaving PFL

Donn Davis has cooled down suggestions that Francis Ngannou could leave the PFL amid rumors of a termination clause.

Ngannou left the UFC in 2023 before going on to sign with the PFL. His deal gave him the opportunity to box, as well as the provision to become the Chairman of PFL Africa. Ngannou took up those opportunities, having two boxing bouts as he faced Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua. 

He put up a commendable performance in the Fury fight despite losing a controversial split decision. He sent The Gypsy King to the canvas in the third round, making it to the final bell. That fight ultimately earned him the Joshua bout. However, that did not go the way that Ngannou wanted, as he was stopped in the second round.

The Fury and Joshua fights earned him a combined $30 million, making it more than he had earned in his entire UFC career. Ngannou eventually made his PFL debut last October, as he stopped Renan Ferreira in the first round. However, there is uncertainty over his PFL future due to the lack of high-quality MMA fights. 

Ngannou On Wilder

The biggest MMA fight out there is against Jon Jones. But Dana White has ruled out a co-promotion with the PFL, meaning fans will never see that. Ngannou is also reportedly wanting to have a boxing fight in his next fight. Reports are linking him to Deontay Wilder.

“I will do boxing next. I want to. I’m not done with boxing. It’s not that MMA is easy – it’s the sport that I understand better and I have more experience in – but I say go for boxing ]I’m passionate about fighting Deontay Wilder] because there’s an 80% chance that somebody will go to sleep. It will be one or the other. Maybe not in his past two fights, but Deontay Wilder is known as a guy that knocks everybody out or tries to knock you out. I’m going against that guy, and I myself can knock someone out. Deep inside me there is a little bit of ego, like I know I hit harder,” Ngannou stated 

Ngannou’s Future

That has raised suggestions that Ngannou could leave the PFL after rumors emerged that he has a termination clause in his contract, which could take place this month. However, Davis rejected talk of that claim, as he cooled down any fears.

“If it’s true that his contract has a termination date and that termination date is the end of this month, they better get on that!” Nash said. “Because this is one of their major selling points, and if they’re looking for a big TV deal after UFC maybe leaves (ESPN), you’re gonna need Francis Ngannou to get that sale. That just shows you in some ways the message are communicating to the CEOs and in the corporate world, those are things that we as fans that know the sport would see through, but they don’t,” reporter John Nash