Francis Ngannou Reveals All On His UFC Departure

Francis Ngannou has spoken candidly about the real reason he walked away from the UFC.

Ahead of his return to MMA competition against Philipe Lins on Saturday, the former heavyweight champion was direct about the moment the decision was made: "It wasn't money. I think the mistake that the UFC did — we get to the point where I feel like they hit my ego. I felt like I wasn't respected at that point. I think that was the moment I'm like, 'Ok, I think I'm getting out of this contract.'"

Ngannou was the UFC heavyweight champion when negotiations broke down, and the public perception at the time was that the split was driven by his pursuit of a larger financial deal — a pursuit that led him first to a boxing agreement and then to the PFL. Ngannou's account suggests the money was secondary to something that proved non-negotiable.

"When something touches my ego, I don't care about anything. I don't care if this is going to be the end of my career. If this means I'm going back to Africa to farm, at least I can buy some machine to farm. They underestimate and they still kind of come harder and harder, want to pressure me. I just wasn't the right guy to deal with that way."

What followed his UFC departure is well documented. The boxing path produced creditable performances against Tyson Fury and a loss to Anthony Joshua, while his one MMA appearance in the PFL — a first-round stoppage of Renan Ferreira in October 2024 — served as a reminder that his ability to finish inside the cage had not diminished. Now, with the PFL chapter behind him and a free agent return to MMA booked for Saturday, Ngannou steps back in as a fighter with scores to settle.