PFL Africa Announced, Ngannou Becomes Chairman
PFL Africa is now official, and its launch date is set for next year when Francis Ngannou will serve as its chairman.
The MMA fighter has come a long way since his UFC departure last year. The Predator took a huge risk by turning down a reported $8 million deal. This was done because the contract would have given him less freedom by hampering his independent contractor status. After talks with other outfits, Ngannou chose to sign with the PFL. The deal allowed him the opportunity to box. He faces Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua.
Although he lost against both fighters, he earned enough money from both fights to eclipse what he earned in his whole UFC career. With enough money to retire, Ngannou can fully focus on the PFL. He is expected to debut this year, but his role as a Chairman is taking priority for now. PFL Africa is now part of the wider umbrella alongside PFL Europe and PFL MENA. The regular season will begin next year, and the best talent from Africa will fight in PFL Africa.
Ngannou Reacts
“I am excited and honored to serve as Chairman of PFL Africa, a league that will shape the very foundation of African MMA. As we have seen, there is a great wealth of talent in Africa just waiting to be given a global stage. I am so very proud to give back to my homeland and to provide great content to a region with such a passionate and diverse fan base,” Ngannou said
Ngannou went through a major setback recently as he announced the passing of his young son. Naturally, the talk of his PFL debut has been put on the back burner until he is in a better position to compete. But there is no denying that his wider impact on the sport has been huge. His fight against Tyson Fury showed that MMA fighters could only compete but trouble pro boxers.
PFL’s Future
He dropped Fury in the third round and was lucky not to get the win, with some feeling he had been robbed. Ngannou’s journey will no doubt inspire other MMA fighters to do the same. His background story involved working in the sand mines before making his way into MMA. Since he is known for being one of the hardest punchers in combat sports, fans can always expect an entertaining fight. PFL Chairman Donn Davis has now said the PFL is worth $1 billion. In addition, following their recent acquisition of Bellator last year, things are looking bright.
“We’ve a very clear plan. We’re about 40 to 50 per cent of UFC’s audience today, in terms of global viewership, and the MMA market is growing very fast. They’re [UFC] a company that’s doing well; it’s just we’re growing very, very, very fast. [And] t’s not about us versus them; it’s about how can there be a co-leader. Our view is why can’t there be two leading MMA companies on a global basis?
And this is a very young sport: 25 years old. What most people don’t realise is this industry of MMA is just starting its evolution and high-growth period. So the next five years, at the latest the next 10 years, you’ll see explosive growth and change led by PFL and MMA. So UFC: the current winner and the first winner. But you’ll see PFL be the next and second winner,” Davis stated
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