Francis Ngannou appears to have finally decided on his next opponent. Since departing major MMA organizations in early 2023, the former UFC heavyweight champion has only fought once inside an MMA cage. Alongside two notable boxing matches in recent years, Ngannou debuted in the Professional Fighters League (PFL) 14 months ago, securing a win over Renan Ferreira.
However, Ngannou’s future in MMA has been uncertain, as the Cameroonian admitted that the challenge of finding suitable adversaries pushed him towards boxing instead. But recent events in France on December 13, during PFL Lyon, seem to have clarified his plans, setting up an important fight likely to be his last in the PFL.
Ferreira returned to competition for the first time since losing to Ngannou, challenging former Bellator champion Vadim Nemkov for the PFL heavyweight title. Nemkov, seen as a possible opponent for Ngannou if he resolves certain issues, made quick work of Ferreira, submitting him in just four minutes. After his victory, Nemkov issued a callout to Ngannou for a title bout in 2026, a challenge Ngannou accepted on social media, saying, “I’ve been preparing for a long time. See you soon…”
This development coincides with news about Ngannou’s contract status with PFL, which is set to expire after one fight early next year, possibly making him a free agent once again in MMA. PFL’s new CEO, John Martin, hinted at planning something special for what could be Ngannou’s final PFL fight. Meanwhile, UFC president Dana White has shown little interest in bringing Ngannou back to the UFC, openly expressing disinterest in working with him regardless of his potential return from PFL.
White candidly stated that he has no intention of dealing with someone he dislikes or doesn’t respect, making the prospect of Ngannou’s return to the UFC uncertain.
Fan Take: This news excites fight fans as it sets up a thrilling potential showdown between Ngannou and Nemkov, two heavyweight powerhouses. It also underscores the shifting dynamics in MMA, where fighter movement between promotions could redefine heavyweight competition in the coming years.
