Former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou, who is currently promoting his upcoming boxing match with Anthony Joshua, has stated that he plans to return to MMA competition in the future.
Francis Ngannou’s MMA career ain’t over. Not by a long shot. The ex-UFC heavyweight champ and current PFL fighter was in London town this Monday. Why, you ask? Well, he was there to hype up his upcoming boxing match with Anthony Joshua. The bout’s set for March 8.
After the press conference, Ngannou had a chat with DAZN. He made it clear – he’s planning a comeback to MMA. So, don’t count him out just yet.
When asked to pick between MMA and boxing, Ngannou said, “It’s a mix.” He’s a fighter, through and through. “I don’t really fancy getting hit, but I sure do love hitting people,” he quipped. He’s game for a good fight, anytime, anywhere. “Ring me up for a big fight, and I’ll be there,” he added.
Ngannou’s not done with MMA. Not by a long shot. “There are still some great fights out there that I can offer fans,” he said. He’s grateful to his MMA fans. They’ve been with him from the start, and he’s keen on giving back to the community.
It’s been a while since Ngannou’s last MMA fight. He defended the UFC heavyweight title against Ciryl Gane in January 2022. Then came a year of inactivity. He couldn’t agree on a new contract with UFC, so he let go of the title. He’s now a free agent, and he’s signed up with PFL. He’s an executive there, and he’s also the chairman of the PFL Africa project. But he hasn’t fought for the league yet.
While Ngannou was away, Jon Jones won a vacant title at UFC 285. Ngannou and Jones have been talking about fighting each other for years. They’ve been trading barbs since Ngannou left UFC. But despite their history, Ngannou’s more interested in a rematch with Tyson Fury. He lost to Fury in a close split decision last October.
“Rematch against Fury,” Ngannou said when asked who he’d rather fight. He feels like he has unfinished business with Fury. “I wasn’t mad after the decision, but I still feel wronged,” he said. He believes he won the fight. “That doesn’t matter now, but I still have that feeling. I think I can do better,” he added.