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His record in the UFC: 17 wins, 3 losses in 20 fights. But now, Francis Ngannou has decided to leave Dana White's organization. The one who kept his world heavyweight title until his departure explains the real reasons.
Long holed up in silence after his departure from the UFC in January, Francis Ngannou has finally announced his new destination. The Cameroonian has joined the ranks of the Professional Fighters League (PFL). The latter is an American mixed martial arts league launched in 2018. A new experience for the multiple heavyweight world champion in the UFC. In cold with Dana White, the "Predator" joined the rival camp. However, his motivation is elsewhere. This is what he confided to the microphone of RFI. "This represents everything I fought for in recent years. And it erases a bit all this bad experience. After the UFC, it was a question of finding something better. It's done at PFL," the Cameroonian fighter began.
The 117-kilogram colossus then revealed his main ambition in the PFL, which is the African continent. "The biggest factor that convinced me in my new contract is PFL Africa. I've been fighting for years, asking the UFC to hold a fight in Africa. But I realized that it would never happen. We'll just say that the UFC wasn't committed enough, and didn't really want to. But for me, it was something that was close to my heart! We launched PFL Africa, which will be a platform entirely based in Africa. The goal is already to help fighters to develop, to have access to quality training. We will provide coaches, rooms, equipment, equipment... And in a second phase, we will try to set up fights", argues Francis Ngannou.
An idol for thousands of young people
In addition, Francis Ngannou will be the boss of this African branch of the PFL. Proof that the fighter is considered as the locomotive of MMA in Africa. His goal is to organize a fight in Africa by the end of 2024. Ngannou, who is one of the inspirations of African youth, has allowed many sons of the continent to find a passion for MMA. He is not the only one since we also have the Nigerians Israel Adesanya and Kamaru Usman. However, the Cameroonian recommends patience to these young people, because the road is long.
"First of all, to get to this point, it took time. It takes years for the result to be seen by the general public. I have had a foundation for five years now, trying to provide training facilities for children in Cameroon. In June, we will inaugurate the second room of the Francis Ngannou Foundation in Douala. It is a large hall, with a first level for training and a second level for gala fights. Kamaru Usman also has his own organization in Nigeria, called Africa KnockOut. It's a long term work, it's not easy, but we are getting something concrete. And the most fascinating thing is the enthusiasm! It is motivating. We hope that this is only the beginning, and that it will continue even when Israel, Kamaru and I will not fight anymore, because we are not eternal. However, the enthusiasm should not fall, it should even grow, " he said. Note that Francis Ngannou's contract with the PFL allows him to fight in boxing. Sport in which his dream fight is with Tyson Fury...
