Francis Ngannou has addressed plenty of criticism surrounding his decision to leave the UFC heavyweight division at its peak, emphasizing that financial stability for his family was the primary driver behind his move. After contract negotiations with the UFC stalled in early 2023, Ngannou exited the promotion, turning down offers that he believed did not reflect his value as champion.
Ngannou made headlines soon after, signing with the Professional Fighters League (PFL) in a deal that included both significant pay incentives and new freedoms. The PFL contract allowed Ngannou to pursue professional boxing and included leadership roles and guarantees for both himself and prospective opponents. In explaining his choice, Ngannou highlighted the importance of practical financial security over what he described as intangible notions of legacy. Yet that contract seemed not to deliver the stability he was looking for as he exited the PFL this year to seek new ventures.
“You can’t go to the store and pay with the legacy. That’s a joke that these promotions give to the fighters,” Ngannou told MMA Junkie, dismissing the traditional narrative often put forth by MMA promotions. “You cannot go to the store, or to the gas station, or at school and pay the school a fee with legacy. Keep the legacy. Give me my pay, what I deserve.”
WATCH:
Francis Ngannou gives zero f*cks what you think about his UFC legacy. 😳 pic.twitter.com/WEyURghhPv
— MMA Junkie (@MMAJunkie) March 10, 2026
Ngannou’s rapid rise from hardship in Cameroon to the UFC championship was marked by some of the division’s most memorable knockouts. His run was capped by a knockout victory over Stipe Miocic to capture the heavyweight title. Contract talks with the UFC, however, faltered over pay and restrictions related to other professional opportunities. Ngannou’s subsequent deal with the PFL brought wider flexibility, including a stipulation that allowed him to pursue high-profile boxing bouts.
The transition paid immediate dividends for Ngannou. In the boxing ring, he first faced WBC champion Tyson Fury in October 2023, pushing Fury to a close split decision that many observers felt could have gone Ngannou’s way. He then fought former unified champion Anthony Joshua, suffering a knockout defeat but earning a reported $10 million for each boxing appearance, payouts well above typical UFC champion earnings for a single fight.
Despite these achievements, Ngannou has encountered sustained criticism, most notably from UFC President Dana White. White has argued that Ngannou could have achieved greater financial success and longevity by remaining with the UFC, telling reporters during a Power Slap press conference in 2024, “Francis is all about the money… He would have made more money if he stayed in the UFC.”
In response, Ngannou has rejected the UFC’s framing of his exit, calling it a misinterpretation of the priorities facing most fighters. “Regardless of everything that happened, I’m not about him,” Ngannou said about White’s comments in an interview with Sirius XM Fight Nation.
The circumstances of Ngannou’s PFL contract extended beyond his own benefit. His deal included minimum pay requirements for prospective opponents and has became a focal point for ongoing discussion about compensation and leverage for fighters across the sport. By pushing for these provisions, Ngannou has influenced a broader conversation on athlete empowerment in MMA since then.
Sporting outcomes have complicated the narrative. After a surprising performance against Fury, Ngannou’s knockout loss to Joshua raised questions about how much crossover boxing would affect his status among MMA’s elite, and about whether stepping outside the UFC would ultimately diminish perceptions of his competitive standing. Still, his willingness to experiment in both sports has generated considerable attention and massive earnouts.
Ngannou’s next move is already set. He is scheduled to return to MMA against Philipe Lins in the co-main event of the Ronda Rousey vs. Gina Carano card, slated for May 16, 2026, at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California, on Netflix. This bout offers Ngannou an opportunity to reassert himself in the MMA GOAT conversation while avoiding unsatisfactory (at least, for him) contracts.
