Francis Ngannou Cameroon
UFC featherweight contender Arnold Allen wonders how Francis Ngannou will fare in a bare-knuckle fight
Francis Ngannou has been embroiled in a protracted contract dispute with the UFC and its president, Dana White, as he seeks a new deal with significantly higher compensation. The Cameroonian star held the UFC heavyweight championship but was eyeing lucrative boxing bouts against Dillian Whyte and Tyson Fury, among others.
It was announced over the weekend that Ngannou had officially left the UFC after failing to reach an agreement on a new contract, effectively relinquishing his heavyweight title. It is now anticipated that he will receive a multitude of offers from rival promotions, including the PFL and Bellator, who have both declared their intent to sign him.
PFL and Bellator both expressed interest on social media in the hours following UFC president Dana White’s announcement on Saturday that Ngannou had left the promotion and its heavyweight title to pursue other opportunities. Now, David Feldman, president of BKFC, is doing the same.
“We’re very interested in signing Francis Ngannou and would very much like to have him compete in the stacked BKFC heavyweight division,” Feldman said Sunday in a statement to MMA Junkie. “We’re tabling an offer for his services, and hopefully fans will see him in the BKFC squared circle in 2023.”
Since entering the international combat sports scene in 2018, BKFC has signed numerous notable UFC athletes, including Diego Sanchez, Ben Rothwell, Paige VanZant, and Mike Perry. In addition, it has welcomed fighters to compete in one-offs, including Bellator welterweight contender Michael Page and former boxing champion Paulie Malignaggi. Feldman has expressed interest in signing current free agent Nate Diaz in recent months.
David Feldman, president of BKFC, has expressed optimism that Ngannou will grace the squared circle under their banner this year. The promotion is expectedto submit a proposal for his services, and fans can expect to see him in the BKFC squared circle in 2023.
Ngannou has expressed multiple times his desire to pursue a career in the boxing ring, and has even asked for a clause to be added to any new UFC contract so he can negotiate fight deals in the sport. Ngannou is now required to consider his options in light of his uncertain future, which is unlikely to be resolved quickly.
Weighing in on the latest developments on Twitter, Arnold Allen wrote:
“Imagine Francis Ngannou bare knuckle 😅 10oz gloves is a scary thought as well actually, f**k that.”
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