Francis Ngannou was the biggest free-agent signing the PFL has ever made but to date the former UFC heavyweight champion has only fought for the promotion one time — a lopsided TKO victory over Renan Ferreira back in October 2024.
On Tuesday, the PFL debuted its new promotion rankings and Ngannou was nowhere to be found at heavyweight with new champion Vadim Nemkov at the top with Ferreira right behind him. The rankings immediately raised a red flag when it comes to Ngannou’s future with the promotion, although PFL CEO John Martin says that wasn’t his call.
“We didn’t come up with the rankings,” Martin told MMA Fighting. “I haven’t spoke to Combat Registry. Maybe it’s Francis’ inactivity that didn’t allow him to be eligible for the rankings. There was nothing on our part to keep him out of the rankings.”
That said, Ngannou’s immediate future still remains in limbo, because he’s openly stated that he has one fight left on his deal with PFL, and he claims there is an expiration date attached to his contract if he’s going to compete there again.
While Ngannou has been active promoting PFL Africa, there’s still no word on whether or not he’ll ever actually fight for the organization again after inking a lucrative deal to move there from the UFC.
For his part, Martin didn’t exactly offer an encouraging update where Ngannou was concerned, at least in regards to him fighting any time soon.
“I don’t have anything to announce at the moment on Francis,” Martin said. “If there’s a fight that makes sense for Francis and the PFL, we’ll make it happen. We’re still working through that. When there’s something to announce, I’ll announce it. I know that’s not satisfying but that’s where I’m at right now.”
If Ngannou’s contract is operating on a time limit, the PFL could end up in a position where he has to be booked prior to a certain date or his deal may come to an end.
“If we can find a fight that makes sense for him and the PFL, then I think there’s some real chance that he’s going to fight,” Martin said about Ngannou. “Look, Francis is a real talent. I know the fans would love to see him fight. We’re working through it. I don’t have anything to announce right now.”
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