PFL Founder Says Francis Ngannou’s Next Fight Could be Against Deontay Wilder

Former Ultimate Fighting Championship heavyweight king Francis Ngannou (17-3) may not return to full mixed martial arts anytime soon.

Ngannou parted ways with the UFC earlier this year after failed contract negotiations. “The Predator” subsequently bagged a lucrative deal with Professional Fighters League that gave him equity in the company, a seat on its athlete advisory board and made him chairman of PFL Africa.

Ngannou also secured a boxing super fight against lineal heavyweight boxing champion Tyson Fury, which went down in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on Oct. 28. To the surprise of many around the world, the Cameroonian took the WBC champ to a controversial split decision, even knocking down “The Gypsy King” in Round 3.

PFL founder Donn Davis has now suggested that the Cameroonian is unlikely to return to “pure” MMA in the immediate future simply due to a lack of interesting opponents. Prior to his UFC exit, Ngannou was expected to defend his heavyweight strap against Jon Jones, a fight “The Predator” still hopes for.

Apart from the fact that they are in rival promotions now, the fight is also unlikely to come to fruition soon with Jones being out with a pectoral injury.

According to Davis, there are hardly any opponents interesting enough for Ngannou, barring “Bones.”

“I think the opponents in pure MMA are not that interesting right now. We’re just like the fans. We’re just like the fighters. We’re not like the other companies, ‘Oh, let’s just do it because there are guys.’ There’s only one name in MMA right now that’s interesting for Francis Ngannou: Jon Jones. One guy,” Davis said on “The MMA Hour.”

“Everybody says, ‘What about Stipe?’ Maybe. I give him half a point. There’s 1.5 guys who are compelling. I don’t want to say who can put on a good fight for him. There’s three or four other guys who can put on a competitive fight for Francis. I’m not talking about a competitive fight. I’m saying compelling, 1.5 guys in the world, and one’s hurt for the next nine months and the other is under contract. We’re realists.”

As per Davis, Ngannou has two lucrative options to choose from for the time being. “The Predator” could secure a rematch with Fury considering how close their first contest was, or the former UFC champion could possibly take on former WBC heavyweight boxing ruler Deontay Wilder in a mixed-rules bout; a spectacle that both fighters have expressed an interest in.

“I think it would be fantastic because he already proved against Tyson Fury what he had to prove for now,” Davis said. “I think he can get back to that, and as Francis Tweeted that night, ‘I’ll get back to that at some point.’ So, I think he will get back to that. But what do I think would be fascinating? Deontay Wilder in a mixed rules fight.”