Francis Ngannou, the former UFC heavyweight champion, has become a free agent after terminating his contract with the American MMA organization Professional Fighters League (PFL). The split comes after just one appearance by the fighter under the PFL banner, which was a loss to Renan Ferreira in October 2025. The decision was made by mutual agreement, as confirmed by both PFL and Ngannou's representatives. The future of the Cameroonian fighter remains open, with speculation pointing to a possible return to UFC or signing a contract with another leading organization.

Contract Termination with PFL

Francis Ngannou and the Professional Fighters League (PFL) have terminated their contract by mutual agreement. The decision ends a collaboration of less than three years, which officially began in May 2023. Ngannou fought for the league only once, losing to Renan Ferreira in October 2025.

Ngannou's Future Open

After leaving PFL, Ngannou became a free agent. His manager, Marquel Martin, confirmed that the fighter is open to all options. The main contenders to acquire the fighter are UFC, which Ngannou left in 2023, and the British organization Bellator.

Controversial Partnership

Ngannou's partnership with PFL raised doubts from the beginning. The fighter signed a lucrative contract guaranteeing him, among other things, a share of profits and the right to boxing matches. However, a long period without an MMA fight and a loss in his debut weakened expectations for this collaboration.

Reactions and Consequences

PFL Chairman Donn Davis, in a statement, thanked Ngannou and wished him success. The split deals a serious blow to PFL's image strategy, which aimed to compete with UFC by acquiring Ngannou. For the fighter, it means a chance to restart his MMA career.

Francis Ngannou, one of the most recognizable mixed martial arts (MMA) fighters in the world, has definitively ended his collaboration with the American organization Professional Fighters League (PFL). The split, announced on March 6, 2026, was made by mutual agreement and makes the Cameroonian a free agent. This decision concludes a short and largely unfulfilled era in the 39-year-old fighter's career under the PFL banner. Ngannou joined PFL with great fanfare in May 2023, following a high-profile departure from UFC, where he reigned as the undisputed heavyweight champion. His contract with the new league was considered groundbreaking, as beyond a guaranteed high salary, it contained unprecedented clauses such as a share of pay-per-view profits, the right to conduct his own negotiations for boxing matches, and a role as a 'leader and ambassador' for fighters from Africa. Despite these provisions, the collaboration did not yield the expected results. Ngannou fought only one MMA bout for PFL, which ended in his knockout loss to Renan Ferreira in October 2025. In the meantime, he focused on boxing, scoring a spectacular victory over Tyson Fury, which, however, did not translate into building his image as a pillar of the MMA league. The Professional Fighters League (PFL) was founded in 2018, acquiring the assets of the defunct World Series of Fighting organization. Its format, based on a regular season and playoffs culminating in finals with million-dollar prizes, presented an alternative to the UFC model. To compete with the dominant giant, PFL invested in acquiring stars like Ngannou and in international expansion, including the purchase of the British Bellator in 2023. Announcing the split, PFL Chairman Donn Davis issued a statement thanking Ngannou for the collaboration and wishing him success in the future. Meanwhile, the fighter's manager, Marquel Martin, confirmed that his client is now a free agent and is considering all options. „"Francis is now a free agent and we are excited to explore new opportunities that best align with his athletic and professional goals."” — Marquel Martin The main contenders to acquire Ngannou appear to be two organizations. The first is UFC, with which the fighter remains in difficult but perhaps mendable relations following a contractual dispute. A return to the UFC octagon, where he could face the current champion, such as Jon Jones, would be a top-tier media event. The second option is Bellator, currently part of the PFL holding but operating as a separate entity. A move to Bellator could be logistically simpler but would carry less prestige. The split with PFL marks a significant turn in Ngannou's career and another chapter in the dynamic competition between the major MMA leagues in the global market.

Mentioned People

  • Francis Ngannou — Cameroonian MMA fighter, former UFC heavyweight champion, who parted ways with PFL.
  • Donn Davis — Chairman and co-founder of the Professional Fighters League (PFL).
  • Marquel Martin — Manager of Francis Ngannou.
  • Renan Ferreira — Brazilian MMA fighter who defeated Ngannou in his only fight for PFL.