PFL’s Donn Davis offers update on Francis Ngannou’s MMA future: “Bo Jackson of combat sports”

PFL founder Donn Davis believes that Francis Ngannou will likely be back in the cage in 2024.

‘The Predator’ has had a good last few years. Following a unanimous decision victory over Ciryl Gane in January 2022, Francis Ngannou became a free agent. As the first reigning UFC champion to leave the company in over two decades, the heavyweight made the decision to sign with Donn Davis and the PFL.

However, despite being signed to the company for nearly a year now, Francis Ngannou hasn’t stepped foot in the cage. Instead, the former UFC champion has focused on his boxing career. Last October, he dropped Tyson Fury en route to a split-decision loss. In less than a month, he will be back in Saudi Arabia to face former two-time champion, Anthony Joshua.

Francis Ngannou revealed that the PFL and Donn Davis personally signed off on the decision to box ‘AJ’ next month. While that is the case, the promoter still wants to see the heavyweight in the PFL cage. In a recent interview with The Independent, Davis was asked about Ngannou’s MMA future.

There, he confirmed that Francis Ngannou was still expected to fight not just once, but multiple times in the PFL. Donn Davis even compared the former UFC champion to the legendary Bo Jackson in the interview. Considered one of the best pro athletes ever, the latter competed at the professional ranks of not alone football, but baseball.

RELATED: CRIS CYBORG ANNOUNCES BOXING RETURN AFTER PFL TALKS FALL THROUGH: “I WANT TO BE ACTIVE”

Image from the PFL

PFL founder Donn Davis opens up on Francis Ngannou’s promotional future

“I’m 100 per cent confident that Francis fights MMA for PFL – not just once, but several times.” Donn Davis stated in the interview with The Independent. “And I’m confident that Francis will be our long-term business partner. I believe that he will ultimately prove himself to be the greatest athlete in combat sports – the Bo Jackson, if you will, of combat sports. I think Francis has an appetite to be a champion in boxing and to remain a champion in MMA. That’s so audacious that only someone of Francis’s character can set that goal, so I think you will see him continue to do both and continue to be successful at both.”

Donn Davis continued, and speculated that the winner of Ryan Bader vs. Renan Ferreria could face Francis Ngannou next. The two heavyweights are currently expected to headline PFL vs. Bellator later this month in Saudi Arabia.

“I believe the winner of ‘La Problema’ and Bader will interest Francis Ngannou. I think whoever comes out of this [victorious] has proven themselves to truly be the No 1 contender in heavyweight MMA – not just in our organization. Bader has ruled the roost in Bellator for five years; La Problema is the toughest, most athletic opponent in the world. I don’t know who’s gonna win that, but I think whoever wins that can lay claim to challenge Francis – and I’m interested to see if Francis accepts that.”

What do you make of these comments from Donn Davis? Who do you want to see Francis Ngannou fight in the PFL?