When Francis Nganno made the transition to boxing, many believed he would be as dominant as he was in the UFC, mainly due to his unique punching ability. However, he has suffered some tough losses during his boxing journey, much to the chagrin of UFC commentator Joe Rogan. Nganno’s knockout loss to Anthony Joshua in March was especially painful for Rogan to witness.
Ngannou’s Boxing Challenge
Francis Nganno, known for his devastating power in the UFC, faced Anthony Joshua in a highly anticipated bout. In the fight in March, Joshua brutally knocked Ngannou unconscious with a second blow. This defeat was a shock, as Nganno had never been beaten before. Joe Rogan discussed the impact of this loss on his June 22 podcast, JRE Fight Companion, where he shared his thoughts with Brian Callen, Brendan Schaub and Brian Simpson
Rogan’s Sincere Desire
During the podcast, the conversation turned to UFC heavyweight champion Jon Jones’ possible future opponent, with Ngannou’s name inevitably coming up Rogan expressed great sadness at Nganno’s departure from the UFC. “You know of course, what I want is a time machine and I want to go back and put Francis Ngannou out there,” Rogan said. He was pleased with Sikanno’s economic success but lamented the consequences of Joshua’s war. “It was really tough watching him get KO’ed against Anthony Joshua,” admitted Rogan.
The Financial Benefits behind the UFC
Nganno’s switch to boxing has been financially rewarding. He made a staggering $30 million from his fights with Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua. This amount dwarfs his UFC earnings, as he earned $640,000 for his UFC 270 fight against Ciryl Gane. Despite being the UFC heavyweight champion, Ngannou lost the promotion due to failed contract negotiations. He demanded independence from boxing, like the Conor McGregor fight against Floyd Mayweather, but the UFC under Dana White didn’t want to meet his demands
Ngannou’s New Adventure
The Professional Fighters League (PFL) signed Ngannou, allowing him to continue boxing. His first fight was against Tyson Fury, a razor-close split decision that earned Ngannou respect for his performance, especially since he was able to knock out Fury in the third round and despite winning the possibility of Nganno fighting John Jones is still unlikely. Dana White’s strong opinion of Ngannou, whom he called “absolutely impossible to deal with,” has effectively made the fighter’s name since his return to the UFC.
Conversion with Dana White
Nganno’s motivation for leaving the UFC wasn’t just motivated by financial considerations. He had many demands, including health insurance for veterans and the freedom for athletes to receive their scholarships. These demands were rebuffed, and Ngannou ultimately prioritized his freedom over lucrative contracts offered by the UFC. “No matter how much (money) is in that deal, I don’t care. I don’t have authority from you (UFC) and I don’t want that,” Ngannou explained.
What Might Happen in the Future
Now free of the UFC ban, Ngannou can pursue both MMA and boxing under the PFL banner. Although he has lost several bouts, it is important to remember that he is still new to the sport and has fought top opponents. His MMA record stands at an impressive 17-3, with all three losses coming by way of unanimous decision—he has never been knocked out or drafted into MMA.
