Francis Ngannou says the UFC has tried to damage his career since he left the promotion in January 2023. He made the comments while discussing his post-UFC path and upcoming return to MMA.
Ngannou’s Claim About the UFC
In an interview with Ariel Helwani, Ngannou said the UFC pushed negative stories about him after he walked away as champion following failed contract talks. He called the reaction deliberate and said it made other fighters wary of leaving the company.
Ngannou said, “Since I left, don’t you see what they try to do? All the things, all the narratives they try to drive.” He added, “The mission has always been to destroy Francis, to damage Francis.”
Post-UFC Career and Big Fights
After leaving the UFC, Ngannou signed with the Professional Fighters League (PFL) in May 2023. He fought once under the PFL banner, beating Renan Ferreira by TKO in October 2024 to win the PFL Super Fights heavyweight title.
Ngannou also left MMA to pursue high-profile boxing matches. He faced Tyson Fury in October 2023 and Anthony Joshua in March 2024. He parted ways with PFL in early 2026.
Upcoming Fight and Event Details
Ngannou has signed with Most Valuable Promotions (MVP). He is set to fight Philipe Lins in the co-main event of MVP’s debut MMA card on Netflix. The show will take place on May 16, 2026, at the Intuit Dome in California.
The event is headlined by Ronda Rousey vs. Gina Carano. Ngannou enters the fight on a seven-fight MMA winning streak and holds a professional record of 18-3.
| Fighter | Recent Result |
|---|---|
| Francis Ngannou | Defeated Renan Ferreira (TKO), Oct 2024. Record: 18-3. Seven-fight MMA win streak. |
| Philipe Lins | Scheduled to face Ngannou on May 16, 2026 (MVP debut card). |
What This Means for Fighters
Ngannou’s words highlight tension between top fighters and the UFC over contracts and control. He says the way he was treated after leaving shows why few champions try to leave while they still hold a title.
Ngannou’s move to MVP and his planned fight on May 16 will be an important test of his claims and his standing in both MMA and broader combat sports.
