Francis Ngannou wasn’t just interested in finding a place to fight. He’d done that for the UFC since 2015, compiling a 12-2 record with 10 devastating wins by KO and another by submission.

Ngannou, whose contract expired with the UFC in 2022 was looking for partnership rather an contracted employment. The Professional Fighters League (PFL) accommodated him, and in the process helped to potentially position the 36-year-old as one of the most important, and influential figures in mixed martial arts history.

UFC Hall-of-Famer, Daniel Cormier said Ngannou’s deal “set a new standard” in the sport, and many others concurred. Ngannou joined Cormier and Ryan Clark on a recent episode of RC & DC to discuss his new deal.

Ngannou’s deal doesn’t just improve his financial and professional situation, even his opponents are said to be in line for an increased purse for climbing in the cage with “The Predator.”

I had an opportunity to speak with PFL CEO Peter Murray about the deal his organization struck with Ngannou, and the potential impact on the sport.

“Signing Francis Ngannou is a major moment for the PFL and it sets us up for the next phase of global growth,” Murray said in an exclusive interview following the announcement of Ngannou’s deal with PFL. “This is the biggest signing in MMA history. Francis will continue to compete as an elite MMA fighter competing in the PFL’s new PPV Superfights division against major, major opponents on a global platform.”

Initially, fans and others in the MMA community were mostly fixated on which promotion Ngannou would compete for, but it is clear his deal with PFL is about more than advancing his fighting career inside the cage.

“Francis is gonna help advance and grow the sport. Having a role on the PFL’s Global Athlete Advisory board, he’ll be identifying, recruiting and developing future champions and assuring the PFL stays true to its fighter-first mission. Francis is such a huge advocate for fighters in the sport, and he takes that role very very seriously. He wants to contribute that way and we’re ecstatic to partner with him in that initiative in addition to him fighting for the PFL. Finally, what makes this a very transformational type deal, as a current athlete competing for our organization, Francis is also in ownership, management and playing a leadership role as he will be the chairman for PFL Africa. On the heels of launching PFL Europe successfully, if you will, earlier this year, we’re now paving the way for PFL Africa to launch in 2025, and no better person, athlete/leader, to take that on than Francis Ngannou?”

Ngannou’s willingness to bet on himself has landed him with the ideal partner to further his career as a mixed martial artist and combat sports executive. Ngannou’s pact with PFL, which Murray described as a “multi-fight deal,” could set a new standard for top combat sports athletes. The freedom to compete in boxing was a major piece for Ngannou, and it sounds as though there could be some crossover events coming down the road from PFL.

When it comes to completing this deal, how important was it for the PFL to allow Ngannou to box ahead of and alongside his continued mixed martial arts career?

“It [pursuing a boxing career] was very important to Francis,” Murray said. “In deals like this, we’re focused on not just the PFL’s goals, but we’re focused on Francis’ goals. As it relates to his continued journey as an elite professional athlete, Francis made it very clear that he was taking on the sport of boxing, and that was also priority. We’re very supportive. We will be supportive and helpful to Francis as it relates to boxing.”

Murray also noted, the PFL isn’t new to allowing similar flexibility to other combat sports athletes. World champion boxer Claressa Shields wasn’t asked to halt her boxing career to compete in a PFL SmartCage when she had two fights in 2021. YouTuber-turned-boxer, Jake Paul agreed to fight in PFL in January, and didn’t have to give up boxing. Still, Ngannou stands out as he came to PFL as a mixed martial artist who is being allowed to pursue boxing. Shields and Paul were on the flipside, which makes PFL’s flexibility with Ngannou even more noteworthy.

It appears, the PFL is attracted to athletes who are looking to expand their brand in multiple combat sports. Would the organization ever look to promote boxing cards, or one of Ngannou’s upcoming bouts? I asked Murray that question.

“We’re focused on MMA as we build the league and our business,” he said. “With respect to the PPV Superfights division, we’re excited about crossover fighters and some unique events. So more to come on that in terms of future crossover cards in our PPV Superfights division.

Ngannou is expected to make his long-awaited return to MMA in 2024, but PFL hasn’t announced his opponent. According to Murray:

“There is a shortlist right now of top MMA athletes who Francis would like to fight and the PFL would like to make those fights happen. The list is growing and we do have some time to put together a fight by early next year.”

Is it possible Ngannou’s opponent could be someone who hasn’t yet signed with PFL?

“That’s quite possible and there are free agents who will be coming into the mix this year, and we’re excited about that,” Murray said.

It’s possible Ngannou’s first MMA bout with his new promotion could be against an opponent he inspired to test their own value on the suddenly intriguing mixed martial arts free agency market.

Has Ngannou done for MMA free agency what LeBron James, Reggie White or even Curt Flood did for their sports? It’s possible, and we’ll likely learn more about the impact of this deal over the next couple of years.

If Ngannou’s story is a successful one, other fighters will undoubtedly push for more in their negotiations while understanding they may have more viable options than before.