Francis Ngannou: PFL Ranking Omission and Contract Uncertainty

Francis Ngannou, the former UFC heavyweight champion, has competed once for the PFL since signing with the promotion. His debut saw him defeat Renan Ferreira via TKO in October 2024.

Ngannou Excluded from New PFL Rankings

On Tuesday, the PFL released its updated promotion rankings, notably omitting Ngannou from the heavyweight division. Vadim Nemkov was listed as the champion, with Renan Ferreira following. PFL CEO John Martin clarified that the promotion was not responsible for Ngannou's absence from these rankings.

John Martin suggested that Ngannou's inactivity might have rendered him ineligible for the rankings, emphasizing that the PFL did not intentionally exclude him.

Contractual Ambiguity

Ngannou's future with the PFL remains uncertain. He has publicly stated that he has only one fight remaining on his current contract, which he claims includes a specific expiration date.

Despite his active involvement in promoting PFL Africa, there has been no official confirmation regarding Ngannou's next fight with the organization. John Martin provided no immediate updates on Ngannou's fighting schedule, stating that an announcement would be made only if a suitable fight is arranged.

The PFL may face a deadline to book Ngannou for a fight before a specified date, or his contract could expire due to a time limit. While Ngannou has not disclosed the exact expiration date, he previously hinted at being available for a June event. Meanwhile, UFC CEO Dana White has indicated no interest in re-signing the fighter.