Francis Ngannou lastly returns to MMA on Saturday when he clashes with Renan Ferreira in the primary occasion of a pay-per-view occasion the place the PFL is banking on the funding it made in him as the largest free-agent signing within the historical past of the promotion.
However does Ngannou’s title pull sufficient weight to really persuade followers to plunk down $49.99 to look at the cardboard? UFC legend Matt Brown has his doubts.
“He’s not that huge of a star,” Brown mentioned on the most recent episode of The Fighter vs. The Author. “We watched him combat Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury due to him preventing these guys. He’s not a Conor McGregor the place we’re simply going to look at him regardless of who he fights. Even when Conor fought some decrease degree man, there can be a drop off in pay-per-views, proper? He’s acquired to have a ‘B’ aspect additionally that’s a ‘B’ aspect.
“Francis is preventing a ‘D’ aspect right here. It’s not a ‘B’ aspect. It’s a ‘D’ aspect, and Francis simply isn’t large enough of an ‘A’ aspect to attract. We don’t understand how a lot he’s getting paid, but when it’s the quantities we’d guess, it’s not going to cowl his expense, I don’t suppose.”
Ngannou left the UFC as heavyweight champion however the promotion hardly ever reveals any particular particulars about pay-per-view gross sales surrounding any explicit athlete.
That mentioned based mostly on stories made about Ngannou’s greatest fights within the UFC, he by no means headlined a card that drew huge gross sales together with his title connected.
His boxing match in opposition to Fury reportedly did blockbuster numbers globally however failed to interrupt by way of in the US the place prices have been a lot greater. Add to that, Fury is a star in his personal proper as one of many high heavyweight boxers of the previous 25 years.
It’s for all these the explanation why Brown simply can’t see Ngannou pulling a large quantity for his PFL debut, particularly with out a huge named opponent to assist him promote the cardboard.
“Loads of these promoters, they should perceive we’re all deeply entrenched on the earth of MMA in order that they’re huge stars to us,” Brown defined. “Notably as a result of we’ve got huge respect for them. Like we’ve got huge respect for Francis Ngannou, what he’s accomplished and who he’s. However in the event you’re a promoter promoting a pay-per-view, I feel it’s a must to step again and have a look at the fact of what the mainstream view on a man is.
“Like Conor crossed the bridge, he hit the mainstream. Ronda [Rousey] crossed the bridge. Randy Couture even crossed the bridge considerably. Chuck Liddell considerably. I really like Francis Ngannou, all due respect, he ain’t crossed the bridge. I can’t go all the way down to the bar proper now, and discuss to somebody about Francis Ngannou, and so they know who he’s.”
Brown argues that within the boxing matches Ngannou benefitted from taking over two of the largest names within the sport with Fury and Joshua. That’s now not the case in PFL and now it’s all on Ngannou to promote the combat based mostly solely on his personal star energy.
“How many individuals truly care?” Brown mentioned. “All of us watched Francis combat Tyson Fury. Loads of us watched him combat him combat Anthony Joshua. How many individuals are realistically going to purchase a pay-per-view to look at him combat Renan Ferreira?”
After all, Brown says he hopes that Ngannou finds all of the success he can with the PFL, however he simply doesn’t see sufficient proof to imagine that this endeavor goes to finish up as a useful long run funding.
Maybe the hardest half about this upcoming combat is that Brown completely sees a situation the place Ngannou suffers a brutal loss as properly.
It’s been practically three years since Ngannou final fought in MMA, and he’s coming off a devastating knockout to Anthony Joshua in boxing. It was the form of knockout that might probably change the best way Ngannou is ready to soak up harm transferring ahead.
And Ferreira might not have the largest title, however he positively packs a severe punch.
“Renan Ferreira, it’s nonetheless a high-risk combat,” Brown mentioned. “That’s a big son of a b*tch. He’s a big man. You don’t should hit that arduous if you’re 6-foot-8, 260, 265 kilos or no matter. It’s nonetheless a dangerous combat for Francis Ngannou. He’s coming off a knockout with Anthony Joshua. Generally that adjustments a fighter, and he’s coming again to MMA.”
Whereas Ngannou appears resolved to stay together with his MMA profession for now, he’s already expressed curiosity in finally returning to boxing.
Brown truly sees that as a extra viable choice for him than MMA proper now the place he’s placing himself right into a excessive threat, low reward state of affairs each time he competes.
“I’d wish to see him get again to boxing,” Brown mentioned. “Struggle an up and comer or a journeyman. Struggle somebody it is best to beat. Like he fought two guys he completely shouldn’t have an opportunity in opposition to. He had an in depth combat with Tyson, lots of people suppose that he possibly even gained that combat. Now, it is advisable go do what boxers do. You’re 0-2, go combat a journeyman and construct your means again up. Let’s see how good of a f*cking boxer you might be.
“[Why are you] coming again to MMA? I don’t get the purpose of it. I don’t know if one thing contractual with PFL, or he’s simply making an attempt to get a payday. I simply don’t actually get what the purpose of it’s.”
