Renan Ferreira: Francis Ngannou ‘has my respect’ for negotiating $2 million pay for PFL opponents

Francis Ngannou negotiated a unique deal when he joined PFL after his championship stint in the UFC, and Renan Ferreira will benefit greatly from it.

Ngannou’s contract with the promotion includes equity in the company, a role on the PFL board of directors and as chairman of PFL Africa, plus the freedom to box. He also not only negotiated a seven-figure deal for himself, but also made sure to request a guaranteed $2 million purse for each of his PFL opponents.

Ferreira and Ngannou will battle in the main event of PFL Super Fights on Oct. 19, and “Problema” said Ngannou has earned his respect for providing him a life-changing payday.

“My respect for him has only grown because of him seeking better opportunities for not only him as an athlete,” Ferreira said. “Not only for gaining space in the boxing scene as well, which we know is hard for MMA fighters to do that — although he didn’t have a good performance in his last fight [vs. Anthony Joshua] — but it was enormous of him to say that his opponent should be valued as well. It was very nice of him.”

Ferreira pocketed $1 million for winning the 2023 heavyweight season in PFL, aside from his four purses throughout the year, and will receive $2 million when he faces Ngannou in October. Ferreira’s purse for his nasty knockout win over Ryan Bader this past February was not disclosed.

“I feel honored with all that, and it only motivates me to get better and continue to show who am I as an athlete and be among the best, and be the best,” Ferreira said. “I’m happy to be there and to be fighting him. This turning point in my career is the culmination of a long road of hard work and dedication. I’m proud of the history I’ve created with honesty, never stomping on others. It makes me really happy.”

Ngannou left UFC with consecutive wins over Ciryl Gane, Stipe Miocic, Jairzinho Rozenstruik, Junior dos Santos, Cain Velasquez, and Curtis Blaydes, and “Problema” knows it won’t be an easy night in the cage, although the Cameroonian heavyweight hasn’t competed in MMA since January 2022.

“Francis is an aggressive man and a knockout artist like myself, but I’m working in all areas,” Ferreira said. “I have good takedowns, I have good jiu-jitsu, so if the opportunity presents itself, I’ll definitely attack and take him down and use my heavy ground and pound, something I’ve always done. I’m working on that as well. My striking will definitely be sharper than ever. He hasn’t fought [MMA] in a while and that could make him less active in some areas, so I’ll explore all that.”

“To me, what matters the most is the win, but a nice win, a spectacular victory, like I’ve done many times before, it’s definitely gratifying,” he continued. “It shows that the work we’ve been going is well-made. But we have to be cautious in this fight. We have a tough and experienced guy on the other side, a man that has fought many great fighters. Winning is what matters, no matter how. Francis is a confident man, a big and imposing man, and I know it’s going to be a war. It’s going to be a very tough fight, and that motivates me to work hard every day.”