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Mixed martial arts fans have been buzzing with excitement following the news that ONE Championship CEO Chatri Sityodtong has a meeting lined up with UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou. According to Sityodtong, the meeting will take place in Los Angeles and could potentially lead to the Cameroonian fighter signing with the Singapore-based promotion.
Ngannou has been a dominant force in the UFC’s heavyweight division since his debut in 2015. He rose to fame with his devastating knockout power and has since become one of the biggest stars in the sport. He claimed the heavyweight title in March 2021 with a stunning second-round knockout of Stipe Miocic and successfully defended it in January 2022 with Ciryl Gane.
However, Ngannou’s relationship with the UFC has been somewhat contentious. He expressed frustration with the promotion’s pay structure which put his contract issue in jeopardy. He also hinted that he could explore other options if the UFC didn’t offer him a satisfactory deal. After being under negotiation for a long time, Francis Ngannou’s contract was terminated and the former champion left vacating the heavyweight division title.
Afterward, the promotion scheduled Jon Jones and Ciryl Gane to compete for the open championship. 'Bones' eventually submitted 'Bon Gamin' in round one to win the championship. The freshly minted champion's defense is already being prepared by the UFC, as Jones named out Stipe Miocic after the victory.
While things are now back to normal with the promotion, this is not the scenario for Ngannou. The former champion, though, has remained remarkably silent. Ngannou had earlier hinted at a two-fight contract in Africa against Deontay Wilder, but it never manifested.
The former UFC champion could soon be signed, according to Chatri Sityodtong of ONE Championship. There, the promoter said that they will be discussing it on Saturday. Additionally, he thinks he might secure Ngannou the highest offer to date. Sityodtong's remarks have merit because "The Predator" has already said that he's probably going to make a move with the PFL or ONE Championship.
“Francis, we’ve been in discussions, I like Francis,” Chatri Sityodtong stated on The MMA Hour. “I think he brings a lot to the table… He has a bunch of offers on the table. He’s waiting for our final offer, we’ve given him, well my team did it, but I’m going to meet Francis this Saturday in [Los Angeles]. For sure, ONE can give him the largest offer on the table out of all those bids.”
He continued, “It has to work for him, it has to work for us. I just believe that when meeting somebody, you get the energy… I think there’s going to be big news on Francis shortly, he’s taking his time.”
If Ngannou were to sign with ONE Championship, it would be a major coup for the promotion. He would bring star power, knockout power, and a wealth of experience to the heavyweight division. He would also be a major draw for fans in Africa, where ONE Championship has been looking to expand its reach.
Of course, there are still many questions to be answered. What exactly is the “biggest offer on the table” that Sityodtong referred to? Only time will tell. But one thing is certain – the MMA world will be watching closely as this story unfolds.