The PFL heavyweight division is already in disarray, but Francis Ngannou has found a way to reclaim the spotlight. In the midst of debates over who truly owns the crown, the former UFC champion released a workout video so intense that fans questioned both the floor’s durability and his fighting future. But, while the slam shook the internet, it was the reactions afterward that truly set things spiraling.
The background to this moment goes back to PFL’s restructuring. New CEO John Martin recently clarified that Ngannou’s “Super Fight” belt was not the PFL’s actual heavyweight title. Instead, the crown will remain vacant until Vadim Nemkov and Renan Ferreira face off in December. For a fanbase already frustrated by shifting rules, this was an opportunity to remind ‘The Predator’ that the UFC still remains an option for his fighting career.
As Francis Ngannou shared a post on Instagram, casually destroying a slam ball workout with the caption “The floor is still intact though 🤷🏾‍♂️,” the opportunity was almost too perfect for the fans to miss. After all, the former UFC fighter looked like a beast, back to his peak physical shape, and all geared up for his new challenge. So, as expected, what followed was a wave of comments about telling ‘The Predator’ to return to the UFC.
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Comments poured in: “Need him back in the UFC to regain his belt and complete his legacy ✊️,” alongside “What a story that would be and good business for UFC,” and “RETURN OF THE KING 🦁🔥.”One fan kept it simple: “Time to get back to the UFC king.”
Others took it a step further, dreaming up even bigger stages for the heavyweight destroyer. “Put this man on the White House card!” one fan demanded, while another teased, “White House return?” Even in fun, the message was clear: Francis Ngannou isn’t just another fighter; he’s an event waiting to happen.
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Several other fans joked about the damage done to his surroundings more than to himself: “Damn, those sound like shotgun shots 😂,” wrote one, while another added, “It’s an earthquake drill. 🌋 Pretty sure the tectonic plates felt that.” The floor even caught stray sympathy with reactions like, “The floor’s got multiple head traumas” and “What did the floor ever do to you?”
For the time being, the PFL is focused on identifying how to properly position their star, but Ngannou doesn’t need belts or boardroom statements to command attention. With one video and a shrug of a caption, he is again at the center of MMA’s biggest “what if.”
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Whether it’s the UFC, the PFL, or a presidential show at the White House, fans are convinced the heavyweight throne still belongs to Francis Ngannou. But when will he actually fight next?
Francis Ngannou’s next fight will be based on the next PFL Heavyweight world title winner
Francis Ngannou’s next move appears to be tied to the December fight between Vadim Nemkov and Renan Ferreira, which will determine the first official PFL heavyweight world champion. With Martin’s statements about Ngannou’s future, the winner is expected to meet the former UFC king in their first defense, paving the way for a high-stakes battle.
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Ferreira has already felt Ngannou’s power, so the promotion hopes Nemkov can rise to the situation. The UFC courted the Russian before he signed with the PFL, and a fight with Ngannou would quickly become one of the most anticipated heavyweight contests outside of the Octagon. The PFL hopes that this showdown will finally produce the star-power crossover they’ve been looking for.