Francis Ngannou Currently Uncertain if He Competes in MMA This Year

Francis Ngannou isn’t ready to fully commit to fighting mixed martial arts in 2024.

Ngannou, who signed with Professional Fighters League last year, is scheduled to face Anthony Joshua in his second pro boxing match on March 9 in Riyadh, Saudia Arabia. According to Ngannou, the PFL continues to support his forary into the Sweet Science.

“When I received a call and the offer for proposal of this fight (against Joshua), what happened? I reached out to PFL and told them because we’re in the business together,” Ngannou said during an appearance on "The MMA Hour."

“They gave me their blessing and said they can’t take away this opportunity from me, so I was happy to do that. I didn’t want to know what else they’re going to say, as long as they approved. They didn’t have a problem with this.”

Ngannou was previously expected to make his PFL debut sometime in 2024 in the organization’s pay-per-view superfight division. However, Ngannou’s closely-contested loss to Tyson Fury last October has changed things for the former UFC heavyweight champion.

“I win this fight, I’m fighting Fury -- period,” Ngannou said. “Whether or not he has the belt.”

“The Predator” acknowledged that he could still fight in MMA before year’s end, but he admitted that nothing is set in stone at this point in time.

“Possibility, yes. Strong possibility, I don’t know,” Ngannou said regarding the chance he fights MMA. “As I said, even before this fight, nothing was certain yet.

“There’s a chance (I just fight in boxing twice).”