Demetrious Johnson supports Francis Ngannou’s decision to bet on himself.
Former UFC heavyweight champion Ngannou parted ways with the promotion after he reportedly turned down an offer that would have made him the highest paid heavyweight in the promotion’s history.
A longtime UFC flyweight champion, Johnson can relate. With over seven years’ tenure with the UFC, Johnson signed with ONE Championship in 2018 and later became its champion. “Mighty Mouse” pointed to other examples of UFC fighters who left and made a lot of money with other promotions, and thinks Ngannou can do the same.
“I think it’s good for Francis,” Johnson said on The MMA Hour. “There’s many homes. I’ve been successful outside the UFC. Look at Sergio Pettis. He’s been very successful outside the UFC. Look at Anthony Pettis. He made, what, $700,000, fighting Roy Jones Jr.? There’s money outside the UFC.”
One of Ngannou’s biggest issues with staying under the UFC banner was his inability to box under contract. Although he’s yet to find a new home or compete since he unified the UFC heavyweight title against Ciryl Gane in January 2022, Ngannou’s name has been linked to boxing’s most notable names such as Tyson Fury, Deontay Wilder, and Anthony Joshua.
If Ngannou ends up boxing after all, Johnson guarantees the biggest payday of his career – which he sees as worth it.
“I think with Francis Ngannou, he’s at that spot where he gets to dictate where he wants to go,” Johnson said. “He doesn’t want to be locked down under contract. Could you imagine if he fought Tyson Fury and made like $40 million? He’s not going to make that in the UFC in one fight. Maybe he could, I’m not sure. That’s the type of money that you’re going to be able to make in boxing. I think that’s worth the risk to take.”
