UFC color commentator Joe Rogan wishes the promotion could have come to terms with Francis Ngannou.
Ngannou left the UFC in early 2023 amid a lengthy contractual dispute that followed his successful title defense against Ciryl Gane 12 months prior.
The heavyweight king quickly found a home elsewhere, with Ngannou signing for the PFL just months later on an MMA-exclusive deal that granted ‘The Predator’ freedom to explore his boxing ambitions. He’s competed in the cage just once since.
After boxing clashes with Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua, Ngannou tore through Renan Ferreira in his PFL debut last year. But another lengthy MMA layoff looks set to follow, leaving some pleading with the Cameroonian to repair his relationship with the UFC and return.
And one prominent name in the sport’s leading promotion wishes he didn’t leave in the first place.
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Joe Rogan frustrated that the UFC and Francis Ngannou could not come to terms
Opinions on Ngannou’s situation have long been split. While many have praised ‘The Predator’ for sticking to his guns and not accepting a UFC proposal that did not meet demands such as health insurance for fighters, others have lamented the fact that his stint as UFC champion was cut short.
Years on from Ngannou’s split from the UFC, Joe Rogan recently looked back on the debacle while speaking to acting star Matthew McConaughey on his JRE podcast.
After reiterating his amazement at the heavyweight fighter’s size and power, Rogan admitted that the way Ngannou’s UFC tenure came to an end still “bothers” him.
“This guy’s so big,” Rogan said of Ngannou. “That’s a real tragedy that him in the UFC couldn’t figure it out. That bothers me a lot because that guy was the scariest heavyweight of all time, for sure.
“He put guys in orbit. He would hit them and you just go, ‘Oh.’ It would hurt you like watching it. You’re like, ‘Oh no.'”
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Francis Ngannou’s MMA future uncertain after ruling out 2025 return
Unfortunately for Rogan and others who are in awe of ‘The Predator’ when he enters the cage, the Cameroonian recently dealt a blow to those hoping to see him back in MMA.
While speaking on The Ariel Helwani Show, Ngannou gave a disappointing update about his MMA plans by revealing the absence of a suitable opponent has left him focusing on boxing for the time being.
“No,” Ngannou said when asked if discussions have taken place over him fighting in the PFL this year.
“I started to reach out, sent some emails for a fight to see what is on the line. But since there is nothing yet. I don’t think they have an opponent for me.
“So we will wait,” Ngannou added. “We still have time.
“I know they brought up (Vadim) Nemkov, but things didn’t play out. I was expecting to maybe have the champion, the champion of the tournament. But I still don’t know how it’s looking.”
Nemkov recently signed a new deal with PFL after a disappointingly low offer from the UFC, sparking fresh hope that he could be the next man stood across from Ngannou inside the cage.