Wilder will repeat Ngannou’s success and knock him out. PFL prepares a mixed knockout fight
November 21, 2023, 18:15 Moscow time Audio version: Your browser does not support the audio element.
The fight could take place next year.
On November 20, the management of the PFL league announced the acquisition of Bellator and spoke of quite extensive plans for the next year. One of the main questions that had to be answered was what would happen to Francis Ngannou?
The star fighter signed with the promotion a few months ago, but was then preparing for a boxing match with Tyson Fury. The prospects in MMA were quite vague, the only word was that Ngannou would fight in the new PPV Super Fight division, which would launch in 2024.
When could Ngannou’s fight against Wilder take place?
And now PFL boss Donn Davis has shed light on Francisco’s future: “I want to be transparent. We don’t know exactly when he will debut. We know he will definitely fight in the PFL in 2024. It is still unknown if he will be the first or the last quarter of 2024. I still think it will be a mixed rules fight.
The most likely opponent is Deontay Wilder. It would be amazing. But the second and third options are not so interesting. We don’t want to force them because the first option is really good. Let’s listen to Francisco. He has a great boxed option and a great mixed option. “Now we are thinking about the best way to fix everything.”
It is clear that Ngannou is an elite level fighter; There are no fighters in his weight class or on Bellator or PFL rosters who are even close to his level. Therefore, the option with Wilder is the hope of the PFL.
Why the WBC’s decision to include Ngannou in the ranking is a failure:
Ngannou is great, but he is leading world boxing to disgrace. WBC took an absurd step
It is also important that Deontay himself has recently been extremely interested in performing in mixed martial arts. Not long ago he spoke about his prospects: “I’m thinking about doing both: UFC and boxing. In the UFC, I’m going to be a dangerous man with four-ounce gloves… I want to pick up a big body and hit him, and then get on top of him and beat him up.”
What are Wilder’s prospects in MMA?
Wilder is right that with small gloves his knockout power will increase dramatically. He will be the most dangerous opponent for any fighter, including Ngannou. Francis himself also commented on a possible fight with the Bronze Bomber and gave his potential opponent her due: “The fight with Wilder is really being discussed. Deontay Wilder has been training in MMA for several months. Nothing has been decided yet, but I’ve gotten some information, so it makes sense. He is very serious about MMA. A lot of people just say, “I’m going to fight in boxing and MMA,” but Deontay Wilder really wants it. It will be difficult for him, because in front of him there will be a completely different animal.”
This season, PFL broadcasts are available on OKKO.
What about Wilder’s boxing career?
It must be said that Wilder has no plans to leave professional boxing. In December he has a fight with Joseph Parker, and there are also rumors that Deontay has a possible fight with Anthony Joshua ahead. Overall, the Bronze Bomber program is intense. As for the fight with Ngannou under mixed rules, a lot will depend on who has the best opportunity. Wilder is faster on paper and hits very hard, so Ngannou could have serious problems.
In any case, we are in for a great show. Especially if the star knockout artists agree on two fights, according to boxing rules and according to mixed ones. The main winner here is the public, because you always want to know who is the most dangerous person in the world. Wilder and Ngannou are quite suitable for this status.
