Former UFC heavyweight champion  Francis Ngannou left the organization in early 2023 after failing to come to terms on a new contract. “The Predator” became a free agent and inked a deal with the Professional Fighters League (PFL) and landed lucrative boxing bouts.  Four months after severing ties with the UFC, Ngannou signed a deal with the PFL. In the deal was the ability to accept boxing matches, one of the hangups in negotiations with the UFC.  Before stepping foot inside the PFL cage, Ngannou faced then-undefeated WBC and Lineal heavyweight boxing champion  Tyson Fury in October 2023