MMA
Interesting challenge? Ngannou could face the KSW champion. I will do my best, promises the promoter of the Polish organization
Francis Ngannou has left the UFC, signed with the PFL, and is set to fight world champion Tyson Fury in the fall. But what’s next? By and large, the entire MMA community agrees that there aren’t many interesting opponents outside of the UFC for the former king of the world’s best organization. Promoter KSW, however, has come up with an interesting offer.
Francis Ngannou has left the UFC, signed with the PFL, and is set to fight world champion Tyson Fury in the fall. But what’s next? By and large, the entire MMA community agrees that there aren’t many interesting opponents outside of the UFC for the former king of the world’s best organization. Promoter KSW, however, has come up with an interesting offer.
The former UFC heavyweight king has made a tidy profit on his departure from the best organization on the planet. The PFL offered him a management position in addition to finances, and also promised him a boxing match, which will take place in the fall.
Francis Ngannou is seen as a big underdog against Tyson Fury, but even if he loses, he may not be so upset. He’s going to make a lot of money. For this fight alone, he is set to earn many times more than he did in his seven-year UFC career.
But the question is who he’ll face when he returns to MMA. Basically, outside of the UFC, we can’t find enough interesting heavyweights to match wits with him. There will probably be a few names, but would that make the fans, as they say, sit on their asses? Not exactly.
But maybe we’ll see a bold move from KSW. The still reigning champion of the Polish brand, Phil De Fries, may have to defend his title again on Saturday night, but he can potentially look forward to an unexpected showdown.
The British heavyweight fought in the UFC at the beginning of the past decade, however, he retired from the organization after five fights with a 2-3 record. He subsequently had a few fights across multiple organizations, including one win in Bellator.
Since 2018, however, he has been with the Polish organization KSW, where he holds a 9-0 record and the title of undisputed champion. He is one of the absolute best at his weight in Europe, a measurement with Ngannou would be interesting. De Fries has moved on a lot since his time in the UFC.
“For me, Phil is one of the best heavyweights on the planet. He’s a different animal than when he fought in the UFC. He would give anybody in the whole division problems. Outside of the UFC, there aren’t many fighters that would be an interesting test for Ngannou. I’m in contact with the president of the PFL and I’m willing to do what I can to make it happen,” KSW boss Martin Lewandowski told MMA Junkie.
But of course, according to Lewandowski, it has to make sense for both KSW and the PFL. Plus, De Fries has to defend his title in Gdynia on Saturday. Plus, the question is how Ngannou will decide after the fight with Fury.
“Phil has already made history by being the longest reigning champion in KSW and the heavyweight with the most title defenses in any major MMA organization,” Lewandowski said.
Source: MMA Junkie, Tapology