UFC legend Chael Sonnen recently discussed Francis Ngannou’s future, suggesting that his next fight should be against Ryan Bader. However, Sonnen also admitted that he does not expect this matchup to happen. Earlier this year, Ngannou made headlines when he decided not to sign a new deal with UFC to explore free agency. He later signed a historic deal with the Professional Fighters League (PFL), which commits him to a number of fights and allows him to step into the world of boxing.
Ngannou made his debut in the squared circle in October, facing off against Tyson Fury in a valiant performance. With 2024 on the horizon, Ngannou is expected to make his MMA debut for the PFL next year. The MMA promotion recently completed a historic takeover of Bellator, including offering the roster new contracts. Ryan Bader, the current Bellator heavyweight champion, is among the fighters on that list.
In an episode of The MMA Hour, Chael Sonnen stated that a clash against Bader for Ngannou makes sense from a standpoint of the PFL. However, Sonnen admitted that the fight is highly unlikely, saying that even Bader isn’t talking about it, as everyone knows it probably won’t happen.
Kamaru Usman, another fighter, has also offered his take on the controversial match between Francis Ngannou and Tyson Fury. Despite many feeling that Ngannou had pulled off the upset, Fury was given the decision after a contentious split. On a recent episode of the PBD Podcast, Usman, who walked Ngannou to the ring, provided his thoughts on the decision, stating that if it was scored on the current criteria of boxing, then Fury would win, but if it was based on who won the fight, there is no doubt that Ngannou should have been awarded the victory.
