Francis Ngannou's generosity towards PFL opponent Renan Ferreira earns huge respect from Khabib Nurmagomedov's coach
Khabib Nurmagomedov's coach, Javier Mendez recently praised Francis Ngannou for his magnanimous act of kindness toward Renan Ferreira.
'The Predator' is gearing up for his highly anticipated promotional debut against 2023 heavyweight champion Ferreira in the main event of PFL Super Fights: Battle of the Giants. The event is scheduled to take place on Oct. 19 at The Mayadeen in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Ngannou's lucrative deal with the PFL not only gives him the flexibility to pursue boxing matches outside the promotion but also secures his equity in the company. However, the most significant aspect of his contract is the substantial guaranteed purse he negotiated for each of his PFL opponents.
As reported by Forbes, the former UFC heavyweight champion is poised to earn over $10 million for his first PFL fight. In addition to his own payday, Ngannou has ensured that Ferreira will walk away with a purse of at least $2 million.
During a recent podcast on his YouTube channel, Mendez applauded 'The Predator' for making sure his opponents receive hefty paychecks for their fights:
"I love what Ngannou did, that he made sure anybody he fights, they have to make a certain amount of money, and that's respect. Ngannou deserves all the respect in the world. He's a true warrior, a humble man, and a very generous man. So I'm rooting for a great fight, I'm rooting for the event to be a success, and I'm definitely going to tune in."
Check out Javier Mendez's comments below (33:35):
Ngannou is coming off consecutive defeats to former boxing heavyweight champions Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua, after parting ways with the UFC in January 2023.
Renan Ferreira praises Francis Ngannou for negotiating a hefty purse for his PFL opponents
During an interview with MMA Fighting earlier this month, Renan Ferreira commended Francis Ngannou for his dedication to securing greater opportunities not only for himself but also for his opponents.
Ferreira said:
"My respect for him has only grown because of him seeking better opportunities not only for himself as an athlete but also for gaining space in the boxing scene, which we know is hard for MMA fighters to do. Although he didn’t have a good performance in his last fight, it was enormous of him to say that his opponent should be valued as well. It was very nice of him."