Joe Rogan questions why Francis Ngannou chose $20 million Anthony Joshua fight over easier fights: "Just get that money”
Joe Rogan recently questioned Francis Ngannou's decision to face Anthony Joshua immediately after Tyson Fury, rather than finding an easier opponent. After leaving the UFC in Jan. 2023, the Ngannou signed a record breaking deal with the Professional Fighter's League (PFL) that granted him permission to take part in boxing matches, something 'The Predator' has taken full advantage of.
He stepped into the squared circle for his debut against Tyson Fury in Oct. 2023, stunning the world with his performance as he went the distance with 'The Gypsy King', even scoring a knockdown in the third round.
Although he lost a controversial decision against Fury, Francis Ngannou took home the-then biggest payday of his career. Five months later, the Cameroonian was back in the ring for a second time, this time tasked with facing Anthony Joshua.
The night didn't go according to plan for Ngannou, however, as he was dominated by 'AJ,' who knocked the MMA star out cold in the second round. Despite the result, it was reported that Ngannou made $20 million for his efforts, making it by far the most lucrative fight of his career to date.
Rogan, who spoke to Ngannou during a recent episode of his JRE MMA Show, then asked him why he opted to choose the money fight rather than build his boxing resume. He said:
"Did you think at all at having fights with maybe some guys that were below that level to get some experience? Like after the Fury fight, facing a guy who was ranked 15th, 16th? You just went for the money. Just get that money and the big fights."
Ngannou responded:
"I never thought about that...What's the goal here? I'm not 20 years old that I have a plan to go up the rankings. Yeah, I get the money out of the big fights. That was the goal."
Catch their comments here (31:00):
Francis Ngannou tells Joe Rogan he was sick of the "drama" during his time in the UFC
During episode #160 of the JRE MMA show, Francis Ngannou spoke to Joe Rogan and revealed some of the reasons that lead to him walking away from the UFC.
According to 'The Predator,' a major factor behind his departure was that he began to grow tired of constantly being told what he could and couldn't do, and a lot of the answers he ever got from the UFC were ambiguous. Ngannou said:
"I was trying to like even to the UFC I have requested to be like, oh I want to be the UFC ambassador in Africa I want to do something out there. I'm like, oh no, we don't know, you know, this is not we don't... I really get tired or sick of drama...and that will take a lot out of you. You get to the point that you, I’m like, I just want this to be over.”
Catch Ngannou's comments to Joe Rogan here (52:01):