The MMA world is conflicted about the upcoming heavyweight boxing showdown. Former UFC champion Francis Ngannou is set to square off against boxing champion Tyson Fury in a highly anticipated clash.
After months of negotiations, the match was officially announced a few days ago. Scheduled for October 28th, this epic encounter will adhere to traditional boxing rules and take place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
With several renowned figures expressing their thoughts on the match, the latest addition to the conversation is none other than former UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov.
As this match materializes, Francis Ngannou is on the verge of collecting the biggest paycheck of his career. But Khabib Nurmagomedov has issued a word of caution to Ngannou, reminding him that facing Tyson Fury will be no easy task.
Ngannou has had a long-standing dispute with the UFC, particularly regarding his desire to box outside the promotion. Despite facing criticism and skepticism, he is now inching closer to his dream. Not only will he be squaring off against one of the most accomplished heavyweight boxer, but he will also be walking away with a substantial sum of money.
Addressing this remarkable turn of events, Khabib Nurmagomedov stated in an interview with BoxingScene: “If he can go to boxing, he’s going to make 50-60 million dollars, he has to. Why not? Because I know that Francis has come from a poor life… If someone pays you more money, go and take it, if your goal is money.”
Ngannou’s agent previously confirmed he stand to make multiples of his collective UFC earnings with this agreement saying:
“Oh my God. By far. By multiples. Just to make even while being champ, he would’ve had to fight multiple times [to be in this ballpark].”
Helwani and Jake Paul previously confirmed that Ngannou’s purse is in the 8 figure range and not 8 million which is how much his last UFC contract offered in best case scenario.
