Eddie Hearn, one of the most influential figures in the world of boxing, is now expanding his reach to the world of MMA. The British promoter has recently launched his new talent agency, Matchroom Talent, and is eyeing to sign several UFC fighters. However, there is one name that Hearn is truly determined to add to his roster – former UFC heavyweight champion, Francis Ngannou.
Ngannou, also known as “The Predator”, was released from PFL (Professional Fighters League) last week after spending three years in the promotion and only one fight. This news has sparked a lot of interest in the MMA community, with many speculating on which promotion the Cameroonian powerhouse will sign with next. And it seems like Hearn is ready to make his move.
The 34-year-old Ngannou made his UFC debut in 2015 and quickly rose to fame with his devastating knockout power. He went on to win six consecutive fights, all by knockout, and earned himself a title shot against then-champion Stipe Miocic in 2018. However, he suffered a unanimous decision loss and went on to lose his next fight against Derrick Lewis.
But Ngannou bounced back in a big way in 2019, knocking out former champions Cain Velasquez and Junior Dos Santos in a combined time of under two minutes. This earned him another title shot against Miocic, and this time, he made no mistake. Ngannou knocked out the champion in the first round to become the UFC heavyweight champion.
However, things took a turn for the worse for Ngannou after he lost the title in his first defense against Miocic in 2020. He then went on to sign with PFL, hoping to rebuild his career there. But with only one fight in three years, Ngannou’s time in the promotion was cut short, leaving him as a free agent once again.
And this is where Hearn sees an opportunity. The Matchroom promoter has recently made a big splash in the MMA world by signing top heavyweight prospect, Tom Aspinall. And now, he has set his sights on Ngannou, who is undoubtedly one of the biggest names in the sport.
Hearn has always been a fan of Ngannou and has expressed his desire to work with him in the past. With Matchroom Talent, he now has the perfect platform to make it happen. And it’s not just Hearn who is interested in Ngannou, but the feeling seems to be mutual.
In an interview with ESPN, Ngannou’s manager, Marquel Martin, revealed that they are open to talks with any promotion, including Matchroom. He also stated that Ngannou is looking for a new challenge and is not just focused on the UFC.
This is a significant development for the MMA world, as Ngannou’s potential move to Matchroom could have a huge impact on the sport. Hearn is known for his excellent promotional skills and has helped elevate the careers of many boxers. If he can replicate that success in MMA, it could mean big things for Ngannou and the sport as a whole.
Moreover, Ngannou’s addition to Matchroom Talent could also open up opportunities for cross-promotion fights with top boxers. The idea of seeing Ngannou facing off against the likes of Anthony Joshua or Tyson Fury is undoubtedly an exciting prospect.
In conclusion, Eddie Hearn’s interest in signing Francis Ngannou is a significant development in the MMA world. With Matchroom Talent, Hearn has the perfect platform to make it happen, and it could have a massive impact on both Ngannou’s career and the sport of MMA. Only time will tell if this potential partnership will come to fruition, but one thing is for sure – Hearn’s eyes are firmly set on “The Predator”.
