Francis Ngannou is still UFC champion and he still has Tyson Fury’s attention.
Following Ngannou’s hard-fought title defense against Ciryl Gane in the main event of UFC 270 on Saturday, heavyweight boxing champion Tyson Fury offered his congratulations to Ngannou on Twitter while continuing to tease a fight between the two.
“Congratulations Francis Ngannou,” Fury wrote. But if you are looking to make real cash, please visit the “GK” [Gypsy King].”
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Fury’s boast has renewed relevance due to UFC 270 taking place in California, a state that discloses fighter payouts. According to the list of salaries acquired by MMA Fighting, Francis Ngannou was paid a base purse of $600,000 for his first UFC title defense (this figure does not include pay-per-view earning, sponsorship income, or any other discretionary bonuses that Ngannou may have received).
That number pales in comparison to what Fury was reportedly paid for his recent trilogy bout against Deontay Wilder. Factoring in his share of the pay-per-view revenue, Fury is said to have made an estimated $30 million for the Oct. 9, 2021, heavyweight championship fight.
Ngannou and Fury discussed a possible fight in recent months. It could be either boxing or MMA. Top Rank President Todd duBoef called the potential matchup “a no-brainer” and Ngannou is also confident that the fight will happen at some point.
Ngannou was a major topic of conversation heading into Gane’s fight. Ngannou stated that he would not sign another contract with the UFC without provisions that allowed him to continue his career in boxing. These negotiations will not end in a tidy manner anytime soon, with the title of promotion still at his waist.
