ONE Championship Set to Battle for Signing of Francis Ngannou

ParallelDesk 01:56:07 PM, 27 April 2023

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Francis Ngannou, the former UFC heavyweight champion, is still in a state of uncertainty as various promotions have shown interest in signing him. However, ONE Championship has publicly announced their intent to acquire the terrifying heavyweight. Chatri Sityodtong, CEO of ONE Championship, has set his sights on expanding his organization's global reach and dominance in the world of mixed martial arts. ONE Championship has previously acquired big names such as the arguable Greatest of All Time (GOAT), Demetrious Johnson, and aims to add Ngannou to their talented roster. In a recent interview, Sityodtong shared his intent to meet Ngannou to discuss a potential signing. He also confirmed that his organization would provide the knockout artist with the best deal than any other promotions. Sityodtong added, "I like Francis, I think he brings a lot to the table. I think he'll have a tough time in our heavyweight division, to be quite frank, which I've said publicly, and I think it's a big challenge for Francis. When you look at a guy like Anatoly Malykhin. He's 12-0, was a former Russian national team wrestler, [and has] one-punch KO power." Ngannou is one of the most sought-after free agents in the sport, having recently defended his title against Ciryl Gane before vacating his throne to seek other opportunities. Ngannou currently has multiple offers to consider, and ONE Championship is confident that they will provide the most appealing terms to Ngannou. While Ngannou has many potential opponents to face in ONE Championship's competitive heavyweight division, there are two fighters that standout. The undefeated Russian and current LHW champion Anatoly Malykhin and newly crowned heavyweight champion Arjan Bhullar are both formidable contenders that Ngannou could potentially face off against. It remains to be seen whether Ngannou will sign with ONE Championship or another promotion, but ONE Championship's CEO is set to meet with him in Los Angeles to discuss their proposal. Fans will have to stay tuned to see where the terrifying heavyweight will choose to continue his career.