Francis Ngannou rejects $20 million contract offer from ONE Championship(see why)

Nkwain Desmond May 5th, 2023, 2:15 pm

Francis Ngannou has rejected a $20 million contract offer from ONE Championship according to reports.

ONE Championship CEO Chatri Sityodtong revealed that the promotion offered former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou a guaranteed $20 million contract but the Cameroonian wanted wanted more than just money.

Three weeks ago, there growing reports of negotiations between ONE Championship and free agent Francis Ngannou and that the deal was close to completion. But now according to recent reports, ONE Championship has backed out of the deal.

Speaking in an interview with daily mail, here is what the ONE Championship CEO had to say about the deal

“He was asking for a seat at the board of directors, he was asking for him to determine his opponent’s pay,” he revealed. We offered him $20 million guaranteed, the money wasn’t enough, he wanted all of these other non-financial terms that didn’t make a lot of sense. We obviously can’t give a seat at the board of directors, that doesn’t make any sense, he would be a fish out of water [in that position].”

ONE Championship CEO Chatri Sityodtong told the South China Morning Post that after a three-hour meeting, he will no longer be pursuing Francis Ngannou.

It's been over 400 days since his last fight. pic.twitter.com/tsbch1bf5i

— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) May 2, 2023