Name: Francis Ngannou on Leaving the UFC, Signing Tyson Fury Fight, and Training with Mike Tyson
Uploaded: 2023-09-22T17:29:31.000Z
Description: Watch the stand-up comedy video 'Francis Ngannou on Leaving the UFC, Signing Tyson Fury Fight, and Training with Mike Tyson' from PowerfulJRE on Comedy Buff. Published 2023-09-22. Transcript available.

Watch the stand-up comedy video 'Francis Ngannou on Leaving the UFC, Signing Tyson Fury Fight, and Training with Mike Tyson' from PowerfulJRE on Comedy Buff. Published 2023-09-22. Transcript available.

I wasn't even the one talking to people and you know at that time I just
want to let this weight drop out of my shoulder for some reason I feel relief
I feel relief there was so much pressure into that process you know and I was
in
Camero and I'm like man just live your life you know whatever is yours out
there
will come to you like but I get the the first person that reached out was Pete
Mary from PFL and then I was just like yes let's hear him out and he came out
we
speak he asked like what I'm looking for and stuff we speak on like ah that's
good
couple days after he made a proposal I look I mean I didn't even ask for not
anything but when he make a proposal I look at the structure of that proposal I'm
like this is good you know everything was being taken consideration you know
obviously there's
always there's always gonna be a way of to negotiate in a contract but the way
that the structure it I was
was already happy I'm like I think this guy is trying to make me happy
yeah right they need someone like you yeah
and the NFL doesn't really have the big stars yeah so but we keep that contract
and at that time I'm like let's wait I'm not rushing to anything take some time
and everything and then so you didn't sign that yet no I didn't sign we also
get to a chat
even chat reach out we talked same thing and then cover days they send their
own contract but when I was putting that contract next to the PFL one it was
day and night
the PFL was much better yeah okay in the and the PFL put a clause in to allow
you to box yeah no boxing was was first for me right would the PFL be involved
in the boxing promotion that was up to me okay that was up to me but they didn't
really like want to it's not their expertise but if they can help in some way
or be involved in some way again it's up to me right so it's not their
expertise but if they can help in some way or be involved in some way again it's
up to me right so
very independent contract so but I was more looking about like boxing that's
the first time that I have to I started to have dialogue about boxing and stuff
you know and I know there was some conversations with you fighting there was Deontay
Wilder they talked about I think they talked about Dillian White he was he was
Deontay Wilder we definitely we had a conversation
conversation with Deontay Wilder team even with him I personally like was in
the meeting with him conference with him that we were talking about a potential
to fight Dillian so and that's what that was going well and I think even to
this day we we are kind of like open about it it's just along the way he has
the he has the
he has the potential opportunity right away that they say okay we would like to
pursue the conversation about what we have here and he was for us he was
understandable where I'm like okay then let's explore maybe after and then
right after that I have my own we I started a conversation with the with the
for the
and then right after that I have the fury fight yeah because I get a call I was
driving I was driving to yeah I was driving to the airport and then I get a
call to meet in New York for for some conversation about the fury fight and
then when I get in New York next week we schedule that on next week I get in
New York we get to the room and meet the people it was the right people
we spoke I heard that I heard that I hear them out and I'm like I knew them
right and I'm like okay this is legit I think with these people behind this
fight is going to happen that's where I now put them in contact with my team to
negotiate because they wanted me to do everything let's negotiate let's I'm
like I don't do negotiation
I listen I listen I listen I talk about like how I would like things to go but
I don't like to negotiate personally right oh I want these I deserve these I'm
dad you know I'd rather have somebody do that on my behalf right somebody do
that on your behalf and you want to respond to a good deal
you want a good deal brought to you yeah okay I want somebody it's always good
to have somebody in the mirror that would take the temper of both parties right
because a deal can fall off Joseph because somebody's mad
and you want to talk to her and you want to talk to her and they want to talk
to her and that's what happened because sometimes with my team there was that
there was frustrated and I'm like oh no this is not working and then they will
come to you and then you would talk nice you know be a nice cop
his ego takes over and the D is off.
But when there's somebody in between,
and you always come to like, OK, it's not him.
Then you still think about it. And that's what happened.
Because sometimes with my team, they were frustrated,
and I'm like, "Oh no, this is not working."
And then they would come to you, and then you would talk nice.
"Be a nice cop. Have no problem." I'm like, "No."
But my team is saying this because they didn't mean to offense you.
But I think, you know.
Got it. Frustrating, right?
Yeah. No, not frustrating.
Complicated.
Yeah. But over the time, you learn, you understand how it works,
and it's pretty easy.
OK. It's pretty easy.
So you're in the driver's seat now because you've left the UFC.
You have all these opportunities on the table,
possibly Deontay Wilder, then it becomes Tyson Fury.
So when do you know that that fight is actually going to take place?
Because I know there was a long--
June. June.
June. That was in June.
That was in June. We locked that fight.
It was concluded. Everything was set.
So for all those months from December to June,
you're essentially just trying to find where you're going to land.
Yeah, but before that, I have-- I agree the deal with the PFL, I think it was
in March.
But I made the request. I said, "Let's just figure out what would be next, my
next boxing fight before we sign the deal."
So you haven't signed the deal with the PFL.
I haven't signed the deal.
Is it possible? Let me ask you this.
OK.
Is it possible that you go and fight Tyson Fury, and then the UFC comes back to
you and says,
"Listen, let's make this right, and let's fight Jon Jones"?
Is that possible?
It's possible, but--
That's what I want.
No, it's possible.
That's what I want.
It's possible, but they have to go to the PFL now.
Oh, because does the PFL have a contract signed?
Yeah.
You did sign a contract.
I did sign. I say in March, it wasn't signed.
Right.
I signed in May.
Do you think the PFL would allow that?
Oh, the PFL is down for that.
Really?
Yeah, it's down for that.
Wow.
The PFL is down for that.
So the PFL would let you fight in the UFC.
But what happens if you beat Jon Jones, you become the UFC heavyweight champion
again?
Uh...
That's a problem.
I don't know.
Maybe he'll be a special fight, a special belt or something.
Yeah.
Maybe not like a UFC belt.
I don't know.
Yeah, the UFC probably would not be down for that.
Yeah.
Like you win the title and then go fight in the PFL.
That would be a problem.
No, not a title.
But you know, to be honest, I don't worry about a title.
The title is not what I worry about.
I worry about that fight, that challenge.
Yes.
And I wouldn't care if it was a fight without a title.
You know, so...
Right.
In my...
I don't need a UFC title.
Especially with that fight.
Right.
Like what difference does it make?
Right.
It's Jon Jones and you.
No, that fight is bigger than a title.
Yes.
Bigger than a title.
The fight is bigger than a title.
No doubt.
So deep inside me, I still have a little bit of hope even though I know it's
gonna be
hot, but you never know.
Yeah.
Boy, that would be a big gamble for them.
Because if you win, then you're the champ, but you're signed with the PFL.
Yeah.
Oh.
Oh.
Okay.
So, June, you get the Tyson Fury bout negotiated.
Did you get everything you want?
Was it easy?
Again, you don't walk in a room for a contract to get everything that you want.
Right.
And at that moment, I was just so happy to get that fight happen.
Because from that fight, a lot of things would be open.
That fight would open a lot of dough.
Sometimes, even in the negotiations, sometimes you have to see long-term what
it comes with.
Now I get this fight.
I think it should have been the focus, right?
After this fight, imagine, hypothetically, I go out there and knock Tyson Fury
out.
What do you think will happen for me now?
Where does that leave me?
If you knock Tyson Fury out, you're the biggest combat sports star in the world.
Okay.
That's what I think.
So, is that everything that you will want?
You want the cash.
Of course.
You got to get the cash.
Then you will get everything.
Yeah.
Then you get the cash.
Well, if you knock Tyson Fury out, the real money is in a rematch.
Exactly.
That's the real money.
That's crazy money.
Are they giving you crazy money for the Tyson Fury fight?
Are they giving you crazy money for the Tyson Fury fight?
Yeah.
They're giving me a good money and very great condition.
I like a lot of component.
And again, I like a lot of component of this contract.
It was like the thing, the treatment that they were giving me.
The access, how easy they make stuff for me, you know, like, it's going to be
the first
time that my family is going to attend to my fight and I don't even have to
think about
that.
They're going to work on it.
They're going to figure out how to bring my mom, my sister, my brother out to
Saudi to
watch that fight.
Oh, okay.
So, they're going to take care of everything.
They're going to take care.
The Saudis know how to throw that money around, boy.
And I think that's, that's, that's, that's something that for me was very, very
important.
I think, you know, I could have had more money, but it wouldn't make me more
happier than
stuff like that.
And, you know, you kind of like work with people that you feel like, okay, they're
trying their
best, their very best to make you feel comfortable, feel happy.
Right.
And that's, it's also, it's also a partnership, you know, it's not like one
shot.
Okay.
Take everything that I can take and go.
How can we build something?
Like, is it like somebody that I can trust?
Can we build something for the future?
And then when you feel like, yes, you invest into that relationship.
Hmm.
Okay.
So June, they negotiate the fight.
Is it 12 rounds?
10 rounds.
10 rounds.
Yeah.
10 rounds and they've created a new belt.
Right.
And you're happy with the money.
You're happy with the conditions.
You're happy with everything.
Yeah.
So then in June is when you go hardcore boxing training.
Like, when did you start like hardcore boxing training?
I was training boxing already.
Um, no, no, like I was in a camp.
Well, you're recovering from your knee surgery, first of all.
Right?
Yes.
So you can't kick and you can't wrestle.
I can kick.
I can wrestle.
I mean, obviously, I have to be careful, but how was the knee now?
I have, I don't have to worry about like kick wrestling.
Right.
Just knee.
Uh, my knee is probably 90%.
I mean, when you get a knee surgery.
Did you get any stem cells or anything?
Not yet.
How long are you in town for?
I had a, um, uh, PRP.
Mm-hmm.
I'm leaving tonight.
You're leaving tonight?
Yeah.
There's a company in Austin, Ways2Well, that I wanted to hook you up with.
Ways2Well, yes.
Stem cells.
I get in contact with them.
I even do, uh, get them to do my exam.
And I think, uh, Eric, uh, Nixick put me in contact with, um.
With Brigham?
He sent me a contact.
Huh?
I can take care of that, too.
Yeah, with Brigham?
Yeah, I can take care of that, too.
I can help you out.
About the stem cell if we have a time.
And I think.
You should do that.
Yeah, I think I'm gonna give it a shot.
It'll help you.
Yeah, for sure.
You know.
It'll help you.
It definitely will.
It's very important to take care of.
To maintain the vehicle.
Yes.
Obviously.
Yeah.
And what a vehicle it is.
Yeah.
Basically when you're gonna put it in a big crash like this.
So, yeah, right?
That's a good way to put it.
Yeah, because Tyson Fury is a big, he's a monster.
He's a monster.
I stand next to him, I'm like, damn, this guy is big.
He's big.
I'm like, you really need to go full force.
Yeah.
He's a big fellow.
And he's very good.
Very skillful.
Oh, man.
You jump into the top of the heap.
Maybe ever.
And then I was there at the press conference next to him.
And I'm like, yes, look my fat belly.
I'm a fat pig.
I'm this.
I'm like, don't you fool me.
I have seen you.
Look at it.
Yeah.
He tricks people with that belly.
I'm like, don't you fool me.
Don't you trick me, Tyson.
I have seen you box.
And you doesn't box as if fat anything at all.
No.
He doesn't.
No, he doesn't.
He's an animal.
Because if you just focus on his body,
then you'll be like, oh, easy job.
No, man.
When the guy's in the ring moving you,
I'm like, okay, is it like something that they are remoting
or something?
I'm like, no, don't you fool me.
I have seen you.
He's very, very skillful.
Yeah.
Very skillful.

Francis Ngannou on Leaving the UFC, Signing Tyson Fury Fight, and Training with Mike Tyson

I wasn't even the one talking to people and you know at that time I just
want to let this weight drop out of my shoulder for some reason I feel relief
I feel relief there was so much pressure into that process you know and I was
in
Camero and I'm like man just live your life you know whatever is yours out
there
will come to you like but I get the the first person that reached out was Pete
Mary from PFL and then I was just like yes let's hear him out and he came out
we
speak he asked like what I'm looking for and stuff we speak on like ah that's
good
couple days after he made a proposal I look I mean I didn't even ask for not
anything but when he make a proposal I look at the structure of that proposal I'm
like this is good you know everything was being taken consideration you know
obviously there's
always there's always gonna be a way of to negotiate in a contract but the way
that the structure it I was
was already happy I'm like I think this guy is trying to make me happy
yeah right they need someone like you yeah
and the NFL doesn't really have the big stars yeah so but we keep that contract
and at that time I'm like let's wait I'm not rushing to anything take some time
and everything and then so you didn't sign that yet no I didn't sign we also
get to a chat
even chat reach out we talked same thing and then cover days they send their
own contract but when I was putting that contract next to the PFL one it was
day and night
the PFL was much better yeah okay in the and the PFL put a clause in to allow
you to box yeah no boxing was was first for me right would the PFL be involved
in the boxing promotion that was up to me okay that was up to me but they didn't
really like want to it's not their expertise but if they can help in some way
or be involved in some way again it's up to me right so it's not their
expertise but if they can help in some way or be involved in some way again it's
up to me right so
very independent contract so but I was more looking about like boxing that's
the first time that I have to I started to have dialogue about boxing and stuff
you know and I know there was some conversations with you fighting there was Deontay
Wilder they talked about I think they talked about Dillian White he was he was
Deontay Wilder we definitely we had a conversation
conversation with Deontay Wilder team even with him I personally like was in
the meeting with him conference with him that we were talking about a potential
to fight Dillian so and that's what that was going well and I think even to
this day we we are kind of like open about it it's just along the way he has
the he has the
he has the potential opportunity right away that they say okay we would like to
pursue the conversation about what we have here and he was for us he was
understandable where I'm like okay then let's explore maybe after and then
right after that I have my own we I started a conversation with the with the
for the
and then right after that I have the fury fight yeah because I get a call I was
driving I was driving to yeah I was driving to the airport and then I get a
call to meet in New York for for some conversation about the fury fight and
then when I get in New York next week we schedule that on next week I get in
New York we get to the room and meet the people it was the right people
we spoke I heard that I heard that I hear them out and I'm like I knew them
right and I'm like okay this is legit I think with these people behind this
fight is going to happen that's where I now put them in contact with my team to
negotiate because they wanted me to do everything let's negotiate let's I'm
like I don't do negotiation
I listen I listen I listen I talk about like how I would like things to go but
I don't like to negotiate personally right oh I want these I deserve these I'm
dad you know I'd rather have somebody do that on my behalf right somebody do
that on your behalf and you want to respond to a good deal
you want a good deal brought to you yeah okay I want somebody it's always good
to have somebody in the mirror that would take the temper of both parties right
because a deal can fall off Joseph because somebody's mad
and you want to talk to her and you want to talk to her and they want to talk
to her and that's what happened because sometimes with my team there was that
there was frustrated and I'm like oh no this is not working and then they will
come to you and then you would talk nice you know be a nice cop
his ego takes over and the D is off.
But when there's somebody in between,
and you always come to like, OK, it's not him.
Then you still think about it. And that's what happened.
Because sometimes with my team, they were frustrated,
and I'm like, "Oh no, this is not working."
And then they would come to you, and then you would talk nice.
"Be a nice cop. Have no problem." I'm like, "No."
But my team is saying this because they didn't mean to offense you.
But I think, you know.
Got it. Frustrating, right?
Yeah. No, not frustrating.
Complicated.
Yeah. But over the time, you learn, you understand how it works,
and it's pretty easy.
OK. It's pretty easy.
So you're in the driver's seat now because you've left the UFC.
You have all these opportunities on the table,
possibly Deontay Wilder, then it becomes Tyson Fury.
So when do you know that that fight is actually going to take place?
Because I know there was a long--
June. June.
June. That was in June.
That was in June. We locked that fight.
It was concluded. Everything was set.
So for all those months from December to June,
you're essentially just trying to find where you're going to land.
Yeah, but before that, I have-- I agree the deal with the PFL, I think it was
in March.
But I made the request. I said, "Let's just figure out what would be next, my
next boxing fight before we sign the deal."
So you haven't signed the deal with the PFL.
I haven't signed the deal.
Is it possible? Let me ask you this.
OK.
Is it possible that you go and fight Tyson Fury, and then the UFC comes back to
you and says,
"Listen, let's make this right, and let's fight Jon Jones"?
Is that possible?
It's possible, but--
That's what I want.
No, it's possible.
That's what I want.
It's possible, but they have to go to the PFL now.
Oh, because does the PFL have a contract signed?
Yeah.
You did sign a contract.
I did sign. I say in March, it wasn't signed.
Right.
I signed in May.
Do you think the PFL would allow that?
Oh, the PFL is down for that.
Really?
Yeah, it's down for that.
Wow.
The PFL is down for that.
So the PFL would let you fight in the UFC.
But what happens if you beat Jon Jones, you become the UFC heavyweight champion
again?
Uh...
That's a problem.
I don't know.
Maybe he'll be a special fight, a special belt or something.
Yeah.
Maybe not like a UFC belt.
I don't know.
Yeah, the UFC probably would not be down for that.
Yeah.
Like you win the title and then go fight in the PFL.
That would be a problem.
No, not a title.
But you know, to be honest, I don't worry about a title.
The title is not what I worry about.
I worry about that fight, that challenge.
Yes.
And I wouldn't care if it was a fight without a title.
You know, so...
Right.
In my...
I don't need a UFC title.
Especially with that fight.
Right.
Like what difference does it make?
Right.
It's Jon Jones and you.
No, that fight is bigger than a title.
Yes.
Bigger than a title.
The fight is bigger than a title.
No doubt.
So deep inside me, I still have a little bit of hope even though I know it's
gonna be
hot, but you never know.
Yeah.
Boy, that would be a big gamble for them.
Because if you win, then you're the champ, but you're signed with the PFL.
Yeah.
Oh.
Oh.
Okay.
So, June, you get the Tyson Fury bout negotiated.
Did you get everything you want?
Was it easy?
Again, you don't walk in a room for a contract to get everything that you want.
Right.
And at that moment, I was just so happy to get that fight happen.
Because from that fight, a lot of things would be open.
That fight would open a lot of dough.
Sometimes, even in the negotiations, sometimes you have to see long-term what
it comes with.
Now I get this fight.
I think it should have been the focus, right?
After this fight, imagine, hypothetically, I go out there and knock Tyson Fury
out.
What do you think will happen for me now?
Where does that leave me?
If you knock Tyson Fury out, you're the biggest combat sports star in the world.
Okay.
That's what I think.
So, is that everything that you will want?
You want the cash.
Of course.
You got to get the cash.
Then you will get everything.
Yeah.
Then you get the cash.
Well, if you knock Tyson Fury out, the real money is in a rematch.
Exactly.
That's the real money.
That's crazy money.
Are they giving you crazy money for the Tyson Fury fight?
Are they giving you crazy money for the Tyson Fury fight?
Yeah.
They're giving me a good money and very great condition.
I like a lot of component.
And again, I like a lot of component of this contract.
It was like the thing, the treatment that they were giving me.
The access, how easy they make stuff for me, you know, like, it's going to be
the first
time that my family is going to attend to my fight and I don't even have to
think about
that.
They're going to work on it.
They're going to figure out how to bring my mom, my sister, my brother out to
Saudi to
watch that fight.
Oh, okay.
So, they're going to take care of everything.
They're going to take care.
The Saudis know how to throw that money around, boy.
And I think that's, that's, that's, that's something that for me was very, very
important.
I think, you know, I could have had more money, but it wouldn't make me more
happier than
stuff like that.
And, you know, you kind of like work with people that you feel like, okay, they're
trying their
best, their very best to make you feel comfortable, feel happy.
Right.
And that's, it's also, it's also a partnership, you know, it's not like one
shot.
Okay.
Take everything that I can take and go.
How can we build something?
Like, is it like somebody that I can trust?
Can we build something for the future?
And then when you feel like, yes, you invest into that relationship.
Hmm.
Okay.
So June, they negotiate the fight.
Is it 12 rounds?
10 rounds.
10 rounds.
Yeah.
10 rounds and they've created a new belt.
Right.
And you're happy with the money.
You're happy with the conditions.
You're happy with everything.
Yeah.
So then in June is when you go hardcore boxing training.
Like, when did you start like hardcore boxing training?
I was training boxing already.
Um, no, no, like I was in a camp.
Well, you're recovering from your knee surgery, first of all.
Right?
Yes.
So you can't kick and you can't wrestle.
I can kick.
I can wrestle.
I mean, obviously, I have to be careful, but how was the knee now?
I have, I don't have to worry about like kick wrestling.
Right.
Just knee.
Uh, my knee is probably 90%.
I mean, when you get a knee surgery.
Did you get any stem cells or anything?
Not yet.
How long are you in town for?
I had a, um, uh, PRP.
Mm-hmm.
I'm leaving tonight.
You're leaving tonight?
Yeah.
There's a company in Austin, Ways2Well, that I wanted to hook you up with.
Ways2Well, yes.
Stem cells.
I get in contact with them.
I even do, uh, get them to do my exam.
And I think, uh, Eric, uh, Nixick put me in contact with, um.
With Brigham?
He sent me a contact.
Huh?
I can take care of that, too.
Yeah, with Brigham?
Yeah, I can take care of that, too.
I can help you out.
About the stem cell if we have a time.
And I think.
You should do that.
Yeah, I think I'm gonna give it a shot.
It'll help you.
Yeah, for sure.
You know.
It'll help you.
It definitely will.
It's very important to take care of.
To maintain the vehicle.
Yes.
Obviously.
Yeah.
And what a vehicle it is.
Yeah.
Basically when you're gonna put it in a big crash like this.
So, yeah, right?
That's a good way to put it.
Yeah, because Tyson Fury is a big, he's a monster.
He's a monster.
I stand next to him, I'm like, damn, t