MMA confidential: UFC fighters ready to make the leap into boxing،
Francis Ngannou uncorked a short left hook that collided with Tyson Fury's jaw. The impact of the blow sent Fury to the mat – and could have changed the trajectory of the combat sports economy for the foreseeable future.
Ngannou lost the boxing match to Fury last October by decision, but he dropped him in the third round and overall boxed well against the world's best heavyweight. Ngannou, who left the UFC as heavyweight champion in early 2023, was making his professional boxing debut in this fight and many believed he should have won on the cards.
The trend of MMA fighters chasing big money in boxing, spurred initially by Floyd Mayweather vs. Conor McGregor in 2017 and given real direction by Jake Paul's clever matchmaking, seemed to be waning…until which Ngannou almost overthrow Fury.
Now, the transition from MMA to boxing is getting new life, with one manager telling ESPN that one of his current UFC clients is looking to fight for his contract with the boxing ring in mind and another rep predicting that McGregor could be next. the jump (again). Industry players, however, are divided on whether or not there are legitimate, consistent opportunities for MMA fighters to succeed in boxing or whether it is simply a pot of money. gold for fools.
“Francis did this to keep the door open longer, and the longer the door is open, the more opportunities that can present themselves, the more likely that something will happen,” a prominent manager of MMA on condition of anonymity. “I think it’s something that’s talked about frequently in gyms and locker rooms, that guys in MMA can compete in boxing more easily than the other side of the coin.”
Ngannou will compete in his second professional boxing match against Anthony Joshua, a former unified heavyweight champion with a huge fan following, in Saudi Arabia on Friday. That will come with another giant salary, somewhere in the eight figures – the kind of money that even the UFC's biggest stars (not named McGregor) are often unable to earn.
In most cases, top boxers in main events make the lion's share of event revenue, while the UFC itself takes about 80% of the revenue, according to documents in the ongoing antitrust case against the promotion . The UFC even took a cut of the money made between Mayweather and McGregor, as McGregor was under contract with the organization and the UFC was essentially acting as a promoter.
“We have fighters on our roster who want to box, who are actually choosing not to re-sign with the UFC – not to take double the amount of money – because they want to see if he there is an option to box,” a manager said. with several top UFC fighters.
A former UFC champion said the reason this happens is “all the money”, because in boxing “if you sell 50,000 pay-per-views, 100,000 pay-per-views, you win still a lot of money because you earn money.” from the first purchase.” In other words, if the UFC plays the role of middleman, there will be more funds available for fighters, even if the event does not sell well compared to UFC cards.
“This will continue,” said the former champion. “If you thought this was the end, I think we're only at the beginning. I think more guys with name recognition, when they're done with the UFC, will go down this path to see.”
MMA fighters are closely watching the boxing world and what Ngannou is doing there, industry insiders said. But those in the know also sound a warning: the grass is not always greener on the other side. “Name recognition” is a key phrase.
“I think the UFC pay is, for most fighters, the highest level of pay they will get anywhere else,” the prominent manager said. “I think UFC compensation is moving in the right direction.”
McGregor and Ngannou were the only two UFC fighters to fight boxing outside of the organization while still in their prime. Others, like Mike Perry, have carved out a lucrative niche for themselves at Bare Knuckle FC. But some other athletes, like former UFC headliners Nate Diaz, Anderson Silva, Tyron Woodley, Anthony Pettis and Jose Aldo, entered the boxing ring late in their fighting careers. Jorge Masvidal told ESPN last week that he also plans to compete in boxing next, after retiring from the UFC last year.
“Other than Francis and Conor, I don’t think anyone has done it in such a significant way,” said another manager who has represented several UFC champions.
Ngannou might have been the only MMA fighter to truly give a top boxer a real run. But earning millions of dollars also has meaning. Several of the fighters who got into boxing made more money in those fights than in any UFC fight, including Diaz.
One major trainer noted that boxing training is also less strenuous on the body – there is no wrestling or wrestling to contend with – and in most cases it does not result in weight reduction as much important than MMA.
“I think it lasts because of the monetary value these guys get,” said a prominent MMA trainer. “And I think people should ask themselves why guys have an extended career in MMA and then can immediately jump into boxing and earn as much or more in that field? But they also get fewer injuries, I don't I haven't cut as much weight and I'm able to have a quick turnaround in boxing. Aldo fought [in boxing] and said, 'I might fight next week.'”
Along the same lines, the coach said switching to boxing wouldn't work for everyone. MMA fighters who aren't big names won't suddenly become A-list stars and make millions just because they put on bigger gloves and wear shoes. There is also an element of weight class. Ngannou had ready-made popular opposition that would be intriguing to confront. An MMA fighter coming to boxing would always need a big-name dance partner.
“If there’s not a clear plan that says, ‘I can actually get this fight,’ what are you going to do?” said the manager of the former champions. “You work your way to the end of a contract? And then it's like, 'OK, now I'm a free agent and I can go box the No. 16 in the WBC that no one knows and make the same thing as me. do in MMA?'”
The prominent manager said the “sweet spot” right now is around 190 pounds, as a popular MMA fighter might be able to take a fight with someone like Paul, KSI or Tommy Fury. This manager said it was possible that Conor McGregor, who has two fights left with the UFC, would fall into this category. McGregor recently teased a boxing match with Manny Pacquiao.
“He’ll be next,” the prominent manager said of McGregor. “And that's why you ask, 'Will it dry?' No, because he will fight Canelo [Alvarez], he will fight Jake Paul. Something happens with him that will reopen all of this.”
Just last week, UFC bantamweight champion Sean O'Malley and Ryan Garcia got into an argument on social media over their willingness to fight in boxing. Thanks in part to Ngannou, there appears to be no end in sight to the trend of MMA fighters transitioning to boxing. Even if it doesn't make sense to everyone who fights in the Octagon.
“Boxing is not this rose garden that people think it is,” said one longtime MMA manager. “That's not the case. If you look at how boxing works, most fighters make a lot less than MMA.”
