BKFC's David Feldman Denies Speaking With Francis Ngannou: "I'm Not Gonna Make a False Statement Like That"

A BKFC-Francis Ngannou relationship never came to fruition.

Former UFC heavyweight champion and current ranked WBC boxer Francis Ngannou never intended to sign a deal with BKFC during his free agency spree.

Speaking to MMAJunkie, BKFC president David Feldman clarified the situation after news surfaced that Feldman had said Ngannou was "unrealistic" for the promotion.

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"Look, I'm in a position where we're growing this company, and I'm not gonna make a false statement like that," Feldman said. "I never actually said I spoke to Francis Ngannou. I never did. I spoke to his team. I spoke to his manager Marquel [Martin], and we talked some numbers and I just thought it was too high for our taste buds at that time. So, he's right and he's wrong. I never did speak to him exactly, you know, personally. But I did speak to his team about him fighting. You know, if they didn't transfer the message over to him, then, you know, that's not really my problem or my business. I'm not gonna make up a story that I talked to one of the biggest stars in MMA and get out [to the media] that I didn't talk to him. That's not something I would ever do."

Ngannou would eventually move on and sign with the PFL, competing in the promotion's newly-created "SuperFight" division beginning in 2024.

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In the meantime, Ngannou boxed Tyson Fury in a highly competitive crossover fight, coming up just short on the judges' scorecards in October. At press time, Ngannou's next fight has not been revealed.

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