Known as “The Predator,” Francis Ngannou is the reigning UFC heavyweight champion. With a reported net worth hovering somewhere around $4 million, he has certainly reaped the financial rewards of being a successful mixed martial artist.
The French Cameroonian mixed martial artist, who is dubbed as the “scariest man on the planet inside the octagon”, became the heavyweight champion by defeating Stipe Miocic at UFC 260. But the road to becoming the No.1 heavyweight wasn’t so easy for Ngannou as he went through a lot to stand at the top.
Francis Ngannou’s Purse Money and UFC Career Earnings
Since his UFC debut back in late 2015, Francis Ngannou has seen quite the jump in his career earnings. In his first UFC appearance at UFC on Fox: dos Anjos vs. Cerrone 2, he won the fight against fellow newcomer Luis Henrique via knockout in the second round and earned $22,500 purse money.
On December 9, 2016, Ngannou made his first six-figure purse money at UFC Fight Night: Lewis vs Abdurakhimov, where he faced Anthony Hamilton. He won the bout by submission in the first round and raked in $124,500, including his first $50,000 Performance of the Night bonus.
In the highest-profile fight of his career, Ngannou fought veteran Alistair Overeem at UFC 218 and defeated him via knockout in the first round. The win earned him $90,000, including $10,000 Reebok sponsorship. In his shortest-time knockout win against Jairzinho Rozenstruik (just 20 seconds into the first round) at UFC 249, Ngannou bagged a whopping $320,000 purse money.
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The biggest jump in Ngannou’s payday came when he fought Stipe Miocic at UFC 260 on March 27, 2021. From his spectacular second-round knockout win, he pocketed $580,000, including a $50,000 Performance of the Night bonus and a $30,000 fight week incentive pay. (Figures courtesy of The Sports Daily’s MMA Manifesto).
According to The Sports Daily, Ngannou has made a total of $2,737,500 from his UFC earnings (excluding undisclosed and/or PPV bonuses).
Francis Ngannou Endorsement and Sponsorship
The current UFC heavyweight champion has active endorsement deals with CBD Research Labs, Gym King Fight Division, the Fight Game, Arsenal Football Club, and Cryo pain Relief. During his early UFC career, he had a sponsorship deal with Reebok.
Francis Ngannou Net Worth in 2022
Combining his career earnings and income through various endorsement deals, business ventures, and promotions, Ngannou’s net worth is estimated at $4 million. If he manages to win in his next fight against Ciryl Gane at UFC 270 on January 22, he’ll be worth more than the aforementioned figure.
Francis Ngannou To Take Half of His UFC 270 Purse in Bitcoin
On January 18, 2022, Ngannou stated that he intends to receive half of his UFC 270 purse paid in bitcoin (BTC). He has partnered with the payments firm Cash App. In addition, he believes “Bitcoin can empower people everywhere.”
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The ‘Predator’ Ngannou will face interim UFC Heavyweight Champion ‘Bon Gamin’ Ciryl Gane in UFC 270: Ngannou vs. Gane on Saturday, January 22, 2022. The knockout artist Ngannou will defend his title at Anaheim’s Honda Center.
Francis Ngannous Sold $581K Worth of NFTs Last Year
The heavyweight champion made $580,000 from his NFT collaboration with BossLogic last year – more than his purse money for the UFC 260 Stipe Miocic fight.
On March 24, 2021, Ngannou announced his collaboration with BossLogic, who created the digital art for the NFTs. His NFT collection is made up of four NFTs with different levels of scarcity.
Ngannou’s four NFTs are called The Heavy, The Uncrowned, Crowned, the Crowned King. He has promised that all the proceedings from the sale of the artworks will go to the Francis Ngannou Foundation.
