MMA legend Francis Ngannou has explained why he has a problem with people constantly talking about his legacy in combat sports.
As we know, Francis Ngannou is a heavyweight great in every sense of the word courtesy of what he achieved in both the UFC and PFL. In his next fight, he will lock horns with Philipe Lins as part of the upcoming Netflix MMA card, set to be headlined by Ronda Rousey vs Gina Carano in a crazy superfight.
Francis Ngannou is a man who knows what he is worth, and ever since leaving the UFC, he has made it his mission to go out there and take everything he believes he is owed. From huge boxing matches to a brief stint in the cage with PFL, ‘The Predator’ has been earning the big bucks.
In a recent interview, Francis Ngannou had some really interesting things to say when discussing his supposed legacy in MMA.
Francis Ngannou on his MMA/boxing legacy
“Let me tell you what’s a legacy: my legacy right now is my kids back home, is my family back home getting health care, getting security, being able to put food on the table, being able to put a roof on their head,” Ngannou told MMA Junkie at the Ronda Rousey vs. Gina Carano press conference on Tuesday. “That’s a better legacy. You can have the Muhammad Ali legacy, or whatever you want, if your kid cannot attend school, he has no place in society. If your kid doesn’t have food in his stomach, that legacy doesn’t help you for anything.
“You cannot go to the store, or to the gas station, or at school and pay the school a fee with legacy. You have to understand that. This is bullshit that promotion feeds fighters, trick fighters with, and they’re all out there ‘fighting for legacy.’ Good for you. Keep the legacy. Give me my pay, what I deserve.”
Quotes via MMA Fighting
Regardless of what he does between now and his eventual retirement, the impact that Francis has had stretches far beyond his knockout power and extends all the way to the business side of mixed martial arts.