Francis Ngannou just made history by becoming the PFL heavyweight champion in his debut fight. The fighter made his MMA return after two years and beat his opponent, Renan Ferreira, with ease. Going into the fight, many fans expected a similar result. However, former UFC champion Conor McGregor had a difference in opinion, which ultimately cost the ‘Notorious’ half a million dollars.
Conor McGregor made a bold $500K bet on Renan Ferreira to defeat Francis Ngannou via knockout. However, the outcome was far from what he expected, as Ngannou secured a first-round TKO victory. Despite losing such a large sum, the Irishman remained surprisingly upbeat, offering a positive response in the aftermath.
THE RICH GET RICHER, I’LL GET THAT BACK.
Conor McGregor via X
Conor McGregor has become well-known for his high-stakes bets on various sporting events. Recently, at UFC 307, he won a staggering $1.2 million after betting on UFC light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira. Before that, he secured another massive payout by betting against England during the Euros. Interestingly, earlier this year, McGregor also cashed in big by placing a winning bet on his former rival, Nate Diaz.
Conor McGregor lost $500K betting on Francis Ngannou to lose 😅
“THE RICH GET RICHER, I’LL GET THAT BACK.”#UFC #MMA #PFLSuperFights pic.twitter.com/fSbHB7tYhC
— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) October 19, 2024
Unlike popular rapper Drake, McGregor wins a lot of his bets and, as a result, isn’t that concerned about losing once in a while. McGregor often takes risks by betting on underdogs. However, it was quite unexpected this time, especially because the ‘Mystic Mac’ never regarded PFL fighters.
Conor McGregor doubts PFL competitors ahead of Francis Ngannou’s signing
Francis Ngannou left UFC after failing to come to a mutually agreed contract. The Cameroonian-French wanted more money and an opportunity to box, which UFC didn’t provide. As a result, he signed a multi-million dollar deal with PFL with various other perks.
Many fans and experts have questioned this move, given that the UFC is the biggest MMA promotion in the world. Similarly, Conor McGregor also showed his dissatisfaction. While the Irishman was happy with Ngannou’s monetary benefits, he wasn’t sure about the level of competition in the PFL.
I’m happy for Francis…but I still think he should have come to a resolution with the Ultimate Fighting Champion(UFC). Who’s he gonna fight? Who’s he gonna fight that gonna capture the general public? There’s no one…I don’t see a buzz on the announcement.
Conor McGregor via Matchroom Boxing
Conor McGregor talks Francis Ngannou.
Ariel’s Full Interview Here: pic.twitter.com/TbHcbcWr34
— Jed I. Goodman © (@jedigoodman) May 19, 2023
Recently, the current UFC interim heavyweight champion, Tom Aspinall, pointed out something similar. According to the Brit, Ngannou’s opponents like Renan Ferreira aren’t top-tier heavyweight MMA fighters at all. This has led to a difference of opinion between the heavyweights, who had fans expecting a potential future crossover clash.
