Francis Ngannou vs. Ben Rothwell Superfight SHUT DOWN – Is PFL Scared or Just Stalling?

There aren’t many more enticing opponents for Francis Ngannou than BKFC champion Ben Rothwell. Since making his PFL debut, the former UFC heavyweight champion has been left waiting for his next big fight. After obliterating 6’8” Renan Ferreira in a first-round TKO last October, fans have speculated about his next challenge.

With limited high-profile options, Rothwell has thrown his name into the mix, calling out Ngannou after securing a title win over Mick Terrill at KnuckleMania V. The idea of a crossover clash has excited fight fans, but is it even possible?

BKFC Boss David Feldman Shoots Down Ngannou vs. Rothwell Fight

When asked about the potential superfight, BKFC president David Feldman didn’t mince words.

“That would be a fantastic payday for Ben Rothwell, and I wouldn’t be opposed to something like that happening,” Feldman told MMA Knockout. “But I just don’t think the PFL are going to do it… UFC doesn’t need us, and all the other promotions don’t want to help us because it just makes us bigger. So, they don’t want to do that.”

Simply put, PFL doesn’t gain much from co-promoting a blockbuster fight that could further boost BKFC’s profile. While Ngannou remains a massive name, Feldman believes other promotions are hesitant to lend him their platform.

BKFC: The Rising Power in Combat Sports?

While Rothwell, at 43, doesn’t have the same star power as Ngannou, he has faced elite UFC competition, including Cain Velasquez, Alistair Overeem, Junior Dos Santos, and Andrei Arlovski. But beyond individual fighters, Feldman believes BKFC is growing into a legitimate powerhouse in combat sports.

“If I had to say what number we are, I would think we’re a very solid No. 2,” Feldman said, referencing BKFC’s recent success with 17,000+ fans at KnuckleMania V.

“There’s no more exciting show in the world, and our trajectory is higher than anything else out there.”

BKFC x PFL? “It Doesn’t Really Make Sense”

Despite PFL branding itself as MMA’s co-leader, Feldman remains unconvinced that they carry the momentum many assume.

“We don’t really need to [co-promote],” Feldman stated. “If something makes sense, we could talk about it, but we don’t really need to. UFC made sense because they had some of the top dogs in the world. If they weren’t using them and we could pull one, that made a lot of sense.”

Is Ngannou Stuck in a Holding Pattern?

While Ngannou continues to search for his next major fight, boxing remains an option. Having already shared the ring with Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua, many believe Ngannou’s future lies in the sweet science rather than MMA.

For now, Rothwell vs. Ngannou remains a fantasy, but with the ever-evolving combat sports landscape, nothing is off the table.

Ngannou’s Future: Will PFL Deliver a Big Fight?

With PFL’s 2024 season unfolding, fans are wondering if the promotion can secure a blockbuster fight for Ngannou. Will they match him against a top MMA heavyweight, or will he chase another boxing megafight? As speculation grows, one thing is clear—Ngannou’s next move will shake the combat sports world.