The Daniel Cormier Show - DC REACTS to Francis Ngannou LEAVING PFL, Francis vs. Jon Jones next?

Summary

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The Daniel Cormier Show – DC Reacts to Francis Ngannou Leaving PFL, Francis vs. Jon Jones Next?

Podcast: The Herd with Colin Cowherd
Episode Date: March 7, 2026
Guest Analyst: Chris Weidman
Focus: The fallout from Francis Ngannou’s exit from PFL, the shifting UFC heavyweight landscape, and the possibility of blockbuster fights including Ngannou vs. Jon Jones.

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Episode Overview

This episode dives deep into the seismic announcement that Francis Ngannou has left the PFL (Professional Fighters League). Host Daniel Cormier (“DC”) is joined by UFC fighter and analyst Chris Weidman to explore what Ngannou’s newfound free agency means for the UFC, its heavyweight division, and particularly the prospects for mega-fights including the long-anticipated Jon Jones vs. Francis Ngannou clash. They also discuss the roles of Tom Aspinall, Alex Pereira, and the influence of TKO Group (the UFC and WWE’s parent company) on making superfights happen despite prior bad blood.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. PFL and Francis Ngannou: Who Got the Better Deal?

Timestamps: 02:30–08:00

• DC speculates that PFL may be making a smart move letting Ngannou go despite the initial hype and lucrative deal.
• Cormier points out the excitement around Ngannou’s entry to free agency:

  “If the big man is on the free agent market... that gives me the idea that it’s possible that he could come back and fight here.” (04:00)

• Discussion of Ngannou’s limited impact in MMA for PFL and the greater focus on his boxing exploits.
• Chris Weidman’s blunt assessment:

  “It looks like the PFL got screwed. They probably overpaid Francis for that first MMA fight, and then he was boxing and they weren’t willing to pay him again.” (07:59)

Memorable Quote

“Francis fought one time there. He signed... it was the biggest deal of all time. He was going to be an ambassador for fighters. His opponents were going to get paid very well, but he boxed more than he actually fought MMA, so... did the PFL get screwed?” — DC (07:25)

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2. Implications for the UFC Heavyweight Division

Timestamps: 04:40–10:26

• The heavyweight division is “in flux” with Tom Aspinall’s free agency and Jon Jones’ ongoing negotiations.
• DC lists the possible domino effect of Ngannou’s release:
  • Ngannou’s return gives UFC matchmakers more flexibility (Jones, Pereira, Aspinall).
  • Reduces leverage for both Jones and Aspinall in negotiations.
  • Opens up massive matchups for UFC events, including the possibility of a White House fight card.
• Wrestling with possibility (and lessons from WWE) that business can trump personal issues:

  “TKO... say, even though there is bad blood, the bottom line means and matters more.” (08:16) “So many people have had issues with the organization, and they've been back... Why does that matter? Why am I speaking WWE? Well, these moves have happened under the TKO manner...” — DC (08:05–08:20)

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3. Jon Jones vs. Francis Ngannou: Is Now the Time?

Timestamps: 08:40–10:26

• Both DC and Weidman agree Jon Jones is the lynchpin, but a fight with Ngannou is by far the biggest the UFC could make.
• Weidman:

  “Francis vs. Jon Jones is the bigger fight.” (09:01) “There was a long history there. They were supposed to fight. People were acting like Jon Jones was scared of Francis.” (09:01)

• DC on the matchup:

  “Can Jon Jones just throw him around? I don't think.” (10:07)

  • Both agree that Ngannou's recent boxing improvements make him even more dangerous now.
  • Weidman wants to see the fight:

    “Yeah, if they can make that fight happen. Please, let's make that fight.” (10:22)

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4. Potential Scenarios & What’s Next

Timestamps: 10:26–13:41

• UFC could leverage Ngannou’s return to balance difficult negotiations or cover for injuries/delays (Aspinall, Jones).
• DC argues Ngannou "changes everything" for the division, adding depth and excitement to top-tier matchups.
• DC’s parting reflection:

  “It just would make the division a little bit more exciting to have a bunch of guys at the top that could fight each other... the heavyweight division starts to look viable again.” (12:15–12:45)

• Ngannou’s age and inactivity are acknowledged, but his potential for a “superfight” remains undeniable:

  “Even if not for anything more than to get that one fight that so many thought, man, if we could get Jones and Francis... you want to talk about making the biggest fight ever on the White House lawn? I think that's it.” (13:15)

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Notable Quotes & Moments

• DC on big business and second chances:

  "CM Punk hated the WWE. He's back now. We've seen so many. Brock Lesnar. It looked like Brock Lesnar would never get back in the WWE after all the things that he did. He's back now... the bottom line means and matters more." (06:59–08:16)

• Chris Weidman on UFC’s perspective:

  “100. But business is business. I think they could look past it, and I think. I hope they can make it happen.” (09:36)

• Discussion on the appeal and danger of Francis Ngannou:

  “When you possess the power he has and all that danger, man, maybe he's still viable.” — DC (12:36)

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Key Segments and Timestamps

• PFL–Ngannou breakup and free agency bombshell: 02:30–08:00
• Chris Weidman’s reaction and heavyweight landscape analysis: 07:24–10:26
• Ngannou vs. Jones superfight possibility & implications: 08:40–10:26
• Potential for UFC to reshape the division and leverage new options: 10:26–13:41

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Episode Tone & Energy

Enthusiastic, speculative, and grounded in insider knowledge. DC’s excitement is palpable as he considers the opportunities Ngannou’s exit creates, and both hosts are candid about the business realities that drive elite MMA matchmaking.

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Takeaway

This episode sums up a pivotal moment in MMA: with Francis Ngannou back on the free agent market, UFC has a golden opportunity to revitalize the heavyweight division and deliver long-awaited superfights. Both Daniel Cormier and Chris Weidman agree—the fight world should watch closely for sudden, dramatic moves… and maybe, just maybe, we’ll finally see Jones vs. Ngannou materialize on the sport’s biggest stage.

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Transcript

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[Chris Weidman]

What's up, guys?

[MMA Analyst / Commentator]

Did the PFL get screwed? Francis fought one time there. He signed. Remember, he signed in 23. It was the biggest deal of all time. He was going to be an ambassador for fighters. His opponents were going to get paid very well, but he boxed more than he actually fought mma, so. So did the PFL get screwed? And what does that, like, what does this mean to you, hearing that France is on the market? Do you think the UFC could come to terms with them? And do you agree with my idea that it takes leverage off of the Jones plate? It takes leverage off of the Tom aspinall plate everything. Does it affect everything like I feel?

[Chris Weidman]

Yeah. I think it looks like the PFL got screwed. It looks like they weren't happy with the deal. They probably overpaid Francis for that first MMA fight, and then he was boxing and they weren't willing to pay him again. They realized they weren't. They didn't get the numbers that they needed to. So it looks like they're moving on. But I do think this makes things very interesting, especially for this White House, because we've been talking about the Jon Jones Pereira fight, and they saying they're going to be announcing the fights on Saturday. So if Francis Ngannou, if the UFC just found out Francis Ngannou got. Became a free agent, do we make a quick turnaround from what's Bailey, Jon Jones versus Ngannou or Alex Pereira versus Jon Jones?

[MMA Analyst / Commentator]

Well, I think we both can agree that Jon Jones is the. Is the. Is the. Is the sticking point. You got to have Jones first off because he's American. He's an American guy. I think Jones is the one that stays regardless. Francis Jones, a Pereira Jones. I think Francis, you gotta go. Francis. I think. I think Francis versus Jon Jones is the bigger fight.

[Chris Weidman]

I agree, because they were. There was a long history there. They were supposed to fight. People were acting like Jon Jones was scared of Francis.

[MMA Analyst / Commentator]

He wasn't.

[Chris Weidman]

Then Francis was scared of Jon Jones. You know, I'm just saying that's. That's what the talk was. And here we go. Is it two years or something? Three years later?

[MMA Analyst / Commentator]

23. 23 is when he signed with the PFL. But, but, but remember, Francis had really bad issues with the ufc. I mean, talking about, like, those guys, they don't like each other. But, but, but, but again, TKO is the parent company now. They have shown time and time again that they can look past the personal to get back to making the money.

[Chris Weidman]

100. But business is business. I think they could look past it, and I think. I hope they can make it happen.

[MMA Analyst / Commentator]

You want to make. You want Frank?

[Chris Weidman]

I think Francis would be sick against Jon Jones because, you know, Pereira, that fight is. That fight would be sick too, but it would be. A lot of people would be like, Jon Jones is going to go out there and take him down. We've seen him get taken down by Israel Asado.

[Podcast Host]

So.

[MMA Analyst / Commentator]

But that was so long ago. He's much better now.

[Chris Weidman]

I agree. I agree with all those things, but that's where people's mind's going to be a little bit. So Francis, again, was a monster. Can Jon Jones, just throw him around. I don't think.

[MMA Analyst / Commentator]

Can you just take him down like that?

[Chris Weidman]

No, I think he's going to have to stay.

[MMA Analyst / Commentator]

Hey, Francis hits hard. He's big, and obviously he's gotten better at boxing. If he was training for two boxing fights against two of the greatest boxers in the world, you'd imagine he's even more dangerous today than he was even back then.

[Chris Weidman]

Yeah, if they can make that fight happen. Please, let's make that fight.

[MMA Analyst / Commentator]

My man, Chris Weidman. Guys, it changes everything. It changes everything, this guy being on the market. I believe that if you're the ufc, you take a close look. I'm not saying you have to do it. I'm saying, no, you take a close look at what it would take to make this happen, because I'm telling you, it helps everything. It helps every situation. If there is a. Tom Aspinall is the heavyweight champion of the world. Make no mistake about it, he's the best heavyweight in the world. Or at least when Jon Jones retired, that's exactly what he was. And so many believed that he would beat Jon Jones even if they fought. So Tom Aspinall is the heavyweight champion in the world. But if Tom Aspinall is having trouble coming to terms with the ufc, if Tom Aspinall is. Is injured as he is and out for as long as it seems like he will be, to put the former heavyweight champion who walked away with the belt back in there would be a massive deal. I don't know. This is all me guessing, because I don't know anything. But I know that the first thing I thought when I woke up this morning and saw that Francono had been released by the PFL first was like, why would they do that? Is it smart that right now they're cutting their losses and going, okay, this Francis Ngannou experiment did not work, but immediately my mind shifted to, wow, this is great for the UFC and fans around the world who love mixed martial arts, because potentially they could get the opportunity to see him back in the Octagon. And if you see him back in the Octagon, they have massive fights all across the heavyweight division for him, all across the heavyweight division. Hey, Jon Jones, you don't want to fight Tom Aspinall. Okay, let's do Tom Aspinall, Francis Ngannou. Right? Let's do the former heavyweight champ versus the current heavyweight champ. Let's do that. Okay, Jon, you want to fight a super fight with Alex Pereira? Okay, we'll do Jon Jones. Sorry, we'll do Tom Aspinall versus Francis. It just would make, to me, it just feels like it would make the division a little bit more exciting to have a bunch of guys at the top that could fight each other. Because right now, Alex Pereira is a heavyweight excitement. Jon Jones is back as a heavyweight excitement. Aspinall is the heavyweight champ excitement. You start putting the big dog in there too big Frank. The heavyweight division starts to look viable again. Now remember, he's 39 years old. He only fought one MMA fight in the PFL. He has not fought MMA that long. But I'm telling you, when you possess the power he has and all that danger, man, maybe he's still viable. And even if not for anything more than to get that one fight that so many thought, man, if we could get Jones and France to get that one fight, you want to talk about making the biggest fight ever on the White House lawn? I think that's it. It. I think that's the biggest fight ever. We'll see. We'll see what happens Saturday. I, I, I, I'm hoping, I'm not sure. Till next time, guys. Peace. This is the biggest night in podcasting.

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