The PFL has rolled out an official rankings system as part of its broader promotional reset, but the first release immediately sparked debate after heavyweight star Francis Ngannou was left out entirely.
Ngannou signed with the PFL in 2023 after vacating the UFC heavyweight title and entering free agency. Before stepping into the SmartCage, “The Predator” tested himself in boxing, facing Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua. He eventually made his long-awaited PFL debut in October 2024, where he demolished Renan Ferreira in the first round at PFL: Battle of the Giants, a performance that reminded fans exactly why he remains one of the most feared heavyweights in combat sports.
Despite that dominant showing, Ngannou’s absence from both the inaugural PFL heavyweight rankings and the men’s pound-for-pound list raised eyebrows across the MMA community. PFL CEO John Martin later addressed the situation, stressing that the rankings are far from final.
“These rankings are a starting point,” Martin said in a statement to MMA Fighting. “They reflect where the roster stands today, not a final verdict. Over the next three to four months, as fighters compete and activity picks up, the rankings will evolve and sort themselves out naturally.”
The PFL rankings are independently administered by Combat Registry, a respected combat sports data organization that also compiles rankings for the UFC and the Association of Boxing Commissions (ABC). Combat Registry previously handled Bellator MMA rankings before the PFL acquired the promotion in November 2023. A panel of MMA journalists and industry experts submits votes after each PFL event, with updated rankings released regularly.
“These rankings provide a clear, objective snapshot of where each PFL division stands,” Martin said. “By partnering with an independent data organization like Combat Registry, we’re giving fans and our athletes a transparent and credible rankings system that reflects performance inside the PFL cage.”
Ngannou currently has one fight remaining on his original PFL contract and did not compete in 2025. Still, Martin remains optimistic about the former UFC champion’s future with the promotion and hinted that something major is in the works.
“I’ve spoken to Francis a number of times,” Martin said. “He knows we’re working on something very special for him. I’d like to see what happens in the fight this week and see if [Vadim] Nemkov wins, if that makes sense. But Francis knows that we’re looking forward to him fighting in 2026, relatively soon hopefully, and we’re trying to put something together that’s very special for him.”
Martin also praised Ngannou’s impact beyond the cage, particularly his role in expanding the brand globally.
“He’s got one more fight under his contract, and we’ll see what happens after that,” Martin added. “In the meantime, he’s been a great ambassador for us and PFL Africa. We’ve been in reasonably frequent communication with him and his team. I look forward to seeing Francis in the cage again.”
For now, the new PFL rankings serve as a baseline rather than a definitive hierarchy. As activity increases and big names like Ngannou return, the landscape is expected to shift—potentially placing one of the sport’s most intimidating heavyweights right where many fans believe he belongs.
