The athlete joins many other athletes who are now getting paid in Bitcoin.
Popular mixed martial arts fighter and Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) star Francis Ngannou has joined the list of sports professionals who are paid in Bitcoin.
The Cameroonian fighter said Friday that he is a believer in Bitcoin and has been discussing the leading cryptocurrency with family and friends.
Been talking to my family and friends about the crypto space. #Bitcoin is huge in Africa and I’m thinking about putting half of my battle wallet into it. Bitcoin is the future and I am a believer 🤔 @ufc #ufc270
— Francis Ngannou in Twitter
Ngannou also noted that he is very bullish on the future of Bitcoin, which is why he is considering spending half of his next game’s earnings on the digital asset.
In general, sports players are increasingly interested in Bitcoin and cryptocurrencies. Ngannou will not be the first sports star to receive a salary in BTC.
In November, The big American football star Odell Beckham Jr. announced a partnership agreement with Cash App to receive a salary of $4.25 million in Bitcoin for the 2021-2022 NFL season.
 Francis Ngannou’s next UFC fight
The UFC heavyweight champion will face French mixed martial artist Cyril Guin in the Unifier of the Championship at UFC 270 on January 22, 2022.
As the defending champion, Ngannou holds the world record for the heaviest punch ever. He earns between $500,000 and $600,000 per game, including various bonuses.
This means that if he goes ahead and decides to accept a portion of his next battle wallet in Bitcoin, he will get around $250,000 to $300,000 in BTC.
Interestingly, paying Ngannou via Bitcoin is not a problem for the UFC, as the company has an existing sponsorship deal with the popular cryptocurrency exchange CryptoCom. The partnership, valued at approximately $175 million, will run for ten years and will feature the exchange’s logo on fight kits used in all UFC fights.
Meanwhile, Ngannou noted that his bout with Gane could be his last fight in the UFC, as his contract with the company has expired and he doesn’t want an extension due to the unfair salary. The 35-year-old fighter said he would be willing to sign a new boxing contract for a higher salary.
