Two of the biggest and best Heavyweight fighters in the world will collide on Oct. 19, 2024, as Francis Ngannou battles Renan Ferreira in the headlining act of Professional Fighters League (PFL) upcoming massive event inside The Mayadeen in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
It will mark the first mixed martial arts (MMA) fight for “The Predator” since inking a PFL contract back in early 2023, putting his boxing career aside to return to his first true combat passion. It’s also Ngannou’s first MMA fight since 2022 after leaving Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) with six straight wins.
As for Ferreira, he hasn’t tasted defeat since Aug. 2022, racking up four straight knockout wins, including capturing PFL’s Heavyweight title with a second round knockout win over Denis Goltsov. Both men possess great accolades, which is the reason Ferreira has no qualms in saying that the winner of this fight will be without a doubt the best 265-pound MMA fighter on the planet … even if you throw Jon Jones and Tom Aspinall in the conversation.
“This fight seals the deal as to who the best Heavyweight in the world is,” Ferreira said during a recent pre-fight press conference in regard to who he feels is the best big man in MMA right now. “We are two guys in their prime, heavy hitters, insane knockout power who only know one motion, and that is moving forward.”
Ferreira is coming off a 21-second knockout win over current Bellator Heavyweight champion, Ryan Bader, at the “PFL vs. Bellator” event in February. Now that he’s had the chance to size up “The Predator,” Ferreira knows he isn’t in for an easy fight.
“Francis has had a great career and I have been following him and impressed by his career for a long time,” he said. “So, meeting him in-person solidifies everything I knew. He is a big man with big power and I am excited for this fight.
“I will say it again, I am big problem for him,” Ferreira added. “I have knockout power, I can out-wrestle him, take him to the ground and submit him, as well.”
For the record, Ferreira only has one submission victory on his resume. But, that’s because he’s very confident in his knockout power and his hands have gotten the job done more often than not during his 11-year career.
Nevertheless, Ferreira’s comments are sure to cause a rise out of Jones — UFC’s reigning Heavyweight champion — and Aspinall, who currently holds the interim strap. At the moment, Aspinall is sitting idle while “Bones” eventually settles his business with Stipe Miocic.
But, even if Jones comes out on top, there is no guarantee that he will give Aspinall the opportunity to unify the titles.
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