Tag: Larissa Pacheco

PFL: Battle Of The Giants Results & Highlights: Francis Ngannou Batters Renan Ferreira

PFL Battle of the Giants: Francis Ngannou vs. Renan Ferreira took place on pay-per-view Saturday, and MMA News has you covered with all the action! The Professional Fighters League hosted its second PPV of the year at The Mayadeen in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, where the main attraction saw former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou make his […]

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PFL Battle of the Giants: Francis Ngannou vs. Renan Ferreira took place on pay-per-view Saturday, and MMA News has you covered with all the action!

The Professional Fighters League hosted its second PPV of the year at The Mayadeen in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, where the main attraction saw former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou make his long-awaited return to mixed martial arts.

Having not competed in the cage since a victory over Ciryl Gane in January 2022 — completing a pair of boxing matches opposite Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua in the period since — “The Predator” made an emphatic MMA comeback at the expense of last year’s PFL heavyweight title winner Renan Ferreira, whom he pummeled inside one round.

Setting the stage for the headliners was another Super Fights championship clash, with reigning Bellator featherweight queen Cris Cyborg debuting in the SmartCage opposite the PFL’s first two-weight champion, Larissa Pacheco. The 39-year-old legend continued to make history, capturing gold in a fifth major promotion by outpointing her fellow countrywoman.

Elsewhere, Bellator gold was on the line in the Middle East when middleweight champ Johnny Eblen ran it back with Fabian Edwards and the stakes were high when the massively touted Paul Hughes got a step up in competition against AJ McKee.

With the event concluded, see below for the full results, followed by all the highlights!

PFL Battle Of The Giants: Ngannou vs. Ferreira Results & Highlights

Main Card:

  • Heavyweight Superfight Championship: Francis Ngannou def. Renan Ferreira via KO (ground punches): R1, 3:32
  • Women’s Featherweight Superfight Championship: Cris Cyborg def. Larissa Pacheco via unanimous decision (49-46, 49-46, 49-46)
  • Bellator Middleweight Championship: Johnny Eblen def. Fabian Edwards via unanimous decision (48-47, 48-47, 48-47)
  • Featherweight: Zafar Mohsen def. Husein Kadimagomaev via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
  • Lightweight: Paul Hughes def. AJ McKee via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)

Preliminary Card:

  • Bantamweight: Raufeon Stots def. Marcos Breno via submission (rear-naked choke): R3: 3:01
  • Lightweight: Makkasharip Zaynukov def. Dedrek Sanders via unanimous decision (30-26, 30-26, 30-26)
  • Featherweight: Ibragim Ibragimov def. Nacho Campos via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
  • Featherweight: Taha Bendaoud def. Tariq Ismail via submission (triangle choke): R2, 3:51

Taha Bendaoud Def. Tariq Ismail

Ibragim Ibragimov Def. Nacho Campos

Makkasharip Zaynukov Def. Dedrek Sanders

Raufeon Stots Def. Marcos Breno

Paul Hughes Def. AJ McKee

Zafar Mohsen Def. Husein Kadimagomaev

Johnny Eblen Def. Fabian Edwards

Cris Cyborg Def. Larissa Pacheco

Francis Ngannou Def. Renan Ferreira

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PFL Battle Of The Giants: Ngannou vs. Ferreira Ceremonial Weigh-In Live Stream

The PFL’s latest pay-per-view event takes place on Saturday night, and MMA News is here to bring you the final faceoffs from the ceremonial weigh-ins! PFL Super Fights: Battle of the Giants takes place at The Mayadeen in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on Oct. 19, where the main attraction will see former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou […]

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The PFL’s latest pay-per-view event takes place on Saturday night, and MMA News is here to bring you the final faceoffs from the ceremonial weigh-ins!

PFL Super Fights: Battle of the Giants takes place at The Mayadeen in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on Oct. 19, where the main attraction will see former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou make his long-awaited return to mixed martial arts.

Having not competed in the cage since a victory over Ciryl Gane in January 2022 — completing a pair of boxing matches opposite Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua in the period since — “The Predator” will look to make an emphatic MMA comeback at the expense of last year’s PFL heavyweight title winner, Renan Ferreira.

Setting the stage for the headliners will be another Super Fights championship clash, with reigning Bellator featherweight queen Cris Cyborg debuting in the SmartCage opposite the PFL’s first two-weight champion, Larissa Pacheco.

Elsewhere, Bellator gold will be on the line in the Middle East when middleweight champ Johnny Eblen runs it back with Fabian Edwards and the stakes will be high when the massively touted Paul Hughes gets a step up in competition against AJ McKee.

Ahead of the event, all 18 fighters successfully made weight. With that, every fight has remained intact, and all that remains on Friday is for the athletes to face off one final time at the PFL: Battle of the Giants ceremonial weigh-ins!

Check out a live stream via the official PFL YouTube channel below, commencing at 11:30 a.m. ET.

PFL Battle of the Giants Ceremonial Weigh-In Stream

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Cris Cyborg vs. Larissa Pacheco – Odds and Match Preview

Cris Cyborg vs. Larissa PachecoThe upcoming fight between Cris Cyborg and Larissa Pacheco is set to be a major event in women’s MMA….

Cris Cyborg vs. Larissa Pacheco

The upcoming fight between Cris Cyborg and Larissa Pacheco is set to be a major event in women’s MMA. Scheduled for October 19, 2024, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, this co-main event fight is being billed as the “Battle of the Giants” alongside Francis Ngannou facing Renan Ferreira.

Cris Cyborg vs. Larissa Pacheco – Odds

Surprisingly, despite Cyborg’s legendary status in women’s MMA, she has opened as the betting underdog in this matchup. One can compare odds at Gamechampions right here. As of early October 2024, most bookmakers are favoring Larissa Pacheco to win the fight. The odds typically show Pacheco as a slight favorite, with her odds around -125, while Cyborg is listed as the underdog with odds of about +105.

These odds are particularly noteworthy because Cyborg has rarely if ever, been an underdog in her illustrious career. The fact that oddsmakers are giving Pacheco the edge speaks volumes about her recent performances.  

It also suggests that bookmakers believe Pacheco’s youth, recent success, and momentum might give her an advantage over the more experienced Cyborg. The close odds also indicate that bookmakers expect a competitive fight.

Cris Cyborg vs. Larissa Pacheco PFL
Photo By Tim Wheaton

Cris Cyborg vs. Larissa Pacheco

Cris Cyborg is a legendary figure in women’s MMA, having held championships in multiple major promotions including Strikeforce, Invicta, UFC, and Bellator. She’s known for her aggressive striking style, combining Muay Thai skills, and boxing. The vast majority of her career in MMA, Muay Thai, and Boxing have all been won by way of mostly knockout.

On the other side, Larissa Pacheco has made a name for herself in the PFL. She’s a two-division champion in PFL, having won both the lightweight and featherweight titles. Pacheco’s rise to prominence includes a notable victory over Olympic gold medalist Kayla Harrison, who is now a contender in the UFC.

For Pacheco, a win over Cris Cyborg could potentially elevate her into discussions of the greatest female fighters of all time. For Cyborg, who is currently the Bellator featherweight champion, this fight represents an opportunity to further cement her legacy by defeating a rising star in Pacheco.

Both fighters have been preparing intensively for this bout. Cris Cyborg has credited her recent boxing experience as beneficial in her preparation for Pacheco. Meanwhile, Pacheco has expressed her excitement for the opportunity, stating that this is “the most anticipated fight in women’s MMA history.”

This fight promises to be a clash of styles and generations. The outcome could have significant implications for both fighters’ legacies and the landscape of women’s MMA as a whole.

PFL Battle Of The Giants: Francis Ngannou vs. Renan Ferreira Weigh-In Results

The PFL‘s “Battle of the Giants” pay-per-view takes place on Saturday, and MMA News is here to bring you the official weigh-in results! Headlining in the Middle East will be former UFC champion Francis Ngannou, who returns to the cage following a memorable two-fight stint in the boxing realm. For his first taste of MMA […]

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The PFL‘s “Battle of the Giants” pay-per-view takes place on Saturday, and MMA News is here to bring you the official weigh-in results!

Headlining in the Middle East will be former UFC champion Francis Ngannou, who returns to the cage following a memorable two-fight stint in the boxing realm. For his first taste of MMA action since departing the UFC at the start of 2023, “The Predator” will battle Renan Ferreira for the PFL’s superfight heavyweight title.

The same stakes will also exist in the co-headliner as legend Cris Cyborg battles the PFL’s first two-weight title winner Larissa Pacheco for the featherweight belt, while Bellator gold will be on the line beforehand when Johnny Eblen and Fabian Edwards run it back.

Elsewhere, AJ McKee looks to stall the charge of Paul Hughes and the likes of Raufeon Stots and Ibragim Ibragimov hope to make the most of their positions on the major PPV card.

PFL Battle Of The Giants: Ngannou vs. Ferreira Weigh-In Results

The PFL’s “Battle of the Giants” event takes place on Saturday, October 19, at The Mayadeen in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The main card begins at 4 p.m. ET/1 p.m. PT, with the preliminary card starting at 1 p.m. ET/10 a.m. PT.

With that said, check out the full weigh-in results below!

Main Card:

  • Heavyweight Superfight Championship: Francis Ngannou (256.8lbs) vs. Renan Ferreira (261.5lbs)
  • Women’s Featherweight Superfight Championship: Cris Cyborg (144.5lbs) vs. Larissa Pacheco (144.1lbs)
  • Bellator Middleweight Championship: Johnny Eblen (184.7lbs) vs. Fabian Edwards (184.9lbs)
  • Featherweight: Husein Kadimagomaev (146lbs) vs. Zafar Mohsen (145.8lbs)
  • Lightweight: AJ McKee (155.8lbs) vs. Paul Hughes (155.8lbs)

Preliminary Card:

  • Bantamweight: Raufeon Stots (135.8lbs) vs. Marcos Breno (136lbs)
  • Lightweight: Makkasharip Zaynukov (153.6lbs) vs. Dedrek Sanders (154.9lbs)
  • Featherweight: Ibragim Ibragimov (145.5lbs) vs. Nacho Campos (145.9lbs)
  • Featherweight: Tariq Ismail (145.1lbs) vs. Taha Bendaoud (145.5lbs)

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PFL Battle Of The Giants: Francis Ngannou vs. Renan Ferreira Press Conference Highlights & Faceoffs

We’re deep into fight week for the PFL’s second pay-per-view of the year, meaning it was recently time for the fighters set to be in action on October 19 to take to the stage and answer some questions. PFL Super Fights: Battle of the Giants takes place at The Mayadeen in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia this […]

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We’re deep into fight week for the PFL’s second pay-per-view of the year, meaning it was recently time for the fighters set to be in action on October 19 to take to the stage and answer some questions.

PFL Super Fights: Battle of the Giants takes place at The Mayadeen in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia this Saturday, where the main attraction will see former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou make his long-awaited return to mixed martial arts.

Having not competed in the cage since a victory over Ciryl Gane in January 2022 — completing a pair of boxing matches opposite Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua in the period since — “The Predator” will look to make an emphatic MMA comeback at the expense of last year’s PFL heavyweight title winner, Renan Ferreira.

Setting the stage for the headliners will be another Super Fights championship clash, with reigning Bellator featherweight queen Cris Cyborg debuting in the SmartCage opposite the PFL’s first two-weight champion, Larissa Pacheco.

Elsewhere, Bellator gold will be on the line in the Middle East when middleweight champ Johnny Eblen runs it back with Fabian Edwards and the stakes will be high when the massively touted Paul Hughes gets a step up in competition against AJ McKee.

As is customary during major fight weeks, the athletes took to the stage on Thursday for the pre-fight press conference.

Check out a full replay of the presser below via the PFL’s official YouTube channel, followed by all the highlights and faceoffs.

PFL Battle Of The Giants: Ngannou vs. Ferreira Press Conference

PFL Battle Of The Giants Press Conference Highlights

PFL Battle Of The Giants Faceoffs

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Kayla Harrison Handles PFL’s Mockery With Grace

Kayla Harrison recently responded to the PFL’s jabs aimed at her ahead of her UFC 307 fight. Harrison notched a crucial victory over Ketlen Vieira in their bantamweight clash last weekend in Salt Lake City, Utah. “Fenomeno” put her through a grueling test, but Harrison ultimately prevailed, earning a hard-fought unanimous decision win. The 34-year-old […]

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Kayla Harrison recently responded to the PFL’s jabs aimed at her ahead of her UFC 307 fight.

Harrison notched a crucial victory over Ketlen Vieira in their bantamweight clash last weekend in Salt Lake City, Utah. “Fenomeno” put her through a grueling test, but Harrison ultimately prevailed, earning a hard-fought unanimous decision win.

The 34-year-old Ohio native has spent nearly all of her MMA career dominating the PFL’s lightweight division. The two-time Olympic gold medalist has impressively finished 11 of her 15 victories, with her only professional setback coming in November 2022, when she suffered a unanimous decision defeat to Larissa Pacheco in their trilogy bout.

Merely hours ahead of her bout with Vieira at UFC 307, her former organization, PFL, shared a promotional clip for Pacheco’s upcoming bout against Cris Cyborg on October 19. In the process, they appeared to ridicule Harrison’s sole career defeat.

PFL co-founder Donn Davis has also often asserted that Harrison departed the promotion out of fear, avoiding potential matchups with Pacheco and Cyborg. However, Harrison appears undeterred by the incessant criticism…

Harrison On PFL Targeting Her: ‘I’m not going to go low’

During a recent interview with MMA Fighting, Harrison weighed in on the PFL’s attempts to mock her through their promotional video. The former Olympic wrestler stated that she has no intention of speaking negatively about her previous organization, emphasizing her pride in having contributed to its growth.

“I operate from a place of gratitude, and I grew up in that organization,” Harrison said. “I was able to financially provide for my family. I have financial abundance. I grew so much there. I’m grateful for what I believe I helped build over there. I feel like I was a big part of that, and I take pride in that.

I’m not going to go low. I’m not going to talk sh*t… That’s not who I am as a person. That’s not the kind of business that I want to do. That’s not what I want to be known for. So I’ll just keep my head down, work hard, you want to talk sh*t about me? Go ahead. I helped build that company.”

At the UFC 307 press conference, UFC CEO Dana White responded to the unfolding drama between the PFL and Harrison with a chuckle, remarking, “When you’re losing as much money as they are, f**king go for it.”

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