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Is Dana White Plotting to ‘Steal the Spotlight’ from Francis Ngannou and the PFL This Weekend?

Is Dana White Plotting to 'Steal the Spotlight' from Francis Ngannou and the PFL This Weekend? With the Professional Fighter League’s biggest event of the year just a few days away, the promotion’s founder thinks…

With the Professional Fighter League’s biggest event of the year just a few days away, the promotion’s founder thinks Dana White is plotting something to try and steal some of the event’s spotlight.

Airing live on pay-per-view, the ‘Battle of the Giants’ card will feature the long-awaited Smart Cage debut of former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou. The Predator’ will take on 2023 heavyweight tournament winner Renan Ferreira who earned the opportunity via a 21-second knockout of Bellator titleholder Ryan Bader in February.

With the UFC set to deliver another lackluster card inside The APEX, all eyes will be on the patented Smart Cage as Ngannou vs. Ferreira and a clash between Cris Cyborg and Larissa Pacheco headline a solid night of fights.

However, the promotion’s co-founder, Donn Davis, expects the UFC CEO to deliver a blockbuster announcement of some sort to try and steal their thunder.

“PFL Super Fight Week!” Davis wrote on X. “Francis Ngannou makes his highly anticipated return with PFL MMA! So what will Dana White announce to try to steal spotlight from THE biggest fight of 2024??”

It certainly wouldn’t be the first time White had tried to undercut another promotion’s efforts, but the UFC’s marquee matchup this week being between a couple of low-ranked middleweights, we can’t imagine there’s much White can do to take eyes away from Ngannou’s big night.

Which event will you be watching this weekend?

Check out the full PFL ‘Brace for impact’ PPV card below:

Saturday’s PFL fight card takes place at The Mayadeen in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The main card will air on ESPN+ PPV at 4:00 p.m. ET following prelims on ESPN+ at 1:30 p.m. ET.

Unveiling The PFL Super Fights World Championship Belt and Epic Showdowns Ahead

The PFL is set to introduce a new championship belt for their upcoming “Battle of the Giants” event in…

The PFL is set to introduce a new championship belt for their upcoming “Battle of the Giants” event in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. This title, known as the PFL Super Fights World Championship Belt, will be on the line in the main event featuring Francis Ngannou vs. Renan Ferreira and Cris Cyborg vs. Larissa Pacheco.

PFL Super Fights World Championship Belt

Here are some key features of this new title:

Weight: The belt weighs an impressive 12.5 pounds and is crafted from pure gold.
Shape: It features 10 sides, inspired by the unique design of the PFL SmartCage.
Side Plates: The belt includes side plates representing each weight division in the PFL.

The PFL fight event goes down live from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on October 19.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JLQNI7byYek

Francis Ngannou vs. Renan Ferreira

Francis Ngannou will be competing for the The PFL Super Fights World Championship Belt. He began training in boxing at the age of 22 and later transitioned to MMA, where he quickly made a name for himself. Ngannou became the UFC Heavyweight Champion before signing with the PFL, where he aims to continue his legacy.

Renan Ferreira, standing at 6 feet 8 inches tall, has made a significant impact in the PFL with his powerful striking and grappling skills. He is best known for his stunning knockout power having KO’d the Bellator Heavyweight King Ryan Bader in just 21 seconds in his most recent fight.

francis ngannou vs renan ferreira faceoff

Cris Cyborg vs. Larissa Pacheco

Cris Cyborg is widely regarded as one of the greatest female mixed martial artists of all time. Cyborg is known for her striking power and aggressive fighting style. As she prepares to face Larissa Pacheco in the co-main event at the upcoming PFL event on October 19, Cyborg aims to solidify her legacy further by claiming another championship.

Larissa Pacheco is a Brazilian mixed martial artist who has quickly risen through the ranks in women’s MMA and is a two-time PFL champion. As she faces Cris Cyborg for the Women’s Featherweight title at the upcoming event, Pacheco is determined to prove herself.

Unveiling The PFL Super Fights World Championship Belt and Epic Showdowns Ahead

The PFL is set to introduce a new championship belt for their upcoming “Battle of the Giants” event in…

PFL Super Fights World Championship Belt

Here are some key features of this new title:

The PFL fight event goes down live from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on October 19.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JLQNI7byYek

Francis Ngannou vs. Renan Ferreira

Cris Cyborg vs. Larissa Pacheco

MMA lineal titles in the UFC Heavyweight Championship

The UFC heavyweight title lineage, held by Francis Ngannou, includes several prestigious MMA titles that have passed through numerous…

The UFC heavyweight title lineage, held by Francis Ngannou, includes several prestigious MMA titles that have passed through numerous legendary fighters.

MMA lineal titles in the UFC Heavyweight Championship

UFC 1 Lineage:
Royce Gracie ? Kazushi Sakuraba ? Igor Vovchanchyn ? Mark Coleman ? Fedor Emelianenko ? Fabricio Werdum ? Alistair Overeem ? Antônio “Bigfoot” Silva ? Cain Velasquez ? Fabrício Werdum ? Stipe Miocic ? Daniel Cormier ? Stipe Miocic (again) ? Francis Ngannou

UFC Heavyweight Title Lineage:
Mark Coleman ? Maurice Smith ? Randy Couture ? Enson Inoue ? Mark Kerr ? Kazuyuki Fujita ? Mark Coleman ? Fedor Emelianenko ? Fabricio Werdum ? Alistair Overeem ? Antônio “Bigfoot” Silva ? Cain Velasquez ? Fabrício Werdum ? Stipe Miocic ? Daniel Cormier ? Stipe Miocic (again) ? Francis Ngannou

PRIDE FC Heavyweight Title Lineage:
Antônio Rodrigo Nogueira ? Fedor Emelianenko ? Fabricio Werdum ? Alistair Overeem ? Antônio “Bigfoot” Silva ? Cain Velasquez ? Fabrício Werdum ? Stipe Miocic ? Daniel Cormier ? Stipe Miocic (again) ? Francis Ngannou

WAMMA Title Lineage:
Fedor Emelianenko ? Fabricio Werdum ? Alistair Overeem ? Antônio “Bigfoot” Silva ? Cain Velasquez ? Fabrício Werdum ? Stipe Miocic ? Daniel Cormier ? Stipe Miocic (again) ? Francis Ngannou

Strikeforce and Dream Titles Lineage were passed from Alistair Overeem into the mix. WAMMA, Elite XC, and IFL titles were later added.

On October 19, when Francis Ngannou faces Renan Ferreira, the UFC heavyweight title lineage could expand to include the Bellator and PFL titles, adding even more to its legacy.

Francis Ngannou’s $2M Payout Deal Praised by Renan Ferreira Ahead of PFL Clash

Renan Ferreira is set to score the biggest payday of his mixed martial arts career and he owes it…

Renan Ferreira is set to score the biggest payday of his mixed martial arts career and he owes it all to Francis Ngannou.

After scoring a 21-second knockout against Bellator champion Ryan Bader in February, Ferreira earned the opportunity to be the former UFC heavyweight champion’s first opponent under the PFL banner. The two titans will square off on Saturday, October 19 when the PFL returns to pay-per-view for the first of its anticipated Super Fights series.

‘Problema’ is going into the fight with his sights set on shocking the world and spoiling Ngannou’s big debut. But even if he comes up short inside the Smart Cage, Ferreira is going to leave Saudi Arabia with a mighty big bag.

Long before their fight was announced, Ngannou made it clear that whoever he competed against in the PFL would walk away with a guaranteed $2 million payday.

Speaking with Sportskeeda MMA, the 2023 PFL heavyweight tournament winner praised Ngannou for trying to take care of his fellow fighters, saying:

“I mean I think it shows who he is and the priority he has. It’s great! I’m sure he understands what it takes to be at this level, to compete at this stage. So I commend him for that.”

Renan Ferreira Believes he and francis ngannou boast similar styles

In 30 combined fights, Francis Ngannou and Renan Ferreira have an incredible 28 finishes between them, 22 of them coming by way of knockout. Boasting similar styles and equally heavy hands, ‘Problema’ expects the fireworks to fly in Kingdom Arena.

“Both Francis and I have similar styles,” Ferreira said. “This just happens to be the style that fans enjoy watching and following. So it’s just two massive guys with heavy hands that go out there and drop people. So what’s not to love?”

The fight will be Ngannou’s first MMA bout since his successful title defense against Ciryl Gane at UFC 270 nearly three years ago. In the time since, ‘The Predator’ has competed twice in boxing, going toe-to-toe with Tyson Fury for 10 rounds before suffering a brutal KO loss against Anthony Joshua in March.

Tyson Fury vs Francis Ngannou – Lookback Ahead of PFL Fight

During the blockbuster bout Tyson Fury vs Francis Ngannou, the Cameroonian athlete Ngannou exceeded everyone’s expectations as he outpointed…

During the blockbuster bout Tyson Fury vs Francis Ngannou, the Cameroonian athlete Ngannou exceeded everyone’s expectations as he outpointed the boxing king over 10 rounds. ‘The Predator’ Ngannou will be back in MMA on October 19 in the PFL. Ahead of his matchup, let’s take a look back at his showdown against the heavyweight great Tyson Fury.

Tyson Fury vs Francis Ngannou

Tyson Fury vs Francis Ngannou was a highly anticipated boxing match taking place October 28, 2023, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia The event, billed as the “Battle of the Baddest,” pitted WBC heavyweight champion Fury against former UFC heavyweight champion Ngannou, who was making his professional boxing debut.

Ngannou was the UFC heavyweight champion having knocked out Stipe Miocic to capture gold. Next, he defeated top contender Ciryl Gane to defend his brown, he then vacated his title and walked away from the organization due to various disputes. He signed with the PFL and booked a blockbuster boxing match against then-boxing world champion Tyson Fury, Tyson Fury vs Francis Ngannou went down in 2023.

The fight turned out to be much closer and more competitive than many expected. Both fighters switched stances multiple times throughout the bout, keeping each other guessing. Fury seemed to struggle with the power and was often hesitant to engage. Fury initiated clinches which Ngannou countered perfectly as he was much more skilled in the clinch.

Joe Rogan claims Francis Ngannou and Tyson Fury fight wad fixed they could pull it off

In a shocking moment, Ngannou knocked Fury down with a powerful left hook in the third round. This unexpected turn of events electrified the crowd and raised the possibility of a major upset. Despite the knockdown, Fury managed to recover and continue fighting focusing on the jab and body jab while avoiding exchanges. The bout went the full 10 rounds, with both men having their moments.

Francis Ngannou calls for rematch with Tyson Fury in next fight it's what I want next — Mandatory Credit: Justin Setterfield

In the end of Tyson Fury vs Francis Ngannou, Fury was awarded a split decision victory, with the judges’ scorecards reading 94-95, 96-93, and 95-94 in his favor. However, many observers felt the decision was controversial, with some believing Ngannou had done enough to win.

Fury, widely considered one of the best heavyweights in the world, was expected to dominate Ngannou, who had never boxed professionally before. Instead, Ngannou put on an impressive performance that earned him respect from the boxing community and raised questions about Fury’s form.

The PFL champion Renan Ferreira is just coming off a 21-second knockout against the Bellator heavyweight champion Ryan Bader and will next face Francis Ngannou in the PFL on October 19.