The Professional Fighters League (PFL) will present what feels like its biggest card ever this afternoon in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. That’s due in large part to…
The Professional Fighters League (PFL) will present what feels like its biggest card ever this afternoon in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. That’s due in large part to…
Cris Cyborg is one of the most dominant fighters of all time, but on Saturday she’ll be playing an unfamiliar role as an underdog to Larissa Pacheco in the…
Cris Cyborg is one of the most dominant fighters of all time, but on Saturday she’ll be playing an unfamiliar role as an underdog to Larissa Pacheco in the…
Francis Ngannou makes his long-awaited return to MMA and Professional Fighters League debut in a heavyweight championship bout against Renan Ferreira. Ngannou…
Francis Ngannou makes his long-awaited return to MMA and Professional Fighters League debut in a heavyweight championship bout against Renan Ferreira. Ngannou…
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 […]
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
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 […]
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!
Francis Ngannou is set to make his PFL debut against Renan Ferreira on October 19, 2024, in Riyadh, Saudi…
Francis Ngannou is set to make his PFL debut against Renan Ferreira on October 19, 2024, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. This highly anticipated heavyweight bout will headline the PFL: Battle of the Giants event.
Francis Ngannou vs. Renan Ferreira – Odds
The betting odds for the Francis Ngannou vs. Renan Ferreira fight heavily favor Ngannou. According to the opening with the best sports betting sites with jaxon right here, Ngannou is set as a solid favorite at -298, while Ferreira is the underdog at +240.
This means that if you were to bet $100 on Ngannou, you would potentially win about $33.56 (plus your original stake), whereas a $100 bet on Ferreira could net you $240 (plus your original stake) if he wins.
This is likely due to Ngannou’s reputation as a former UFC heavyweight champion and his recent high-profile boxing matches against Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua, which have kept him in the spotlight despite his absence from MMA.
Francis Ngannou vs. Renan Ferreira Match Preview
The former UFC heavyweight champion is returning to MMA after a brief stint in professional boxing. Francis Nagnnou is known for his devastating knockout power. He has not competed in MMA since January 2022, when he successfully defended his UFC title against Ciryl Gane.
After leaving the UFC due to contract disputes, Ngannou ventured into boxing, facing Tyson Fury in a closely contested match and later Anthony Joshua in a bout that ended in a knockout loss.
Renan Ferreira, on the other hand, is the reigning PFL heavyweight champion. ‘Problema’ Ferreira has been active in MMA, fighting eight times since Ngannou’s last MMA bout, winning most of these by way of knockout.
He secured his position as Ngannou’s challenger by winning the 2023 PFL Championships and recently defeated Bellator champion Ryan Bader in just 21 seconds.
Both fighters have expressed respect for each other, with Ngannou acknowledging Ferreira’s unique abilities and Ferreira recognizing the significance of this fight for his career. This match is expected to end by way of knockout one way or another.
This fight marks the return to MMA for Francis Ngannou and his debut in the PFL, where he also holds a position as chairman and equity owner in PFL Africa. A victory would solidify his status as one of the world’s top heavyweights across multiple combat sports. For Ferreira, defeating a former UFC champion of Ngannou’s caliber would significantly boost his profile in the MMA world.
This main event is supported by an impressive undercard, including a women’s featherweight bout between Cris Cyborg and Larissa Pacheco. Live from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on October 19, it is expected to be an explosive night in MMA history.