Tom Aspinall Questions Francis Ngannou’s Status as an Elite Fighter: ‘These Aren’t the Best Guys in the World’

Tom Aspinall Questions Francis Ngannou's Status as an Elite Fighter: 'These Aren't the Best Guys in the World'Tom Aspinall doesn’t seem to think Francis Ngannou should listed among the world’s best heavyweights. On Saturday, October 19,…

Tom Aspinall Questions Francis Ngannou's Status as an Elite Fighter: 'These Aren't the Best Guys in the World'

Tom Aspinall doesn’t seem to think Francis Ngannou should listed among the world’s best heavyweights.

On Saturday, October 19, ‘The Predator’ will make his long-awaited PFL debut as the promotion premieres its highly anticipated Super Fights pay-per-view series in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. There, Ngannou will square off with the 2023 PFL heavyweight tournament winner Renan Ferreira.

Francis Ngannou

‘Problema’ earned the opportunity to face Ngannou via a 21-second knockout of Bellator heavyweight champion Ryan Bader in February.

Francis Ngannou

With the UFC offering a lackluster APEX card this weekend, all eyes will be on Ngannou’s return to mixed martial arts as he competes against ‘Problema’ for the recently unveiled Super Fights heavyweight world championship.

Tom Aspinall questions francis ngannou’s status as an elite heavyweight mixed martial artist

One fighter who will have his eyes on Saturday’s event is interim UFC heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall. Speaking with Ariel Helwani on Monday, the UK star made it clear that he has nothing but respect for Ngannou and the adversity he’s overcome. However, Aspinall isn’t sure that Ngannou deserves to be in the conversation of elite heavyweight mixed martial artists.

His take is based on the fact that Ngannou is competing against fighters not quite on the UFC level.

“I have a lot of respect for Francis,” Aspinall said. “I have a lot of respect for him, and I really appreciate his story. I really appreciate what he’s done in the sport, but it’s hard to debate right now. The guy he’s fighting, he’s not elite. Do you know what I mean? And the guys he’ll be fighting in the future aren’t elite, and it’s as simple as that. These aren’t the best guys in the world.

“The guy he’s fighting fought a friend of mine and a training partner of mine, Ante Delija (two years ago), and Ante just destroyed him within a minute or two. Took him down, ground and pounded him and stopped him within the first minute, and now this guy’s fighting Francis Ngannou.

“So, the guy isn’t elite, his opponent. Yeah, he’s big. Yeah, he’s powerful. Yeah, he could knock you out, but he’s not an elite heavyweight. I’m not disrespecting him. The elite guys are not in the PFL. The elite guys are in the UFC. It’s difficult to say that (Ngannou) is the best heavyweight in the world when he isn’t fighting elite guys right now” (h/t BJPenn.com).

Thus far, Renan Ferreira is 13-3 in his MMA career with 11 of his victories coming by way of knockout. He is 7-1 under the PFL banner with three no-contests.

Since Ngannou’s last MMA fight against Ciryl Gane in January 2022, ‘Problema’ has competed eight times.

Francis Ngannou

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…

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 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.

PFL

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:

PFL
PFL

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.

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PFL Founder Anticipates UFC Attempt To Stifle Ngannou’s Return: ‘What Will Dana White Announce?’

Francis Ngannou makes his PFL debut this weekend, and the promotion is expecting his ex-employers to do what they can to steal the spotlight. For the first time since January 2022, Ngannou will enter the cage for an MMA contest on Saturday, October 19. In his last appearance close to three years ago, “The Predator” […]

Continue Reading PFL Founder Anticipates UFC Attempt To Stifle Ngannou’s Return: ‘What Will Dana White Announce?’ at MMA News.

Francis Ngannou makes his PFL debut this weekend, and the promotion is expecting his ex-employers to do what they can to steal the spotlight.

For the first time since January 2022, Ngannou will enter the cage for an MMA contest on Saturday, October 19. In his last appearance close to three years ago, “The Predator” got the better of Ciryl Gane to remain UFC heavyweight champion.

On this occasion, the Cameroonian will debut in new surroundings as the headline act for the Professional Fighters League’s second pay-per-view event of 2024.

After completing his long-desired transition to boxing to do battle with Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua, the former UFC champ will adjust his sights back to MMA to face 2022 PFL title winner Renan Ferreira in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

And as his first MMA fight week since departing the UFC gets underway, the PFL higher-ups are seemingly expecting some outside efforts to drag the spotlight away from Ngannou…

Davis Predicts White Announcement In Light Of Ngannou’s PFL Fight Week

PFL founder, chairman, and co-owner Donn Davis has caused a stir in recent times owing to repeated shots at his organization’s former fighter, two-time Olympic gold medalist Kayla Harrison.

To kick off the PFL’s ‘Battle of the Giants’ fight week, Davis once again had his sights on a UFC figure, this time the boss.

In a social media post, Davis suggested the UFC CEO will no doubt be preparing a major announcement in the hope of stifling Ngannou’s return — a habit of the UFC’s that has become a running joke in the MMA community.

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

It would stand to reason that no announcement could affect the anticipation for Ngannou’s return, which comes after he took Fury to the limit and suffered a brutal KO to Joshua in the squared circle.

Ngannou vs. Ferreira headlines Saturday’s card, with the likes of women’s MMA legend Cris Cyborg, reigning Bellator middleweight kingpin Johnny Eblen, and former Bellator champion AJ McKee making up the undercard.

Continue Reading PFL Founder Anticipates UFC Attempt To Stifle Ngannou’s Return: ‘What Will Dana White Announce?’ at MMA News.

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

PFL Super Fights World Championship BeltThe PFL is set to introduce a new championship belt for their upcoming “Battle of the Giants” event in…

PFL Super Fights World Championship Belt

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.

Cris Cyborg Champion

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

PFL Super Fights World Championship BeltThe PFL is set to introduce a new championship belt for their upcoming “Battle of the Giants” event in…

PFL Super Fights World Championship Belt

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.

Cris Cyborg Champion

MMA lineal titles in the UFC Heavyweight Championship

MMA lineal titles in the UFC Heavyweight ChampionshipThe UFC heavyweight title lineage, held by Francis Ngannou, includes several prestigious MMA titles that have passed through numerous…

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 legendary fighters.

MMA lineal titles in the UFC Heavyweight Championship

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.