Tag: pfl

Breaking – Francis Ngannou set to make PFL debut against Ryan Bader – Renan Ferreira winner later this year

Francis Ngannou set to make PFL debut against Ryan Bader - Renan Ferreira winner later this yearFormer undisputed UFC heavyweight champion, Francis Ngannou is slated to make his first walk in mixed martial arts later…

Francis Ngannou set to make PFL debut against Ryan Bader - Renan Ferreira winner later this year

Former undisputed UFC heavyweight champion, Francis Ngannou is slated to make his first walk in mixed martial arts later this year, as well as his first outing under the banner of the PFL (Professional Fighters League) since last year’s signing, with a bout against the victor of this weekend’s superfight between Ryan Bader and Renan Ferreira set to meet the Cameroonian.

Ngannou, a former undisputed heavyweight champion under the Dana White-led UFC banner, is also set to make his sophomore outing in the boxing ring next month in a return to the Middle East, taking on former two-time heavyweight titleholder, Anthony Joshua in the pair’s Saudi Arabia showdown.

The outing will mark Francis Ngannou’s return to competition, following a decision loss to unbeaten WBC heavyweight champion, Tyson Fury back in August of last year – with the former managing to even score devastating knockdown on the Morecambe native early into the 12 round back-and-forth. 

Francis Ngannou is in line for his PFL bow

And with speculation continually mounting regarding Ngannou’s first outing under the Peter Murray-led PFL banner, confirmation from the organization tonight has revealed the Batié knockout artist will take on either Bader or the aforenoted, Ferreira – with the duo squaring off in a monstrous heavyweight title fight at a Bellator MMA vs. PFL event. 

“BREAKING NEWS: HEAVY STAKES for Saturday Night,” PFL posted on their official X account. “@Francis_Ngannou will face the winner of the Renan Ferreira vs. Ryan Bader bout. #PFLvsBellator”

Yet to feature in mixed martial arts since UFC 270 back in January 2022, Ngannou most recently successfully unified the promotion’s titles with a heavyweight win over the then-unbeaten, Ciryl Gane in a decision victory over the former interim champion. 

Ngannou would depart the promotion in January of last year, before inking a multi-year deal with the PFL. 

Do you expect Francis Ngannou to land similar successes in the PFL?

Francis Ngannou to Fight Winner of Renan Ferreira vs. Ryan Bader PFL Bout

The Professional Fighters League announced Thursday that the winner of Saturday’s heavyweight bout between Renan Ferreira and Ryan Bader will go on to face…

The Professional Fighters League announced Thursday that the winner of Saturday’s heavyweight bout between Renan Ferreira and Ryan Bader will go on to face…

Mike Tyson to Present Custom Championship Belts to PFL vs. Bellator Fight Winners

Legendary boxer Mike Tyson will be on hand for Saturday’s PFL vs. Bellator: Champs to present a customized belt to the winners of the three championship…

Legendary boxer Mike Tyson will be on hand for Saturday’s PFL vs. Bellator: Champs to present a customized belt to the winners of the three championship…

PFL-Star Cedric Doumbe scoffs at potential return to the UFC after initial snub: ‘I’m better off here’

Cedric Doumbe rules out future move to the UFC after initial snub I'm better off with the PFLEarlier this week, the UFC snapped up PFL (Professional Fighters League) star, Kayla Harrison to a stunning Octagon debut…

Cedric Doumbe rules out future move to the UFC after initial snub I'm better off with the PFL

Earlier this week, the UFC snapped up PFL (Professional Fighters League) star, Kayla Harrison to a stunning Octagon debut in April, however, it appears upcoming French star, Cedric Doumbe won’t be following in the Olympian’s footsteps and penning a deal with the Dana White-led promotion – again.

Doumbe, a former GLORY Kickboxing champion at the welterweight limit twice, is slated to make his sophomore PFL debut at PFl 7 in March in the Peter Murray-led promotion’s return to Paris, France.

Taking on the unbeaten prospect, Baissangour Chamsoudinov, Doumbe will attempt to turn in his second consecutive victory since his move to the promotion, following a stunning 9-second KO win over Jordan Zebo in a Knockout of the Year contender last September – in front of French World Cup winner, Kylian Mbappe. 

Cedric Doumbe unsure of future UFC move

Released from a penned deal with the UFC following the cancellation of an Octagon debut against Darian Weeks at a ‘Fight Night’ event billed for Paris back in 2022, Doumbe, who has been tipped to eventually make the transition to the Octagon, has shot down the idea of signing a deal once more.

“That makes me smile because they [the UFC] f*cked up,” Cedric Doumbe told MMA Fighting. “They f*cked up, but I didn’t lose anything. They lost. So, it is what it is, you know? Everything happens for a reason. I’m just doing my thing. I know I would do the same, maybe even better, maybe less in UFC, but I’m just doing my thing. Some people say that, ‘You will never have done that (walkout) with the mattress in the UFC. They will never let you do this.’ So, I’m better here [in the PFL].”

“We never know for tomorrow, but I think 90 percent, no,” Cedric Doumbe said of his chances of signing with the UFC in the future. “90 percent no. Because I’m not 20 [years old]. I’m not 21. I’m not that younger fighter. So, I think I’m more close to the end than the beginning, so I think I will not open the UFC door again. But, we never know.” 

Would you like to see Cedric Doumbe eventually make a UFC move?

PFL x Bellator Supercard Officially Set for February 24 in Riyadh Featuring Four Champion vs. Champion Fights

PFL x Bellator supercardThe PFL x Bellator supercard is officially set for February 24 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. A few short months…

PFL x Bellator supercard

The PFL x Bellator supercard is officially set for February 24 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

A few short months after the Professional Fighter League’s blockbuster announcement that it had acquired Bellator MMA, we now know when and where the highly anticipated event featuring PFL champions vs. Bellator champions will go down. According to a report from Ariel Helwani, the event will emanate from the Saudi Arabian capital next month with a slew of exciting fights.

In the main event of the evening, 2023 PFL heavyweight champion Renan Ferreira will take on Bellator MMA heavyweight titleholder Ryan ‘Darth’ Bader. In the co-main event, 2023 PFL light heavyweight champion Impa Kasanganay will face Bellator middleweight champion Johnny Eblen in a 185-pound fight.

Also announced for the main card is 2023 PFL featherweight champion Jesus Pinedo who will face Bellator featherweight champion Patricio Pitbull, and 2023 PFL welterweight champion Magomed Magomedkerimov will square off with Bellator welterweight champion Jason Jackson.

Rounding out the card will be a series of can’t-miss clashes, including former PFL heavyweight champion Bruno Cappelozza vs. Bellator light heavyweight champion Vadim Nemkov in a heavyweight bout. Clay Collard vs. A.J. McKee will go down in a lightweight scrap and fight fans will also be treated to a heavy-hitting affair as Thiago Santos meets Yoel Romero.

Also expected to feature on the card will be the return of women’s boxing ‘GWOAT’ Claressa Shields, and the pro mixed martial arts debut of Muhammad Ali’s grandson, Biaggio Ali Walsh.

Check out the full fight card below:

PFL vs. Bellator Main card (ESPN+ PPV at 3 p.m. ET):

  • Renan Ferreira vs. Ryan Bader
  • Impa Kasanganay vs. Johnny Eblen
  • Magomed Magomedkerimov vs. Jason Jackson
  • Jesus Pinedo vs. Patricio Pitbull
  • Bruno Cappelozza vs. Vadim Nemkov
  • Thiago Santos vs. Yoel Romero
  • Clay Collard vs. AJ McKee

Prelims (ESPN News/ESPN+ at 12:30 p.m. ET):

  • Gabriel Braga vs. Aaron Pico
  • Biaggio Ali Walsh vs. Chris Morris
  • Claressa Shields vs. Kelsey DeSantis
  • Abdullah Al-Qahtani vs. Edukondal Rao
  • Malik Basahel vs. Vinicius Pereira

As always, the card is subject to change.