This weekend former UFC Heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou makes his long-awaited PFL MMA debut against the champion Renan Ferreira
The last time Francis “The Predator” Ngannou competed in the octagon was at UFC 270 in January 2022. In the fight, he showed high-level grappling as he controlled Ciryl Gane to a unanimous decision victory to claim the Heavyweight championship.
Ngannou has hinted that he aims to utilise his grappling again in his return to MMA this weekend. Since his last fight, a lot has changed for Ngannou, despite winning the belt his contract had expired leaving his future up in the air.
After months of negotiations, it seemed Ngannou and the UFC were getting nowhere.
Contract Negotiation Nightmare
Ngannou had a list of requirements for his new contract that the UFC were not able to meet. Some of the requirements were; health insurance for all fighters, fighter advocates to be present for all fighters during contract negotiations and Francis wanted to be granted the ability to box whilst under contract with the UFC.
As the UFC were not compliant with his list of requirements Francis sought free agency. In May 2023, Ngannou announced that he signed for the PFL as an athlete and chairman of PFL Africa.
The PFL gave Ngannou the freedom the UFC would not and so Ngannou would go on to compete in two major boxing fights. In his debut, he faced Tyson Fury and excelled dropping “The Gypsy King” in the third round.
Fury recovered and survived to the judge’s scorecards, which controversially had Fury as the winner. Due to his impressive performance against Fury, he was booked to face Anthony Joshua.
With lots of hype on his side, many thought he may have what it takes to beat Joshua. Sadly for Ngannou his second boxing bout did not go as planned with Joshua beating him handily knocking “The Predator” out in the second round.
Regardless of the two losses it is reported Ngannou received a combined $30 million dollars for the two fights. After tasting defeat twice Ngannou is keen to get back to winning ways as he returns to his more familiar stage, the octagon.
Francis Ngannou Issues Warning to Renan Ferreira: “This Is MMA, Everything Will Be on Display”
This Saturday Francis Ngannou will fight Renan Ferreira for the PFL Heavyweight title. Champion Ferreira shares equally devastating one-punch power, holding a record of 13-3-0 (3NC), 11 of those wins coming by knockout.
Couple that with Ngannous’s record of 17-3-0, with 12 wins by knockout, this fight is unlikely to go the distance. However, Ngannou believes he has the stamina to go the distance if required.
At the PFL: Battle of the Giants press conference he said:
“I’m going to fight strategically depending on how the fight presents itself… In my career, only once I went for a knockout and it didn’t work out for me, the other time that I had a knockout in 25 seconds, it wasn’t something that was planned so let’s keep it authentic. I know that I have 25 minutes [in me] so I’m going to lay my gameplan down.”
Not only did he reveal that he aims to fight strategically but he also hinted at utilising his grappling in the fight.
He stated:
“This is an MMA fight, so everything will be on display. We prepare for everything and yes, everything will be on display… I think Renan might be preparing something too because he is a Jiu-Jitsu black belt, and I think he’s not underlining my punching power too.”
Further acknowledging the danger his opponent presents, Ngannou does not seem to be overlooking his opponent. But with Ngannou holding 4 wins by submission compared to Ferreira’s 1 submission victory, Ngannou may see that as an opening.
Saturday we find out how “The Predator’s” return to MMA will go as he faces the dangerous 6″9′ Renan “Problema” Ferreria.
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