PFL Super Fights: Ngannou vs Ferreira Recap (Sports)
October 19, 2024
Former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou made his return to MMA for the first time since January 2022 earlier today against PFL’s 2023 heavyweight champion Renan Ferreira in the main event of PFL’s Battle of the Giants card in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
The fight started with the two trading legs kicks, then Ngannou scoring an early takedown, fending off a triangle choke attempt from Ferreira, and then Ngannou ended the fight with a KO victory with a barrage of unanswered punches to the head from top control.
Ngannou is in the PFL today, because the organization has allowed him to pursue his dream of boxing professionally. His recent boxing matches since included a split decision loss to Tyson Fury, and a knockout loss to Anthony Joshua. Ngannou’s MMA win today shows that he is still capable of performing at a high level against the top heavyweights of the world, but fans and critics will argue that he won’t be facing the top competition in the UFC. Ngannou turned 38 in September, and has talked about being on the back half of his fighting career with a couple fights left in both boxing and MMA.
PFL Super Fights: Ngannou vs Ferreira Fight Card Results
- Francis Ngannou def. Renan Ferreira via first-round KO (punches)
- Cris Cyborg def. Larissa Pacheco via unanimous-decision (49-46, 49-46, 49-46)
- Johnny Elben (c) def. Fabian Edwards via unanimous-decision (48-47, 48-47, 48-47)
- Zafar Mohsen def. Husein Kadimagomaev via unanimous-decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
- Paul Hughes def. AJ McKee via split-decision (28-29, 29-28, 29-28)
- Raufeon Stots def. Marcos Breno via third-round submission (rear naked choke)
- Makkasharip Zaynukov def. Dedrek Sanders via unanimous-decision (30-26, 30-26, 30-26)
- Ibragim Ibragimov def. Nacho Campos via unanimous-decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
- Taha Bendaoud def. Tariq Ismail via second-round submission (triangle choke)