Francis Ngannou Returned to MMA With a First-Round PFL
Francis Ngannou stopped Renan Ferreira in the first round in Riyadh on October 19, 2024. His PFL debut ended at 3:32, earning him the promotion’s inaugural Super Fight heavyweight championship after more than two years away from MMA competition.
Grappling created the opening
Ngannou took Ferreira down and worked from top position. Ferreira attempted a triangle choke, but Ngannou escaped the submission attempt and resumed his attack.
As Ngannou struck from above, Ferreira turned onto his stomach. Further punches brought the stoppage, completing a successful return through a ground attack rather than an extended standing exchange between the heavyweights.
Ferreira had earned a prominent opportunity
Ferreira entered the matchup after winning the 2023 PFL heavyweight championship. His campaign included knockout victories over Matheus Scheffel, Maurice Greene and Denis Goltsov.
He then stopped Ryan Bader in less than a minute during their 2024 meeting. That victory helped establish Ferreira as the opponent awaiting Ngannou’s first PFL appearance.
A return after a long interval
Ngannou’s previous MMA contest had taken place at UFC 270 in Anaheim on January 22, 2022. He defeated Ciryl Gane by unanimous decision over five rounds to retain the UFC heavyweight title.
Between that defense and the Ferreira fight, he boxed Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua, losing both contests. His Riyadh victory therefore marked both a return to the MMA ruleset and the beginning of his competitive record inside the PFL, with another heavyweight championship secured.
Sources
- PFL: Ferreira finish, fight sequence and heavyweight backgrounds
- UFC: Ngannou’s January 2022 defense against Gane
