Ferreira’s Quick Finish Closed PFL’s Champions Meeting
Renan Ferreira stopped Ryan Bader in twenty-one seconds at PFL vs. Bellator in Riyadh on February 24, 2024. The heavyweight headliner ended with punches, supplying the PFL representative’s sole victory across the six main-card matchups.
One exchange decided the heavyweight contest
Ferreira landed a right hand as Bader entered range, knocking the Bellator champion to the canvas. He immediately followed with more punches, leaving Bader little opportunity to recover before the referee intervened.
The technical knockout earned Ferreira the heavyweight Super Belt. Francis Ngannou watched from cageside, and Ferreira directed a challenge toward him after the brief contest.
Bellator’s other representatives prevailed
Johnny Eblen defeated Impa Kasanganay by split decision in the middleweight matchup. Jason Jackson stopped Ray Cooper III twenty-three seconds into round two of their welterweight contest.
Vadim Nemkov submitted Bruno Cappelozza with an arm-triangle choke at 2:13 of the second round. Yoel Romero defeated Thiago Santos by unanimous decision, while AJ McKee submitted Clay Collard with a triangle armbar at 1:10 of round one.
The heavyweight story continued
Those results gave the Bellator representatives five wins from the six main-card meetings. Ferreira nevertheless left with the headline finish and an opportunity to face another major heavyweight name.
He eventually fought Ngannou in Riyadh on October 19, 2024. Ngannou won by first-round knockout, ending Ferreira’s next major heavyweight assignment after the rapid victory over Bader had helped bring that matchup into view.
Sources
- MMA Fighting: all six main-card results
- MMA Fighting: Ferreira’s finish and Ngannou challenge
- PFL: subsequent Ngannou–Ferreira result
