Ngannou Returns to MMA With PFL Title-Fight Knockout
Francis Ngannou returned to MMA on Oct. 19, 2024, stopping Renan Ferreira at PFL Battle of the Giants to claim its inaugural Super Fights heavyweight title.
How the Fight Ended
After the fighters exchanged kicks, Ngannou closed distance and secured a takedown. Ferreira attempted a triangle choke, but Ngannou escaped and began landing ground-and-pound strikes. The referee stopped the contest at 3:32 of round one, giving Ngannou a knockout win by punches. The PFL’s official result records the finish and confirms that Ngannou became the first Super Fights heavyweight champion.
A Return After a Long Absence
The bout was Ngannou’s first MMA appearance since January 2022. After leaving the UFC, he pursued professional boxing, facing Tyson Fury in 2023 and Anthony Joshua in 2024 before returning to the cage. Ferreira entered the matchup as the 2023 PFL heavyweight season champion, making the win a major test for Ngannou in his new promotion.
Ngannou’s finish came through wrestling and ground strikes rather than the standing knockout many fans expected. He took Ferreira down early, survived the submission attempt, and maintained top position until the referee intervened. The result added another heavyweight championship to Ngannou’s career and gave the PFL a high-profile first titleholder for its Super Fights division.
An Emotional Night for Ngannou
After the fight, Ngannou dedicated the victory to his son Kobe, who died at 15 months old earlier in 2024. Reuters reported that Ngannou said he had taken the fight for his son and hoped people would remember his name. In a post-fight interview with MMA Fighting, Ngannou also described the bout as a way to find out whether he could still compete while coping with grief.
The performance answered the immediate question inside the cage: Ngannou was able to return, control a dangerous opponent, and finish the fight decisively. What would come next in his combat-sports career remained open after the event, but his first PFL appearance delivered a title and a deeply personal moment.
Sources
PFL: Official fight report and result
Reuters: Fight report and dedication to Kobe
MMA Fighting: Ngannou discusses his return and grief
Sources
Tags: Wrestling, Olympic Wrestling, PFL
