Francis Ngannou Wins PFL Debut Against Renan Ferreira
On August 7, 2024, the PFL announced that Francis Ngannou would return to MMA against 2023 PFL heavyweight champion Renan Ferreira on October 19 in Riyadh. The bout headlined Battle of the Giants and would crown the inaugural PFL Super Fights heavyweight champion. Ngannou won, stopping Ferreira by first-round knockout. The PFL announcement set the date and matchup; the league’s official result records the finish.
How the fight ended
Ngannou took Ferreira down early and finished with punches on the ground. The referee stopped the heavyweight title fight at 3:32 of Round 1. It was Ngannou’s first PFL appearance and Ferreira’s first loss since winning the 2023 PFL heavyweight season.
Ngannou’s return to MMA
Ngannou had not fought in MMA since January 2022. After leaving the UFC and signing with PFL, he boxed Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua before returning to the cage. His win over Ferreira made him the first PFL Super Fights heavyweight world champion.
Ferreira earned the matchup after winning the 2023 PFL heavyweight championship and knocking out former Bellator heavyweight champion Ryan Bader in February 2024. The Ngannou bout was the main event of PFL’s first Battle of the Giants card in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Sources
- Professional Fighters League: August 7 fight announcement
- Professional Fighters League: Official fight result and title win
Tags
MMA, Combat Sports
