Ngannou’s KO Sparks GOAT Debate, Adesanya Weighs In
Francis Ngannou returned to mixed martial arts on October 19, 2024, and won the inaugural Professional Fighters League Super Fights heavyweight title. In the main event of Battle of the Giants in Riyadh, he stopped Renan Ferreira with punches at 3:32 of the first round. [1]
Adesanya’s Reaction
Israel Adesanya reacted to the finish in a video on his YouTube channel. He praised Ngannou’s performance and called him the greatest heavyweight of all time in that moment, while describing his view as part of an ongoing debate. That is Adesanya’s personal assessment, rather than an official ranking. [2]
A Different Route Back to MMA
Ngannou left his former promotion in 2023 after relinquishing its heavyweight title, pursued boxing, including bouts with Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua, before making his MMA comeback. His win over Ferreira marked his first appearance under the Professional Fighters League banner and delivered a major result in a new organization. [1]
The Heavyweight Title Picture
In October 2024, Jon Jones and Stipe Miocic were due to meet. That bout took place at UFC 309 on November 16, 2024, where Jones retained the heavyweight championship with a third-round TKO at 4:29. [3] Tom Aspinall was also part of the title conversation, but Adesanya’s opinion does not settle a subjective all-time ranking.
Ngannou’s return added another milestone to a career spanning multiple promotions and boxing. The result and Adesanya’s reaction are the concrete takeaways; any future cross-promotion bout would require a separate announcement. MMA fans can follow the official post-fight interview.
Sources
- Professional Fighters League: official result
- MMA Fighting: Adesanya’s reaction and heavyweight opinion
- Official heavyweight title-fight results
- Professional Fighters League: Ngannou’s post-fight interview
Tags: Wrestling, Olympic Wrestling
