Francis Ngannou might return to MMA for his PFL debut in October.
The previous UFC heavyweight champion says his first struggle underneath the PFL banner is being focused for October in Saudi Arabia in opposition to the 2023 PFL heavyweight champion Renan Ferreira. Ngannou revealed the plan when talking on Joe Rogan’s podcast.
“I might be preventing by the tip of the yr,” Ngannou stated on the “JRE MMA Present.” “… I feel Renan Ferreira is the man.”
Ferreira (13-3 MMA, 7-1 PFL), who stands at 6-foot-8, gained the 2023 PFL heavyweight championship by stopping Denis Goltsov within the second spherical. He adopted that efficiency by stopping Ryan Bader within the first spherical on the crossover PFL vs. Bellator: Champions occasion. He’s extensively believed to be the perfect problem for Ngannou on the PFL roster.
“I’ve been telling individuals about this man for nearly two years,” Ngannou stated. “I stated, ‘Watch this man.’ Very athletic. Quick fingers, 1-2, knees – very athletic. So, I feel it’s going to be him.”
Whereas Ngannou was clear that the struggle was not finalized, he appeared assured that this was the path the promotion wished to go for his debut, and he additionally expects the highly-touted Cedric Doumbe to be on the cardboard as properly.
Ngannou has not competed in MMA since exiting the UFC in 2022. He efficiently landed a pair of boxing fights in opposition to two of the largest names within the heavyweight division, Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua.
“The Predator” misplaced a break up choice in a improbable exhibiting in opposition to Fury, scoring the one knockdown within the struggle. Nevertheless, his struggle with Joshua was not as aggressive as he misplaced by knockout in Spherical 2.
Whereas 0-2 as an expert boxer, Ngannou says there are nonetheless massive fights for him on the horizon within the ring.
Nevertheless, on the MMA facet of issues, he’s on a six-fight successful streak in MMA, a stretch that noticed him end Curtis Blaydes, Cain Velasquez, Junior dos Santos, Jairzinho Rozenstruik, and a title-winning knockout of Stipe Miocic.
After recording a profitable UFC title protection in opposition to Ciryl Gane at UFC 270, Ngannou’s title was vacated after negotiations with the promotion failed, opening the door for PFL to signal him as a fighter and chairman of PFL Africa.
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