Ring rust: You hear us speak about it fairly a bit in MMA. Anytime a fighter takes an prolonged hiatus from the game for no matter cause, the query comes up: How a lot ring rust does this fighter have? After, you watch the struggle play out and you’ve got a solution.
Heading into this weekend’s PFL Tremendous Fights: Battle of the Giants from Kingdom Enviornment in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, the query of ring rust got here into play for the PFL Tremendous Fights Heavyweight Championship struggle in the primary occasion for former UFC Heavyweight Champion Francis Ngannou (18-3 MMA, 1-0 PFL) forward of his struggle vs. Renan Ferreira (13-4, 3 NC MMA, 7-2, 3 NC PFL).
He hadn’t made an look in an MMA struggle in additional than two years earlier than the cage door shut in Saudi Arabia, however he had saved busy with two boxing matches over the previous yr. Each of these contests contained in the squared circle resulted in defeat.
Ngannou Got here in Off Knee Surgical procedure
One other query that was on the minds of followers and pundits alike was considered one of how Ngannou’s knee would maintain up, with the Battle of the Giants principal occasion being his first look in an MMA struggle since present process knee surgical procedure within the aftermath of his struggle versus Ciryl Gane (12-2 MMA, 9-2 UFC) in 2022 throughout UFC 270.
“My physique is holding up effectively,” Ngannou talked about earlier than Battle of the Giants in an interview with Mike Bohn of USA Right this moment’s MMA Junkie. “Clearly, I had a knee surgical procedure, however that was over two years, two years and a half now. It took me fairly a very long time, over a yr, to essentially get again, however now I’m very sturdy. By the point I get again into [a] struggle, I’m very sturdy.”
The massive night time got here, and on Saturday, Ngannou’s efficiency may be summed up in a single phrase: Classic. An age-old fixed proved true as soon as extra: When two heavyweights get into the cage to go to battle, anticipating the struggle to go the total marketed distance is like anticipating Aaron Choose to strike out with the bases loaded for the New York Yankees within the upcoming World Collection.
No Doubt of a Win on Saturday Evening
Merely put, the efficiency put in by Francis Ngannou over the weekend was a masterclass of how a marquee heavyweight struggle on this sport ought to play out. On the core, it’s the dream situation come to life.
Not lengthy after the command to struggle was given within the first spherical of a scheduled 5, Ngannou tried his luck with a leg kick earlier than scoring with a right-handed punch. Upon taking Ferreira down, Ngannou took prime place and survived a triangle choke try from his opponent.
This gave him the opening he wanted to hammer away with floor and pound pictures, together with heavy punches from the again mount, knocking Ferreira out chilly. Time of the stoppage: Three minutes, 32 seconds into the competition.
“The king has returned!”, emoted Sean O’Connell, who labored Battle of the Giants because the blow-by-blow commentator.
For somebody who’s been away from MMA for shut to a few full years, Francis Ngannou regarded like a person who didn’t take any day off from the game on Saturday night time. He was wonderful to look at.
Ngannou Dedicates Win to Late Son
Francis Ngannou was combating with a heavy coronary heart on Saturday night time, as Battle of the Giants was his first look because the passing of his 15-month-old son, Kobe, this previous spring. Throughout his post-fight interview with Brett Okamoto, Ngannou honored his little one.
“I simply can’t take into consideration something than my son, Kobe,” Ngannou started, combating again tears. “I solely [took] this struggle due to him. I needed to struggle for him… I hope they’ll keep in mind his title, as a result of with out Kobe, we wouldn’t be right here tonight.”
His son’s title will certainly be remembered after Ngannou’s tear-jerking interview. The most important worry that any father or mother can have is that they outlive their little one, however he turned the reminiscence of his son into motivation for a victory.
The Sky is the Restrict for Ngannou
Not rather more needs to be stated about Francis Ngannou’s victory over the weekend besides this: Age is just a quantity. Whereas he’s 38 years of age, Ngannou clearly confirmed that he’s nonetheless a drive to be reckoned with contained in the cage.
The PFL matchmakers are going to have a heck of a time attempting to ebook his subsequent contest. Whoever his opponent occurs to be, he must get himself within the movie room proper after the contract is formally signed.
Ngannou’s subsequent adversary goes to wish each single second of movie examine that he can probably get forward of the struggle. If Ngannou appears nearly as good as he did over the weekend, that opponent of his goes to be in a heap of bother on struggle night time.
