2024 PFL Superfights PPV: Battle of the Giants on the Mayadeen Theater in Diriyah, Saudi Arabia, Thursday, Oct. 17, 2024. (Alvaro Martinez / PFL)Francis Ngannou will look to reassert his place in MMA as he makes his PFL debut in opposition to 2023 match champion Renan Ferreira.
Francis Ngannou is the UFC heavyweight champion who by no means misplaced the title. He knocked out former champions and contenders like Stipe Miocic, Cain Velasquez, Junior dos Santos, Alistair Overeem, and others en path to being considered one of many knockout artists of the era. That’s simply contained in the cage. Within the ring, although he got here up quick, the monetary windfall he created from fights with superstars Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua have modified the literal fortunes of himself and his household possible for generations to come back. From a aggressive and enterprise standpoint, the 38 year-old has achieved the type of profession that few might dream of.
He’s technically talking nonetheless “the man” in MMA. However the world of MMA is a enterprise as nicely and the fan base has had almost two years to maneuver on from the concept of Ngannou as a UFC heavyweight. The dialog right now now revolves round Jon Jones and Tom Aspinall on the high of the land of giants. Ngannou’s subsequent chapter is a large number of subplots, some past his full management. A dominant victory would stoke flames to the fiery dialog that the UFC champion shouldn’t be fairly the world’s greatest heavyweight in MMA. From a aggressive standpoint, it is also his finale (or near it) merely for his age and for the now huge enterprise alternatives in entrance of him within the workplaces of the PFL. Lastly, there’s the private motivation to honor the reminiscence of his late son and the admirable energy to shoulder on going ahead.
The second the world knew Renan Ferreira was a 𝐏𝐑𝐎𝐁𝐋𝐄𝐌
▶️Watch the total Renan Ferreira vs Ryan Bader #PFLvsBellator bout on the PFL MMA YouTube Channel
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Renan Ferreira’s journey to the combat is extra simple, however it’s nonetheless a seminal second. The Brazilian powerhouse has been constructing towards a chance like this for years. A veteran of the PFL since making his promotional debut in 2021, the 6’8 contender has been one of many marquee signees of the promotion’s quick historical past as he’s wrecked havoc throughout three seasons. However whereas he’s been must-see tv for the PFL, it’s these previous two years which have seen him flip the nook as he made his solution to the playoffs earlier than stopping longtime contender Denis Goltzov to lastly win his first match. His encore this previous February went about as completely as a fighter might dream up as he stopped longtime Bellator heavyweight champion Ryan Bader in 21 seconds to offer the PFL their solely victory on the PFL vs Bellator occasion.
Regardless of his success, a victory over Ngannou could be on one other degree altogether. His inventory would undergo the roof and he would possible have the ability to command high greenback have been he to hit free company within the close to future. Ought to he keep within the PFL, he would undoubtedly even be in fast talks for a profitable rematch. At 34 years-old as a heavyweight, he’s within the excellent place so as to add extra to his already notable profession. A brand new saga starting with a victory over Ngannou could be superb to say the least.
Francis Ngannou, former UFC Heavyweight Champion. takes on 2023 PFL Heavyweight Champion Renan Ferreira for the PFL Heavyweight Tremendous Fights World Title!
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A victory for Ngannou would full fairly the circuit. After placing his MMA profession on maintain to entertain fights in boxing, a triumph within the PFL cage would full the promise made almost two years in the past when he signed with the corporate. There’ll at all times be fights discovered for him, whether or not it’s the winner between Goltzov and Oleg Popov or another person. However one might argue the time to name it a profession couldn’t be higher if he selected to deal with his endeavors within the entrance workplace for PFL Africa or in different enterprise ventures. For Ferreira, discovering new opponents to proceed boosting his profile could be a problem. He would possible must grant Ngannou a rematch, particularly contemplating he already holds victories over the Bellator champion and one of many two 2024 match finalists in Goltzov.
