Former UFC heavyweight champion, Francis Ngannou, is gearing up for his comeback in the MMA arena on Sat., Oct. 19, 2024. He is scheduled to battle current PFL heavyweight titleholder, Renan Ferreira, in a much-anticipated super fight topping the card for the promotion’s upcoming pay-per-view event in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Ngannou, aged 37, last participated in MMA in Jan. 2022 when he triumphed over Ciryl Gane at UFC 270, securing his sixth consecutive win before parting ways with the organization. His upcoming opponent, Ferreira, towers at 6’8” and is nicknamed “The Problema,” translating to “problem” in Spanish. Ngannou, also known as “The Predator,” remains undaunted by Ferreira’s stature and alias, expressing confidence that he is not a challenge for him.
Following his departure from the UFC, Ngannou has had a mixed record in professional boxing, yet has maintained an unblemished streak in MMA for the past six years. Despite facing personal hardships, such as the unexpected loss of his infant son, Ngannou is resolute in his commitment to keep fighting in memory of his late son Kobe.
Ngannou has secured his last six MMA victories all by knockout, four of which occurred in the opening round. Ferreira, on the other hand, has clinched his previous six wins by knockout as well, one of them being a rapid 21-second victory over Bellator heavyweight champion Ryan Bader. Spectators can anticipate an explosive clash between these two formidable combatants.
