Francis Ngannou, considered the lineal heavyweight champion in MMA, has a powerful story that saw him flee Cameroon to pursue a career in boxing. Fernand Lopez, however, convinced him to give MMA a try. That decision proved to be worthwhile, as he scored major MMA gold and became the world’s greatest heavyweight in MMA today. Ngannou then went on to compete in a pair of boxing fights after signing with PFL. Though he lost to both Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua, he managed to drop Fury, the then-WBC heavyweight champion. Now, Ngannou returns to MMA for the first time since January 2022, looking to show why he still is the baddest man on the planet.

 

After coming up short in the 2022 PFL heavyweight semifinals, Renan Ferreira fully delivered on his potential in the 2023 PFL season. After a no-contest against Rizvan Kuniev, Ferreira defeated Matheus Scheffel, Maurice Greene and Denis Goltsov – knocking out all three – to win the 2023 PFL Heavyweight Championship. Then, Ferreira earned tonight’s major opportunity with a stunning, first-round knockout of Bellator heavyweight champion Ryan Bader in under a minute.

 

It’s perhaps the biggest – literally and figuratively – fight in PFL history! Which of these two heavyweights will be able to be the inaugural PFL Super Fight heavyweight champion?!?

 

 

Round 1

 

The two meet in the center. Low kick from Ngannou. A low kick from Ferreira. Leg kick from Ngannou. Low kick from Ngannou, and Ferreira narrowly misses a left hand. Strong right hand from Ngannou. Ngannou shoots in and scores a takedown. Short left hand from Ngannou. Ngannou looking to do work. Ferreira suddenly throws up his legs for a triangle choke attempt! Ngannou gets his head out as the referee warns Ferreira for having his toes in the fence.

 

Ngannou does work with the left hand. Ngannou postures up with ground-and-pound! Ferreira goes to his stomach and covers up. Ngannou positioning himself, and he gets back to the flurry of shots! Ferreira is OUT! The fight is OVER!

 

 

Francis Ngannou is back! And still the best in heavyweight MMA today! And now the new PFL Super Fights Heavyweight World Champion!

 

 

OFFICIAL RESULT

Francis Ngannou def. Renan Ferreira via first-round KO (punches, 3:32)