Former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou made his promotional debut on Saturday headlining the PFL Super Fights: Battle of the Giants fight card against Renan Ferreira in a Superfight heavyweight championship match. The event took place at The Mayadeen in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia and was Ngannou’s first mixed martial arts bout since January 2022.
Ngannou parted ways with the UFC in early 2023 after failing to come to contractual terms. He signed with the PFL but his debut was put on hold while he fought Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua in boxing matches. Ngannou was defeated by both me and knocked out by Joshua.
Ferreira, the 2023 PFL heavyweight champion and the “PFL vs. Bellator Champion of Champions” Super Belt holder, entered the fight on a four-fight winning streak and hoped to spoil “The Predator’s” PFL arrival.
Ngannou landed first with an outside leg kick. Ferreira responded with a leg kick. Ngannou worked around the outside while Ferreira took the center of the cage. Ngannou landed a leg kick and Ferreira missed with a huge right hand. Ngannou changed levels and took Ferreira down. Ferreira worked to isolate an arm. Ngannou got his arm free and Ferreira looked to lock on a triangle choke. Ngannou escaped and delivered a hammer fist. Ngannou postured up and delivered left hands. Ferreira rolled to his knees. Ngannou hammered away with left hands until Ferreira went limp faced down on the canvas.
The official time of the knockout stoppage was 3:32 of the first round.
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