MMA Giants Collide: Francis Ngannou Makes His PFL Debut
Just two years ago, if you asked any MMA fan about the scariest Heavyweight in MMA, the answer would have most likely been Francis Ngannou. Francis is known for his incredible punching power and knockout ability. He was the UFC's Heavyweight champion and a huge star in the division until contract negotiations fell through, ultimately leading Ngannou to request his release from the UFC. Shortly after being released from the UFC, the PFL announced they had signed Francis Ngannou to a special MMA contract that allows him to also compete in boxing matches. Ngannou's first MMA bout with the PFL happens this weekend against the organization's Heavyweight champion, Renan Ferreira. Ferreira is also a knockout artist, currently on a four-fight win streak, all coming by way of KO/TKO. Leading up to this fight, both men are set for a dangerously close contest.
Ferreira transitioned to MMA after working as a security guard and construction worker. His martial arts journey started with jiu-jitsu training at a Brasilia low-income youth project in 2013. Ferreira moved to Rio de Janeiro, where his MMA career excelled after he had the opportunity to train with twin brothers and MMA legends Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira and Antonio Rogério Nogueira. Renan started his PFL career in 2021 and he holds a record of 7-1-2 in the PFL with all his wins coming by KO/TKO. Ferreira stands at a whopping six feet and eight inches tall, and what makes Ferreira so devastating is his knockout power accompanied by the speed of a Middleweight. This giant is a problem for any heavyweight athlete. He holds a win over Bellator’s former heavyweight champion, Ryan Bader.
Francis was born in Cameroon, Africa, and raised in poverty. Ngannou had to drop out of school due to a lack of funds for school supplies. To make ends meet, Francis started to work at a salt mine at the age of 10. After seeing a video of Mike Tyson, Francis was inspired to be like the legend and planned on moving to Europe to train. Francis spent a year migrating from Africa to Spain, and after being jailed for two months for entering the country illegally, he moved to Paris, France, to find a boxing gym. Eventually, Ngannou found himself at the MMA Factory gym, where he met Fernand Lopez, who recognized Ngannou’s potential in MMA. Ngannou joined the UFC in 2015, where he was on a tear, finishing all of his wins in the organization. As mentioned before, due to contract disputes, Francis Ngannou left the UFC and signed a special contract with the PFL that allowed him to box as well.
As Ferreira was defending his Heavyweight Championship against Ryan Bader, Ngannou pursued two boxing matches against Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua. Against Fury, Francis lost by split decision, with many fans believing that he should have won the fight. However, in Ngannou’s match against Joshua, he was left looking up at the lights as he was knocked out for the first time in his career. Unfortunately, Ngannou’s toddler son Kobe passed away one month after his loss to Anthony Joshua.
Heading into the PFL’s Battle of the Giants event, Francis is the betting favorite over Ferreira. Looking at this fight, I wouldn’t consider Francis a comfortable winning favorite. I do think Ngannou has the power advantage; however, Ferreira is very fast and powerful. With their advantages and disadvantages, I feel that Renan’s speed could be a serious issue for Francis, especially since he was just knocked out in March. Ngannou’s power can put anyone out, and that’s where Ferreira will need to be cautious in this fight. If I had to predict the winner, I would definitely lean toward a Renan Ferreira victory.
