Francis Ngannou’s return to blended martial arts is right here.
After leaving the UFC, vacating the promotion’s heavyweight title, signing with the PFL, having two professional boxing matches in opposition to two of the largest names within the candy science, Ngannou faces knockout artist Renan Ferreira in the principle occasion of PFL’s Battle of the Giants on Saturday in Saudi Arabia.
It’s no secret that Ngannou is coping with rather a lot heading into this one, and whereas each fighters appeared respectful and Bull Durham-like within the construct, issues acquired heated up within the last faceoff — giving this combat an additional (and, frankly, well-needed) increase.
Within the co-main occasion, Cris Cyborg battles Larissa Pacheco, whereas Johnny Eblen battles Fabian Edwards in a rematch. The opposite massive essential card spotlight is a light-weight tilt between former Bellator champ A.J. McKee and Paul Hughes.
What: PFL Tremendous Fights PPV: Battle of the Giants
The place: Kingdom Area in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
When: Saturday, Oct. 19. The four-fight preliminary card begins at 1:30 p.m. ET on ESPN+ within the U.S. and internationally on DAZN, adopted by a five-fight essential card at 4 p.m. ET additionally on ESPN+ within the U.S. and internationally on DAZN.
Francis Ngannou vs. Renan Ferreira
Francis Ngannou ought to win this combat, and I believe he’ll, however there’s a purpose lots of people imagine Renan Ferreira is a darling canine.
Momentum in fight sports activities is big, and if we’re taking a look at this by means of a down-the-middle lens, Ferreira has it after obliterating Bellator heavyweight champ Ryan Bader in seconds at PFL vs. Bellator. Ngannou has a variety of strain heading into this combat, with the lineal heavyweight champ discuss, the layoff, the two-fight journey into boxing, the PFL’s funding in him, to not point out what this combat means to him on a private degree.
May the monster Ferreria discover Ngannou’s chin with an enormous shot? Very, very potential. However relating to MMA, Ngannou is a sponge relating to recreation plans and execution. I really see Ngannou getting a takedown or two on this combat, and finally, touchdown some massive photographs on the ground in Spherical 2 to have a feel-good second.
Query is: Does he return to the boxing ring after?
Choose: Francis Ngannou
Cris Cyborg vs. Larissa Pacheco
This can be a large matchup on paper, however the highway to it has been a bizarre one, hasn’t it?
It doesn’t seem to be the transition from Bellator to PFLator for Cyborg has been all that nice should you’ve been following her on social media for the reason that merger. She’s additionally solely had two fights in MMA since April 2022, together with a rematch with Arlene Blencowe that no person requested for, and a straight destruction of Cat Zingano. However for the primary time since she confronted Amanda Nunes, Cyborg finds herself in a combat that appears it might go both approach.
Pacheco has been excellent — profitable 10 fights in a row, a few $1 million checks, and is the one fighter on the planet to beat Kayla Harrison. Whereas that’s a spectacular win on her résumé, I nonetheless don’t actually understand how good Pacheco is, and whereas Cyborg doesn’t have her fastball anymore, she’s nonetheless a reasonably rattling good fist-fighter.
I’m not assured, most notably as a result of Cyborg doesn’t appear all that thrilled to be part of this combat week by means of my curious lens, however since I view this as a 50-50 combat, I’m leaning in direction of expertise and accomplishment. Cyborg by choice is the choose and, what I predict, would be the first of a number of fights between the 2.
Choose: Cris Cyborg
Johnny Eblen vs. Fabian Edwards
In my view, this can be a pivotal second for Johnny Eblen, and you can also make an actual case that he has probably the most to show on this complete card.
I do know, it’s bizarre to say that a couple of man who’s undefeated, however there was a second or two not that way back the place a variety of pundits claimed Eblen was one of the best middleweight on this planet. Whereas Eblen did end Edwards of their first assembly, he needed to work rather a lot tougher than most anticipated to take action. Many believed it was not his greatest evening within the workplace, after which he had the combat with Impa Kasanganay, who gave Eblen a run for his cash at PFL vs. Bellator.
Now, we’re working this one again, and albeit, this combat is occurring for one purpose — Eblen simply has no person else to bounce with. Edwards is a wonderful fighter and has some good wins, however usually, he would’ve wanted one other win, in all probability two, after beating Aaron Jeffery in a combat no person will return and re-watch.
To me, a win just isn’t sufficient for Eblen. He must seem like he’s in a showcase combat, and he has the chance to do precisely that. The choose is Eblen by way of third-round stoppage in a combat that isn’t as shut as the unique.
Choose: Johnny Eblen
A.J. McKee vs. Paul Hughes
Kudos to each of those guys for constructing curiosity for this combat from Leap Avenue. I can’t anticipate it, truthfully.
A.J. McKee has at all times been a rattling good fighter, however now that he’s at light-weight, he’s additionally enjoyable as hell, and that makes him much more harmful. Hughes is a 27-year-old stud that has a particularly vivid future. The scary factor concerning the longtime Cage Warriors star is that he’s nowhere close to a completed product. He’s two to 3 years away from his athletic prime. Sadly, he’s dealing with a man in McKee who’s in that prime, and has been in there with approach higher competitors.
I believe this combat delivers the products, and if Hughes wins, he can put himself ready to be one of many prime headlines of the weekend in MMA. The choose is to have our cake and eat it too — McKee wins a choice, and Hughes proves he belongs in defeat.
Choose: A.J. McKee
Different bouts:
Husein Kadimagomaev def. Zafar Mohsen
Raufeon Stots def. Marcos Breno
Makkasharip Zaynukov def. Dedrek Sanders
