Francis Ngannou and Renan Ferreira lastly made their large showdown official as they tipped the scales in Riyadh in the present day.
The previous UFC heavyweight champion holds the unofficial the lineal title, and can defend it in his PFL debut towards 2023 World Season winner Ferreira within the Saudi capital. Ngannou had spent the previous yr boxing, virtually defeating then WBC-champion Tyson Fury earlier than shedding to Anthony Joshua.
Tomorrow night time, he returns to the cage underneath the PFL banner on the Mayadeen in Saudi Arabia. He tipped the scales his lowest weight since 2019 after permitting himself to combat above the MMA restrict of 265lb throughout his foray into the ring.
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Francis Ngannou and Renan Ferreira share intense closing face-off
Francis Ngannou and Renan Ferreira weighed in at an enormous mixed 519lb for his or her ‘Battle of the Giants’ showdown throughout early weigh-ins. And each regarded gigantic as they confronted off one closing time on the Mayadeen for a ceremonial occasion on Friday night.
Ngannou dropped virtually 15lb to get right down to 257lb for the combat after coming in at 272lb for his showdown with Joshua in March. In the meantime, Ferreira was slightly below 262lb, roughly the identical as his February defeat of Bellator champion Ryan Bader on the promotion’s Champions vs Champions occasion.
With UFC legend Dan Hardy standing between them, Ngannou and Ferreira made contact in an intense head-to-head. And finally safety needed to drag them aside in a tense closing second, as Ngannou goaded Ferreira by asking him ‘who’s the king?’
Francis Ngannou teases show of floor expertise in Renan Ferreira showdown
After two years devoted to coaching for boxing, followers have been to see how Ngannou will modify again to the MMA self-discipline. He managed to drop one of many ring’s greatest names in Fury throughout his run over the previous yr, and he was by no means famend for his floor recreation previous to switching over.
However he did utilise his wrestling to nice success towards Ciryl Gane in his sole UFC title defence; the final time followers noticed him contained in the octagon. So it stays to be seen how he’ll strategy the combat with Ferreira, who can also be famend for his work on the ft.
“That is an MMA combat, so the whole lot will probably be on show,” Ngannou mentioned at yesterday’s press convention We’ve ready the whole lot, and the whole lot will probably be on show. On his finish, too, I consider he’s making ready some issues as a result of he’s a jiu-jitsu black belt, and he isn’t undermining my punching energy.”
Renan Ferreira is ‘honored’ to combat Francis Ngannou
Whereas Ferreira is a embellished heavyweight in his personal proper, he has by no means confronted an opponent with the title worth of Francis Ngannou earlier than. His PFL match win got here towards the a lot lesser-known Denis Goltsov, and even Ryan Bader is extra famend for his run at light-heavyweight.
He expressed his respect for the Cameroonian throughout their press convention yesterday, saying: “Each Francis and I got here from humble beginnings. We had an unbelievable profession to achieve the place we’re proper now. It’s a nice honor to be preventing one of many strongest males on the earth.
“Undoubtedly we’re each full fighters. We will strike and grapple as nicely. I’m able to combat wherever the combat goes. The followers can count on an excellent combat.”
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