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 most important 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 so much heading into this one, and whereas each fighters appeared respectful and Bull Durham-like within the construct, issues received heated up within the closing faceoff — giving this battle an additional (and, frankly, well-needed) enhance.
Within the co-main occasion, Cris Cyborg battles Larissa Pacheco, whereas Johnny Eblen battles Fabian Edwards in a rematch. The opposite large predominant 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 predominant 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 battle, and I feel he’ll, however there’s a purpose lots of people consider Renan Ferreira is a darling canine.
Momentum in fight sports activities is large, and if we’re taking a look at this by way 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 whole lot of strain heading into this battle, with the lineal heavyweight champ speak, the layoff, the two-fight journey into boxing, the PFL’s funding in him, to not point out what this battle means to him on a private degree.
Might the monster Ferreria discover Ngannou’s chin with an enormous shot? Very, very potential. However on the subject of MMA, Ngannou is a sponge on the subject of recreation plans and execution. I truly see Ngannou getting a takedown or two on this battle, and ultimately, touchdown some large pictures on the ground in Spherical 2 to have a feel-good second.
Query is: Does he return to the boxing ring after?
Decide: Francis Ngannou
Cris Cyborg vs. Larissa Pacheco
This can be a large matchup on paper, however the street to it has been a bizarre one, hasn’t it?
It doesn’t look like the transition from Bellator to PFLator for Cyborg has been all that nice for those who’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 one requested for, and a straight destruction of Cat Zingano. However for the primary time since she confronted Amanda Nunes, Cyborg finds herself in a battle that appears it might go both method.
Pacheco has been excellent — successful 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 really know the way good Pacheco is, and whereas Cyborg doesn’t have her fastball anymore, she’s nonetheless a fairly 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 battle week by way of my curious lens, however since I view this as a 50-50 battle, I’m leaning in direction of expertise and accomplishment. Cyborg by choice is the decide and, what I predict, would be the first of a number of fights between the 2.
Decide: Cris Cyborg
Johnny Eblen vs. Fabian Edwards
For my part, it is a pivotal second for Johnny Eblen, and you may make an actual case that he has essentially the most to show on this whole card.
I do know, it’s bizarre to say that a few man who’s undefeated, however there was a second or two not that way back the place a whole lot of pundits claimed Eblen was the perfect middleweight on this planet. Whereas Eblen did end Edwards of their first assembly, he needed to work so much more durable than most anticipated to take action. Many believed it was not his finest evening within the workplace, after which he had the battle with Impa Kasanganay, who gave Eblen a run for his cash at PFL vs. Bellator.
Now, we’re operating this one again, and admittedly, this battle is occurring for one purpose — Eblen simply has no one else to bop with. Edwards is a nice fighter and has some good wins, however usually, he would’ve wanted one other win, most likely two, after beating Aaron Jeffery in a battle no one will return and re-watch.
To me, a win will not be sufficient for Eblen. He must appear to be he’s in a showcase battle, and he has the chance to do precisely that. The decide is Eblen through third-round stoppage in a battle that isn’t as shut as the unique.
Decide: Johnny Eblen
A.J. McKee vs. Paul Hughes
Kudos to each of those guys for constructing curiosity for this battle from Bounce Road. I can’t watch for it, actually.
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 vibrant future. The scary factor in regards to the longtime Cage Warriors star is that he’s nowhere close to a completed product. He’s two to a few years away from his athletic prime. Sadly, he’s going through a man in McKee who’s in that prime, and has been in there with method higher competitors.
I feel this battle delivers the products, and if Hughes wins, he can put himself able to be one of many high headlines of the weekend in MMA. The decide is to have our cake and eat it too — McKee wins a choice, and Hughes proves he belongs in defeat.
Decide: A.J. McKee
Different bouts:
Husein Kadimagomaev def. Zafar Mohsen
Raufeon Stots def. Marcos Breno
Makkasharip Zaynukov def. Dedrek Sanders
