Francis Ngannou has clapped back at Tom Aspinall for dismissing his level of opposition for his PFL debut. Ngannou returns to the MMA fold in almost three years, this Saturday. He meets Renan Ferreira in the ‘Battle of the Giants’ PPV Super Fight in Riyadh. The UFC interim heavyweight champ has his thoughts on that.
The Brit sensation Tom Aspinall recently got his backup role and chance at unification for the UFC 309 pay-per-view top bill – AKA, the return of disputed “undisputed” heavyweight champ Jon Jones. With ‘Bones’ back in active contention, there’s a rift. Is Jones vs. Stipe Miocic or Ngannou vs. Renan Ferreira the “real” heavyweight test? With his own fate on the line, Aspinall chose the former. The Cameroonian disagreed, however.
Why should I be caring about people’s opinions, the only opinion matters here is mine. My opinion is that Renan Ferreira is a very tough opponent, …People can claim different things, but I think if they put all the heavyweights in the room and closed the door, I believe Renan Ferreira would be among the guys surviving.
Francis Ngannou an exclusive media availability interview with BloodyElbow’s Donagh Corby in Saudi Arabia
Aspinall believes Francis Ngannou cannot claim the heavyweight lineal title unless he competes in the sport’s biggest promotion. The Briton doesn’t think 2023 PFL champion Ferreira is elite and considers it a second-rate showdown. Even though he respects him, that’s what he said during ‘The Ariel Helwani Show‘ yesterday.
Aspinall talking stock and planting stem to the Jones challenge would make sense as he plans on remaining the “real” heavyweight. However, rival and PFL Co-owner Donn Davis has been promoting his PFL heavyweight showdown as greater. Ngannou strongly stands with the crowning assessment. On the lines of the gag “put G.O.A.T. Jones in a room with any fighter” and he comes out the winner, Ngannou said the same of ‘Problema’. Even Ferreira had something similar to say.
Francis Ngannou’s opponent reacts after Tom Aspinall snub, says people ‘have seen my knockouts’
Renan Ferreira says he wasn’t offended by Tom Aspinall describing him as “not elite”. The Brazilian knockout artist has sometimes seemed the forgotten man in Francis Ngannou’s PFL debut story. Despite winning the 2023 Global Season championship and starching Bellator HW Ryan Bader, he is not that big of an MMA name. Towering at an intimidating 6’8″, he is still a massive underdog to ‘Predator’.
That speaks more to ex-UFC lineal heavyweight Ngannou being a red-hot free agency signing than ‘Problema’ being bad. Consequently, when the ‘Battle of the Giants’ Super Fights pay-per-view rolls in at 1:30 p.m. ET on ESPN+, Ferreira wants to shock the simulcasted global streamers. Hence, he doesn’t mind Tom Aspinall’s jibe and wants to let his PFL matchup do the talking.
I saw some bits of the interview and he can say whatever he wants, …everybody sees what I am doing. All these knockouts, all these great performances that I’m delivering…so I don’t need to speak too much about it, I need to let my work show and speak for me. It didn’t offend me at all, I know the work I’m doing, so why would it offend me?
Renan Ferreira in an exclusive media availability interview with BloodyElbow
Meanwhile, the UFC has created a logjam at the top of its heavyweight division. Wherein Aspinall and Jon Jones both have legitimate belt claims. However, neither has beaten lineal champion Ngannou, sparking debate over who is truly the best in the world. October to November would mark the test of heavyweights. Who will be the fan-fave MMA 265lber? Francis Ngannou and PFL opponent Renan Ferreira are accordingly working hard to make it wholly about them.
