For the first time in almost three years, ex-UFC heavyweight Francis Ngannou returns to action this week. He meets 2023 PFL champion Renan Ferreira in the PFL: ‘Battle of the Giants’ (ESPN+ pay-per-view, DAZN) headliner, on Saturday. The newly introduced Superfight Belt will be on the line in this one. Their match is billed as the fight to crown the “Baddest Man on the Planet”. Consequently, the baddest HW ‘Predator’ Ngannou had quite a hard run this year after losing Kobe.
Francis Ngannou bounces back in his first MMA fight in 991 days. Despite somewhat of a prime performative athleticism, he dropped two pro boxing bouts since last year’s Riyadh Season opening ceremony. The Cameroonian already mulled retirement this year after the tragic death of his 15-month-old son. In the end, he decided to return to honor his child’s memory as he prepared to compete.
[My purpose] To make this fight, meaningful…Uh, again…because, like uh, this fight was most likely not to happen. I was most likely not to fight…Here or ever. But I wanna make it purpose of …of thigns that happened…And I said like that, about the, uh – loss…He [Kobe] wouldn’t be like he was one the one taking me out and making me quit. … The only thing I can do is to make a purpose of his existence.
Francis Ngannou in exclusive media availability interview with MMAFighting for SBN’s Jose Youngs
in Saudi Arabia for SBNation network (🎥: @JoseYoungs)
The issue of losing Kobe has stirred the whole of the MMA community as a whole. The Heavyweight Superfight showdown vs. Renan Ferreira (13-3) at The Mayadeen in Riyadh had also been garnering traction due to some crassness about it. The fighter had said that he was in certain turmoil about a heavyweight fight when the ‘fight for life’ front faced such a loss itself. However, Ngannou says his son wouldn’t want him taking an out on this.
Francis Ngannou opens up on finding his “purpose” after the tragic passing of his son:
“He wouldn’t [want] to be one the one taking me out and making me quit. … The only thing I can do is to make a purpose of his existence.”
(🎥: @JoseYoungs) pic.twitter.com/cGghbDLJ7S
— MMA Fighting (@MMAFighting) October 15, 2024
Hence, he now fights not just for Kobe, but on the principles of what he would want. He fights for the “no-quit” fighter his son knew him as. As such, the return of the hottest free agency and biggest lineal heavyweight in MMA is already red hot. This only adds to the sentiment on a more subtle yet strong note. PFL Co-owner Donn Davis and even Peter Murray particularly have some big ideas about this return.
Peter Murray: Francis Ngannou’s PFL debut biggest event of 2024 – more than UFC 300 or UFC 306
Peter Murray believes Francis ‘The Predator’ Ngannou’s MMA return is already the biggest event of the 2024 season. While two super fight belts are on the line for PFL: ‘Battle of the Giants’ (DAZN/ESPN+ pay-per-view), Ngannou just spices it up a bit more. UFC CEO Dana White roundly condemned the audacious claims made by Murray and PFL co-owner Donn Davis. He trashes the PFL and its product every time he can.
But there’s just no denying the gravity of the PFL event. Ngannou’s return event against 2023 PFL season winner Renan Ferreira has already crossed $20m in production. They are subsequently, giving this year’s Noche pay-per-view haptic spectacle a run for their money. Not only is it the biggest event in company history, the PFL CEO puts it ahead of UFC 300 and UFC 306.
This is the biggest event of absolutely the PFL company history and the biggest event of the year, …I’m looking forward to stacking this up against – when you look at the cards from UFC 300, the Sphere, but as it relates to the card, this event on Oct. 19 is the biggest of the year, second to none. Our roster is second to none. The quality of our production and presentation is second to none.
Peter Murray to MMA Junkie’s Mike Bohn on Saturday in Saudi Arabia
With financial security in place for his lifetime and beyond, Ngannou says it’s all about timing his legacy. PFL’s seasonal bracket provides him with contractual leeway to fight better. PFL brass is also super into crossover talent acquisitions and is ready to quench his boxing appetite again. Ngannou will also chair the new PFL Africa venture, adjacent to the MENA effort, notwithstanding his contractual roles. As such, he and PFL are already boosting each other.
