This weekend (19 October), Francis Ngannou will make his highly-anticipated debut in the Professional Fighters League (PFL). He locks horns with 2023 PFL champion Renan Ferreira in the PFL: ‘Battle of the Giants’ headliner. Subsequently, the ‘Giants’ are ready for it.
With the Super Fight title and a return legacy at stake for the “Battle of the Giants” pay-per-view (PPV) event in Riyadh, the ‘Giants’ recently stirred it up with an initial look at each other. Cris Cyborg (27-2-1) meets two-time PFL champion Larissa Pacheco (23-4) in the PFL PPV co-main bill. With just three days to go, all four fighters had a chance to size up at a promotional event on Wednesday.
So did Bellator middleweight champions Johnny Eblen, the 185-pound counterpart to UFC middleweight Sean Strickland, and Fabian Edwards ahead of their rematch, as well as former Bellator champions A.J. McKee and Paul Hughes. All four men/women’s Super Fight strap fighters were in Diriyah, Saudi Arabia, to promote the event. Ngannou and Ferreira also took time out for some pre-fight media availability rounds.
Francis Ngannou stares down Renan Ferreira #PFL #BattleOfGiants pic.twitter.com/zrnTzsHnMv
— MMA Mania (@mmamania) October 16, 2024
Cris Cyborg stares down Larissa Pacheco #PFL #BattleOfGiants pic.twitter.com/uUl5G4hI1P
— MMA Mania (@mmamania) October 16, 2024
This close to the showdown, their faceoffs were anything but gimmicky, like the last run. PFL: Battle of the Giants main card airs on ESPN+ pay-per-view and DAZN (US) beginning at 4 p.m. ET. Before they make their walk, the prelim lineup happens at 1:30 p.m. ET and streams on ESPN+. Former UFC welterweight title challenger Dan Hardy, who serves as cageside play-by-play commentator and mediated staredowns, has some ideas about the showdown.
Renan Ferreira’s domination of Francis Ngannou would have him in contention for the top heavyweight spot
Dan Hardy makes the case that Renan Ferreira will be the best heavyweight in MMA. Especially if he can beat Francis Ngannou this weekend. ‘Predator’ took his contract out as an ex-UFC lineal heavyweight. Current disputed “undisputed” Jon Jones and Tom Aspinall lay equal claims to the 265-pound gold. However, none ever got a chance to contend against Ngannou. Hence, many still consider the Cameroonian the “OG” heavyweight in MMA.
The UFC brass might be nonchalant about Ngannou’s MMA return this weekend. But the legacy billing with $20m in pre-production has been garnering some stately attention. When Ferreira (13-3) meets former UFC heavyweight in Saturday’s PFL: Battle of the Giants (DAZN/ESPN+) main event, he’ll thus have a lot on line. He has a rare chance to beat the best. So says Hardy, who will have cageside color commentary desk duty for the pair.
If Renan comes through his weekend looking like a world beater, I think a lot of people are going to look at him and go, ‘You know what, he’s 6-foot-8, he’s trained at ATT, he’s dangerous in striking, he’s got great grappling and takedown defense since he’s moved there, I can make an argument for him,…Jones, for me, is still not a proven heavyweight. Stipe is way past his peak. I love Stipe, but he’s way past his peak.
Dan Hardy to MMA Junkie’s Mike Bohn
Despite the PFL’s promotion surrounding Ngannou vs. Ferreira being the return of the “Baddest Man,” Hardy chooses Ferreira. After winning the 2023 Global Season championship, ‘Problema’ starched Bellator HW Ryan Bader. A unique feat, which he did in less than half a minute. If he gets through Ngannou, the biggest ever upset hoists him as the No. 1 heavyweight in MMA.
