Francis Ngannou is set to make his return to the world of mixed martial arts this weekend as he takes on Renan Ferreira in the Professional Fighters League (PFL). This bout, scheduled for the PFL heavyweight title, will be Ngannou’s first MMA fight since January 2022. Back then, the Cameroonian defeated Ciryl Gane to retain the UFC heavyweight title before eventually leaving the promotion. Following his departure, Ngannou ventured into professional boxing and made his debut last October against then-champion Tyson Fury in Saudi Arabia, where he knocked Fury down but lost on a controversial decision.
In March, Ngannou faced Anthony Joshua in the boxing ring but was unable to replicate his previous success. Joshua dominated the fight, eventually securing a knockout victory in the second round. Despite these setbacks in boxing, Ngannou signed a deal with the PFL, paving the way for his return to MMA, which will culminate in a highly anticipated showdown with Ferreira this weekend.
The Ngannou vs Ferreira fight is scheduled to headline a PFL Super Fights event on Saturday in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The preliminary fights are set to commence at 6.30pm BST, with the main card following at 9pm BST. Viewers can catch the action live on DAZN pay-per-view for £19.99. Alternatively, subscriptions to DAZN start at £14.99 per month for those interested in a longer-term viewing option. For fans watching from abroad, using a VPN may be necessary to access the stream while ensuring compliance with local regulations.
In terms of the odds for the Ngannou vs Ferreira fight, betting site Betway currently favours Ngannou at 4/11 compared to Ferreira at 21/10. The fight card for the event includes other exciting matchups such as Cris Cyborg vs Larissa Pacheco for the women’s featherweight title and Johnny Eblen vs Fabian Edwards for the Bellator middleweight title.
As the anticipation builds for Ngannou’s return to MMA, fans are eagerly awaiting what promises to be a thrilling showdown between these two powerhouse fighters.