On Saturday, October 19, Cameroonian MMA star Francis Ngannou is set to make his highly anticipated return to the Mixed Martial Arts arena as he faces off against Brazilian fighter Renan Ferreira in the main event of PFL: Battle of the Giants. The fight is scheduled to take place at The Mayadeen in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, with the PFL Super Fights heavyweight championship belt on the line.
Ngannou, 38, who last competed in MMA in January 2022 when he defended his UFC heavyweight title against Ciryl Gane, has been on a hiatus from MMA, pursuing a career in boxing. He fought Tyson Fury in October 2023 and Anthony Joshua in March 2024, before deciding to return to MMA. Ngannou has a strong MMA record with 17 wins and 3 losses, known for his powerful striking abilities.
Renan Ferreira, 34, is the reigning 2023 PFL heavyweight champion. He has been impressive in his recent performances, including a 21-second knockout victory over Bellator heavyweight champion Ryan Bader in February. Ferreira has a record of 13 wins and 3 losses, with 11 of his wins coming via knockout.
The fight card for PFL: Battle of the Giants includes several other notable bouts, such as the women’s featherweight title fight between Cris Cyborg and Larissa Pacheco, a Bellator Middleweight Championship fight between Johnny Eblen and Fabian Edwards, and other exciting matchups.
Fans can watch the event live through various platforms, including ESPN+ and DAZN, with the main card starting at 4 p.m. ET and the prelims beginning at 1:30 p.m. ET. The main event is expected to start around 11 PM local time (20:00 GMT).
Both fighters have expressed their readiness and respect for each other, with Ngannou stating that his greatest adversary has always been himself and Ferreira acknowledging the honor of competing against one of the strongest individuals globally.
