- Ngannou signed with the PFL after boldly walking away from the UFC in 2023
- He faces Renan Ferreira in the main event of a stacked PFL card on October 19
- It will be the first time Ngannou has fought an MMA bout in over 30 months
Former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou‘s eagerly-awaited return to the cage has been locked in as he takes on towering Brazilian monster Renan Ferreira for the PFL Super Fights Championship title.
Ngannou’s slugfest against Ferreira headlines a stacked PFL card on 19 October, with fellow former UFC champion and MMA icon Cris ‘Cyborg’ up against PFL two-division champion Larissa Pacheco in a women’s featherweight clash as the co-main event.
The bout represents Ngannou’s PFL debut after signing with the promotion in May 2023 having boldly walked away from the UFC and will also mark his first MMA bout in just over 30 months.
It will also be the first time Ngannou has fought since the tragic passing of his 15-month-old son, Kobe, in April.
‘Renan is a great fighter; I have been watching him for years,’ Ngannou said.
Ngannou has not fought in an MMA bout since a victory over Ciryl Gane in January 2022
Ferreira stands a towering 6ft 8in and has finished three of his last four fights in the first round
Ngannou’s last fight resulted in a crushing knockout loss to Anthony Joshua in Saudi Arabia
‘I have been studying him for years, in fact I’ve been telling people to watch this guy. He’s quite unique, he’s athletic, fast, his size doesn’t impress me as much as his skill.’
Ngannou will undoubtedly be looking to remind the combat sports world of the devastating power and skill set he possesses having suffered a devastating knockout loss to British boxing superstar Anthony Joshua in March.
It was the second of Ngannou’s short-lived spell in the ring having displayed plenty of promise in a loss to Tyson Fury in his debut, with the crossover star even knocking The Gypsy King to the canvas in the third round.
However, Ngannou is throwing himself straight into the deep end for his return to MMA against Ferreira.
The Brazilian, who stands a staggering 6ft 8in tall, has fought eight times since Ngannou defended his UFC heavyweight title against Ciryl Gane before vacating the title to join PFL.
Ferreira also enters the bout on the back of four consecutive stoppages, with three coming in the first round.
His latest victory was also his quickest, requiring just 21 seconds to dispose of Bellator heavyweight champion Ryan Bader for the PFL Champion v Bellator Champion Super Belt.
