The PFL shelled out big bucks to sign lineal heavyweight champ Francis Ngannou well over a year ago. And after a detour into boxing “The Predator” finally arrived in the PFL cage at Battle of the Giants, making his debut against 2023 heavyweight champ Renan Ferreira.
A dominant win in his debut, and the PFL’s occasional PR flub, which had seen it overly focused on their UFC rivals, would quickly be forgotten. Should Ngannou be upset, Donn Davis and co. would be left with considerable egg on their face.
Ngannou opened Saturday’s affair with a leg kick, his first strike inside the cage in over a year and a half. “Problema” answered in kind, as if to say “no problem.” When Ngannou opened up a big, Ferriera threw a haymaker that fanned; Ngannou did not fan on a takedown, landing it about 90s seconds in. Ferreira appeared content to just stall Ngannou, then briefly caught him in a triange. Past the midway mark, Ngannou found some space and opened up, landing lefts and rights as Ferreira covered up then moved to his knees. Ngannou pounded away as Ferreira flattened out then appeared to go limp, with the ref continuing to give him an opportunity to recover even as the broadcast booth yelled “he’s out!” Ferreira could be seen sporting a considerable hematoma following the beatdown.
Francis Ngannou, meanwhile, had proven that the PFL had made the right choice in signing him and putting him at the forefront of the promotion.
Official Result: Francis Ngannou def. Renan Ferreira by TKO, Round 1, 3:32
