Francis Ngannou’s devastating knockout loss to Anthony Joshua a couple of weeks again appears to have expedited his much-anticipated return to blended martial arts (MMA), which can function his Skilled Fighters League (PFL) debut.
That’s in line with PFL Chairman and Co-Founder, Donn Davis, who claims “The Predator” would have missed all of 2024 with a victory over Joshua. Defeating “AJ” was the important thing to securing a rematch in opposition to Tyson Fury, or a title bout in opposition to Oleksandr Usyk.
However since Ngannou got here up quick, he will probably be returning to MMA as early as July (however no later than September) to face PFL titan Renan Ferreira, in line with Davis. “Problema” punched his ticket to the mega-fight by destroying Ryan Bader in a matter of seconds on the “Champion vs. Champion” occasion in Riyadh (see it once more right here).
“Individuals requested me earlier than the combat who do I believe will win — and who do I wish to win — and I clearly root for Francis on a regular basis, he’s our accomplice, and I actually do,” Davis stated on a current look on The MMA Hour.
“However he wouldn’t have fought till the primary quarter of 2025. We talked to him about that and I used to be very vocal about that,” Davis continued. “He would have completely fought, however it could have been December on the earliest, or like February 2025. So he was locked in, however then he would have went forward and fought Fury as all of us stated had he gained this combat, so it could have delayed (his debut).”
“So I’m rooting for Francis on a regular basis, however now he’s coming again early,” Davis stated. “Will it’s as early as July? Possibly. Will it’s as late as September? No later. However you’ll now see Francis in 2024 in PFL in opposition to ‘La Problema’ in what I consider goes to be the combat I’m trying ahead to probably the most within the Heavyweight division in all of MMA.”
Davis additionally claimed the pay-per-view (PPV) occasion would come with the return of Cris Cyborg.
“It will likely be a pay-per-view combat and the cardboard may also have Cris Cyborg in opposition to Larissa Pacheco because the co-main occasion,” Davis stated. “That may also have Cedric Doumbe in opposition to somebody we’ll announce. In order that combat goes to be massive simply due to Francis however that combat may have different very compelling matchups on it. That combat card will happen in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The main points when it comes to the total card and month and timing we’ll introduced in about two months.”
Upon catching wind of these feedback, Cyborg was fast to open up her X account to supply up a rebuttal and contradict her new employer, insisting that Leah McCourt continues to be subsequent on her record, not Pacheco.
“My subsequent combat is with Leah McCourt, nothing has modified,” the Bellator champ wrote. “Let me know when she is wholesome and able to compete. Pacheco can occur however not after such a protracted interval of inactivity. That is the place a promoter is extra involved about their model than the fighter. What’s the rationale for my inactivity? I’ve received a couple of combat remaining on my deal.”
McCourt was initially scheduled to face Sinead Kavanagh in a rematch this Friday (March 22) within the co-main occasion of the Bellator Belfast occasion in Northern Eire however was later pressured from the cardboard after struggling a damaged rib and a torn indirect throughout coaching.
Cyborg has been very vocal about not having the ability to get a combat. And with no clear timetable for McCourt’s return, coupled with Pacheco and PFL’s willingness to make this bout occur, it looks like the one logical transfer for Cyborg if she actually desires to finish her hiatus.
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