Francis Ngannou’s return to blended martial arts is right here.
After leaving the UFC, vacating the promotion’s heavyweight title, signing with the PFL, having two professional boxing matches towards two of the most important names within the candy science, Ngannou faces knockout artist Renan Ferreira in the principle occasion of PFL’s Battle of the Giants on Saturday in Saudi Arabia.
It’s no secret that Ngannou is coping with quite a bit heading into this one, and whereas each fighters appeared respectful and Bull Durham-like within the construct, issues acquired heated up within the ultimate faceoff — giving this struggle an additional (and, frankly, well-needed) enhance.
Within the co-main occasion, Cris Cyborg battles Larissa Pacheco, whereas Johnny Eblen battles Fabian Edwards in a rematch. The opposite huge major card spotlight is a light-weight tilt between former Bellator champ A.J. McKee and Paul Hughes.
What: PFL Tremendous Fights PPV: Battle of the Giants
The place: Kingdom Area in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
When: Saturday, Oct. 19. The four-fight preliminary card begins at 1:30 p.m. ET on ESPN+ within the U.S. and internationally on DAZN, adopted by a five-fight major card at 4 p.m. ET additionally on ESPN+ within the U.S. and internationally on DAZN.
Francis Ngannou vs. Renan Ferreira
Francis Ngannou ought to win this struggle, and I feel he’ll, however there’s a cause lots of people imagine Renan Ferreira is a darling canine.
Momentum in fight sports activities is large, and if we’re this by a down-the-middle lens, Ferreira has it after obliterating Bellator heavyweight champ Ryan Bader in seconds at PFL vs. Bellator. Ngannou has a variety of strain heading into this struggle, with the lineal heavyweight champ speak, the layoff, the two-fight journey into boxing, the PFL’s funding in him, to not point out what this struggle means to him on a private stage.
May the monster Ferreria discover Ngannou’s chin with a giant shot? Very, very doable. However in terms of MMA, Ngannou is a sponge in terms of recreation plans and execution. I truly see Ngannou getting a takedown or two on this struggle, and finally, touchdown some huge pictures on the ground in Spherical 2 to have a feel-good second.
Query is: Does he return to the boxing ring after?
Choose: Francis Ngannou
Cris Cyborg vs. Larissa Pacheco
It is a super matchup on paper, however the highway to it has been a bizarre one, hasn’t it?
It doesn’t seem to be the transition from Bellator to PFLator for Cyborg has been all that nice for those who’ve been following her on social media for the reason that merger. She’s additionally solely had two fights in MMA since April 2022, together with a rematch with Arlene Blencowe that no person requested for, and a straight destruction of Cat Zingano. However for the primary time since she confronted Amanda Nunes, Cyborg finds herself in a struggle that appears it might go both approach.
Pacheco has been excellent — profitable 10 fights in a row, a few $1 million checks, and is the one fighter on the planet to beat Kayla Harrison. Whereas that’s a spectacular win on her résumé, I nonetheless don’t actually understand how good Pacheco is, and whereas Cyborg doesn’t have her fastball anymore, she’s nonetheless a fairly rattling good fist-fighter.
I’m not assured, most notably as a result of Cyborg doesn’t appear all that thrilled to be part of this struggle week by my curious lens, however since I view this as a 50-50 struggle, I’m leaning in direction of expertise and accomplishment. Cyborg by determination is the choose and, what I predict, would be the first of a number of fights between the 2.
Choose: Cris Cyborg
Johnny Eblen vs. Fabian Edwards
In my view, this can be a pivotal second for Johnny Eblen, and you may make an actual case that he has probably the most to show on this whole card.
I do know, it’s bizarre to say that a few man who’s undefeated, however there was a second or two not that way back the place a variety of pundits claimed Eblen was the very best middleweight on the planet. Whereas Eblen did end Edwards of their first assembly, he needed to work quite a bit more durable than most anticipated to take action. Many believed it was not his finest night time within the workplace, after which he had the struggle with Impa Kasanganay, who gave Eblen a run for his cash at PFL vs. Bellator.
Now, we’re operating this one again, and admittedly, this struggle is going on for one cause — Eblen simply has no person else to bop with. Edwards is a high quality fighter and has some good wins, however normally, he would’ve wanted one other win, most likely two, after beating Aaron Jeffrey in a struggle no person will return and re-watch.
To me, a win shouldn’t be sufficient for Eblen. He must appear like he’s in a showcase struggle, and he has the chance to do precisely that. The choose is Eblen through third-round stoppage in a struggle that isn’t as shut as the unique.
Choose: Johnny Eblen
A.J. McKee vs. Paul Hughes
Kudos to each of those guys for constructing curiosity for this struggle from Bounce Road. I can’t watch for it, actually.
A.J. McKee has all the time been a rattling good fighter, however now that he’s at light-weight, he’s additionally enjoyable as hell, and that makes him much more harmful. Hughes is a 27-year-old stud that has an especially vivid future. The scary factor in regards to the longtime Cage Warriors star is that he’s nowhere close to a completed product. He’s two to 3 years away from his athletic prime. Sadly, he’s going through a man in McKee who’s in that prime, and has been in there with approach higher competitors.
I feel this struggle delivers the products, and if Hughes wins, he can put himself ready to be one of many prime headlines of the weekend in MMA. The choose is to have our cake and eat it too — McKee wins a call, and Hughes proves he belongs in defeat.
Choose: A.J. McKee
Different bouts:
Husein Kadimagomaev def. Zafar Mohsen
Raufeon Stots def. Marcos Breno
Makkasharip Zaynukov def. Dedrek Sanders
Ibragim Ibragimov def. Nacho Campos
Taha Bendaoud def. Tariq Ismail
