Francis Ngannou is arguably the most formidable heavyweight the world of MMA has ever seen. He knocked out Stipe Miocic in dominant fashion back in April 2021 to claim the UFC heavyweight championship, before defending the title against French contender Cyril Gane a year later. However, a contract dispute saw the Cameroonian leave the Octagon in acrimonious circumstances, and he has not fought under MMA Rules since.
Boxing Forray
Since those high-stakes clashes for the UFC heavyweight championship, ‘The Predator’ has ventured into the square circle. Ngannou made his debut against then-WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury and very nearly caused the biggest upset since Buster Douglas knocked out Mike Tyson back in 1990. He dropped the highly-rated Gypsy King in the first round, before ultimately losing a razor-thin split decision.
In April of this year, Ngannou then faced another Brit in the form of Anthony Joshua, but ultimately this time around, he was outmatched. The hard-hitting AJ went on to secure a brutal second-round knockout victory, and he is now back in title contention. The latest Anthony Joshua vs Daniel Dubois odds make the former a huge 1/5 favourite to win that clash and reclaim the currently vacant IBF world title, but Ngannou is heading back to the cage.
As such then, you won’t find the former UFC champion on any boxing betting odds lists, but he is indeed back on the MMA ones and has been made a 2/7 favourite for his clash with Renan Ferreria. But who is his opponent, and does he have a chance to upset the odds?
Anthony Joshua’s KO of Francis Ngannou in the 2nd. What a performance from AJ tonight and over the past 11 months. pic.twitter.com/YHtWZSViNz
— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) March 9, 2024
PFL Heavyweight Champion
Renan Ferreira enters this fight as the reigning 2023 PFL heavyweight champion. He is coming off the back of a savage first-round knockout of Bellator heavyweight champion Ryan Bader, a man who has twice knocked out the fearsome Fedor Emelianenko. That solidified the Brazilian’s status as the best heavyweight on the planet outside the UFC, and now he is aiming to cement his legacy as a genuine superstar.
Ferreira has been making waves in the PFL with his impressive performances and is known for his well-rounded skill set. Outside of Bader, he has victories on his records over the likes of Denis Goltsov and Maurice Greene and his ability to adapt to different fighting styles makes him a formidable opponent for the hard-hitting Ngannou. The upcoming bout will undoubtedly test his mettle against one of the most feared strikers in the sport, but if he comes through the test, he will go into the best heavyweight in the world discussions alongside Jon Jones and Tom Aspinall.
Build Up
In the lead-up to the contest, there has been a buzz of excitement and anticipation. Both fighters have engaged in a respectful yet competitive dialogue, acknowledging each other’s strengths while expressing confidence in their abilities. Ferreira, in particular, has been keen to clarify any misconstrued comments about Ngannou, emphasizing mutual respect and the seriousness with which he approaches this challenge.
The recent faceoffs have generated significant interest, with fans eager to see how these two titans of the sport will match up. Ngannou’s transition to the PFL and his faceoff with Ferreira was a spectacle, managed by none other than brash American Jake Paul, adding an extra layer of intrigue to the proceedings. The contest is without a doubt the most anticipated in the history of the fledgling PFL, and should the October clash live up to the billing, surely it will prove to be a money-spinner for the company over the next ye
