Francis Ngannou is finally making is comeback to MMA, and has a formidable challenger on the horizon.
Brace yourself for an electrifying SmartCage debut as he will face off against the winner from the Ryan Bader vs. Renan Ferreira clash. This anticipated showdown will take place at the upcoming ‘PFL vs. Bellator’ pay-per-view event in Riyadh. The winner of the belt will be crowned as the new heavyweight champion along with receiving a new championship belt.
PFL CEO Peter Murray eagerly announced Ngannou’s return to the MMA scene within the PFL PPV Division. He said: “The PFL is excited to announce Francis Ngannou’s return to MMA in the PFL PPV Division will be against the winner of the PFL Champion vs Bellator Champion Heavyweight Superfight between Renan Ferreira and Ryan Bader. Francis is a true combat sports icon with a global fan base and appeal. We, along with the rest of the MMA world, will be watching to see who his first opponent will be, Ferreira or Bader.”
Despite the excitement surrounding Ngannou’s return, the specifics of his PFL debut is not yet known. Information regarding the date and location has not been provided.
Before stepping into the SmartCage, Ngannou will reacquaint himself boxing. He will be facing former unified world heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua in Saudi Arabia. Ngannou is currently in the Top 10 of the WBC rankings.
On the other hand, Ngannou’s PFL debut will mark his first MMA appearance since his victory over Ciryl Gane in early 2022.
One of the potential opponents Renan Ferreira expressed the gravity of the situation. He stated: “I feel like this is almost a make it or break it moment. It’s tough to even say this because there’s so much on the line between the belt and the million dollars, but there really is more on the line when you talk about future opportunities and the opportunity to fight a guy like Francis after this.”