Former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou made his promotional debut on Saturday headlining the PFL Tremendous Fights: Battle of the Giants battle card in opposition to Renan Ferreira in a Superfight heavyweight championship match. The occasion befell at The Mayadeen in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia and was Ngannou’s first blended martial arts bout since January 2022.
Ngannou parted methods with the UFC in early 2023 after failing to come back to contractual phrases. He signed with the PFL however his debut was placed on maintain whereas he fought Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua in boxing matches. Ngannou was defeated by each me and knocked out by Joshua.
Ferreira, the 2023 PFL heavyweight champion and the “PFL vs. Bellator Champion of Champions” Tremendous Belt holder, entered the battle on a four-fight profitable streak and hoped to spoil “The Predator’s” PFL arrival.
Ngannou landed first with an outdoor leg kick. Ferreira responded with a leg kick. Ngannou labored across the exterior whereas Ferreira took the middle of the cage. Ngannou landed a leg kick and Ferreira missed with an enormous proper hand. Ngannou modified ranges and took Ferreira down. Ferreira labored to isolate an arm. Ngannou acquired his arm free and Ferreira appeared to lock on a triangle choke. Ngannou escaped and delivered a hammer fist. Ngannou postured up and delivered left palms. Ferreira rolled to his knees. Ngannou hammered away with left palms till Ferreira went limp confronted down on the canvas.
The official time of the knockout stoppage was 3:32 of the primary spherical.