Ayeni Olusegun
Riyadh
Dominant and explosive, an emotional Francis Ngannou reminded the MMA world why he’s called “The Predator” with a devastating first-round knockout over Renan “Problema” Ferreira in his return to mixed martial arts (MMA). Making his Professional Fighters League (PFL) debut in the highly anticipated “Battle of the Giants: Brace for Impact” in Riyadh, the former UFC heavyweight champion showcased his undeniable power, flooring Ferreira and forcing the referee to stop the fight late in the first round.
Ngannou’s return came amidst the fighter’s personal struggle following the heartbreaking loss of his 15-month-old son, Kobe, earlier this year. In the lead-up to the fight, the Cameroonian-born Ngannou expressed that his comeback to the sport, after two boxing losses, was personal and dedicated to his son.
“I can’t think about anything but my son, Kobe,” a tearful Ngannou said in his post-fight interview. “I only fought tonight because of him. I wanted to fight for him. I hope people will remember his name because, without Kobe, I wouldn’t be here tonight. I’m done.”
The new Super Fight heavyweight title holder added, “They’ve told me I’m tough, and I started to believe that. But I recently discovered I’m not as tough as I thought. It’s been tough. You wonder if the pain will ever end, but you have to learn to live with it. I could have taken time to grieve, but how long would that take? A lifetime wouldn’t be enough. This is a new life for me, and I have to learn how to navigate it.”
Despite his illustrious career, many wondered how the 38-year-old would perform after a lengthy absence, particularly following a brutal knockout loss to Anthony Joshua in March. Though Ngannou claimed he was still the same fighter, there was uncertainty about how he would fare in the cage again -- but one thing was clear: losing was not an option.
The fight began with both fighters exchanging kicks, but Ngannou’s superiority soon became evident. After a slip took the fight to the ground, Ferreira attempted a triangle choke, but Ngannou quickly countered, showcasing his wrestling skills. Ferreira soon found himself trapped, and Ngannou unleashed a barrage of punches that forced referee Dan Miragliotta to stop the fight.
“I felt good,” Ngannou said. “I was watching his movements, and I controlled everything once I took him down. In a fight, you figure out shortcuts if needed, and I took advantage. I’m confident in my wrestling and ground game. Even though Ferreira has strong jiu-jitsu, I knew I could control him on the ground.”
In the co-main event, MMA legend Cris Cyborg dominated Larissa Pacheco to win the women’s featherweight championship by unanimous decision. Cyborg, who will complete 20 years in the sport next year, added another title to her already impressive collection, which includes UFC, Bellator, Strikeforce, and Invicta gold.
“It’s been a long wait,” Cyborg said. “My last fight was a year ago, but I want to defend my title soon because I’m approaching 20 years in this sport. This is year 19, and I want to move on to the next chapter, hopefully having a child. The next plan is to defend my title as soon as possible.”
Also, Bellator middleweight champion Johnny Eblen successfully defended his title against Fabian Edwards, winning by unanimous decision. The undefeated Eblen proved too much for Edwards for the second time in 13 months, solidifying his dominance in their much-anticipated rematch.
