Francis Ngannou to Make MMA Return with PFL Debut in October

Former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou is set to return to MMA, making his Professional Fighters League (PFL) debut on October 19. Ngannou will face 2023 PFL heavyweight champion Renan Ferreira on a PFL pay-per-view super fight card. The location of the bout has not been disclosed, though Saudi Arabia, which purchased a stake in the PFL last year, is a potential host.

“Renan is a great fighter, I have been watching him for years,” Ngannou said. “I have been studying him for years, in fact, I’ve been telling people to watch this guy. He’s quite unique, he’s athletic, fast, and he showed that in his last fight.”

Ngannou last fought in an MMA bout at UFC 270 in January 2022, successfully defending his UFC heavyweight title against Ciryl Gane. He left the UFC following a contentious contract dispute, citing rejected demands for health insurance and personal sponsorships. UFC President Dana White stripped Ngannou of the belt in January 2023. Ngannou, who won the UFC crown by defeating Stipe Miocic in 2021, signed with PFL in May 2023, becoming chairman and equity owner of PFL Africa.

Ngannou will compete exclusively on the promotion’s super fight cards, a unique feature of the PFL, which includes a regular season, a postseason, and a championship event.

Taking time off from MMA, Ngannou shifted his focus to boxing, facing heavyweights Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua. He went the distance with Fury in an October 2023 bout, narrowly losing in a decision that saw him knock down Fury in the third round. This performance bolstered Ngannou’s reputation as a legitimate contender in boxing. However, Joshua defeated Ngannou in March, flooring him twice for an easy win.

Both of Ngannou’s boxing bouts were in Saudi Arabia, where the PFL also hosted a card earlier this year. Saudi-backed SRJ Sports Investments, despite a modest $100 million investment, ensured that mixed-martial arts events will continue to take place in the kingdom.

Renan Ferreira has fought eight times since Ngannou’s last MMA bout, including a 21-second victory over longtime Bellator champion Ryan Bader in February.

“This is the fight of my life,” Ferreira said. “I am preparing like never before to bring Ngannou a whole lot of problems.”

Also on the October card, Cris “Cyborg” Justino will fight Larissa Pacheco.