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Francis NgannouFAYEZ NURELDINE/AFP via Getty Images
The next chapter of Francis Ngannou’s MMA career got off to a strong start as The Predator earned the PFL’s Heavyweight Superfight Championship with a first-round TKO win over Renan Ferreira at the PFL’s pay-per-view card from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
After the fight, Ngannou dedicated the win to his 15-month-old son Kobe, who died in April.
“Without Kobe, we wouldn’t be here tonight,” Ngannou said. “I hope they can remember his name.”
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“Without Kobe, we wouldn’t be here tonight. I hope they can remember his name.”<br><br>Francis Ngannou dedicated his <a href=”https://twitter.com/hashtag/PFLSuperFights?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>#PFLSuperFights</a> win to his son Kobe, who died at 15 months old back in April. <a href=”https://t.co/6m6PcE0Xjm”>pic.twitter.com/6m6PcE0Xjm</a>
Ngannou wasted little time in showing that he remembered he can wrestle in MMA.
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That early takedown marked the beginning of the end for Ferreira. Ngannou maintained top position, fought off a triangle choke attempt from his opponent before getting Ferreira’s back and going for the TKO.
He rained down strikes until the referee was forced to call the bout.
The win marked the first time that Ngannou has fought in MMA since his contract with the UFC expired in early 2022. The former heavyweight champion entered free agency after his title defense against Ciryl Gane.
Ngannou ultimately landed with the PFL. Part of that decision was because the organization was willing to allow him to pursue his dream of boxing.
The power puncher went on to fight boxing star Tyson Fury to a split-decision before getting knocked out by Anthony Joshua.
The second loss prompted him to return to the cage. That’s where he has made his name, but he hasn’t ruled out a return to boxing, noting that he feels like he has a few fights in both sports before it’s time for him to hand up the gloves.
“I have an appetite to go back into boxing,” Ngannou told Mike Bohn in an interview for MMA Junkie (h/t A.K. Jones of DAZN. “For sure, I still have a couple fights in both left. I just turned 38, so I will say my retirement when I start getting around 41 or 42. It could be 40, but this is just in an exceptional case. This time I think I really have to enjoy my time inside the octagon and inside the ring, and then have my last dance and go home.”
Ngannou’s loss to Anthony Joshua was a definitive statement that Ngannou is a long way from competing with the elite in boxing. The Fury performance was impressive but he isn’t exactly known for his consistency.
This victory showed that Ngannou is still capable of putting on elite performances against top heavyweights. Ferreira hasn’t won in the UFC, but he did win the PFL’s heavyweight tournament and knocked out Bellator heavyweight champion Ryan Bader.
The question will quickly shift to whether PFL can find another challenge for Ngannou that will bring attention to the promotion.