Well, it was fun while it lasted, no? A year ago at this time, Francis Ngannou was a deposed UFC heavyweight champion looking to begin the next chapter in anβ¦
If Francis Ngannou decides to return to MMA, it will seemingly be for a fight with towering Brazilian knockout artist Renan Ferreira in the PFL SmartCage.β¦
PFL vs. Bellator Champs Results: Winners, Highlights from Ferreira vs. Bader Card
Feb 24, 2024
WASHINGTON, DC - NOVEMBER 24: Renan Ferreira of Brazil prepares to fight Denis Goltsov of Russia during the 2023 PFL Championships at The Anthem on November 24, 2023 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images)
Renan Ferreira knocked out Ryan Bader in just 21 seconds to headline the PFL vs. Bellator card in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on Saturday.
Bellator fighters won all five bouts on the main card before the battle between PFL and Bellator heavyweight champions closed the evening. Ferreira easily prevented the clean sweep, however, as the PFL champion wasted no time en route to victory.
That win could very well set up a match with former UFC heavyweight champion Frances Ngannou, who has expressed a desire to return to MMA and had his eyes on Saturday's winner.
For now, though, here's a look at how the evening's matches went down, alongside some highlights.
Main Card Results
Renan Ferreira def. Ryan Bader via Round 1 TKO (0:21)
Johnny Eblen def. Impa Kasanganay via split decision: 29-28, 28-29, 29-28
Jason Jackson def. Ray Cooper III via Round 2 TKO (0:23)
Vadim Nemkov def. Bruno Cappelozza via Round 2 technical submission (2:23)
Ferreira clocked Bader with a left hand before hitting him with a right that sent him to the canvas. Some ground-and-pound closed the deal, sending Ferreira to 13-3 (three no-contests). Bader is now 31-8 (one no-contest).
Impa Kasanganay vs. Johnny Eblen
Johnny Eblen moved to 15-0 lifetime after this win, but it wasn't easy as Impa Kasanganay took him the distance in this battle of middleweight champions.
Eblen got dropped hard in the second round with a big right hand and took some other shots as well.
Kasanganay (15-4) clearly won the second round, but Eblen had the edge in Rounds 1 and 3 thanks in part to takedowns in each. He notably clearly controlled the end of Round 3 after a takedown with a minute-and-a-half left.
In the end, he was the victor in the closest main card bout.
Ray Cooper III vs. Jason Jackson
Jackson landed a low kick to Cooper's left knee that took his foe's legs out from under him, and then some ground-and-pound led to a Round 2 TKO in this 182-pound catchweight fight.
He also got in some great punches and a Round 3 flying knee en route to improving to 16-7. Santos is now 22-12 (one no-contest).
Clay Collard vs. AJ McKee
AJ McKee got an early takedown and began looking for an early submission afterward in this lightweight fight. He got it done just 1:10 into the match with a smooth armbar attempt:
McKee improved to 22-1 lifetime. Collard fell to 24-12 (one no-contest).
Renan Ferreira Calls Out Francis Ngannou for PFL Fight After KO Win vs. Ryan Bader
Feb 24, 2024
WASHINGTON, DC - NOVEMBER 24: Renan Ferreira of Brazil reacts after his victory against Denis Goltsov of Russia during the 2023 PFL Championships at The Anthem on November 24, 2023 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images)
Renan Ferreira has his sights set on a bout with Francis Ngannou.
Following his win over Ryan Bader on Saturday in the main event at PFL vs. Bellator at Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Ferreira called out Ngannou for a PFL fight.
"Francis, where you at? I'm waiting for you," Ferreira said, according to Ariel Helwani.
Ferreira, the 2023 PFL heavyweight champion, took down Bader, the Bellator heavyweight champion, in just 21 seconds on Saturday.
Ferreira will now step into the ring with Ngannou, the former UFC heavyweight champion, soon.
Ngannou hinted earlier this week during an appearance on ESPN's SportsCenter that he would likely make his MMA return against the winner of Saturday's main event between Ferreira and Bader.
"I think the winner of this is the guy I'm going to fight in my MMA return," Ngannou told ESPN. "It is my intention to return to the sport. When exactly, I think depends on March 8. [Ferreira and Bader] are both champions and one of them is going to be a 'Champ Champ.' So, I think there isn't a better way to find an opponent [for me], since I am a champion myself."
The PFL then confirmed that the two would step into the ring. The fight will mark Ngannou's PFL debut.
Ngannou signed with the PFL in May 2023 but has yet to debut as he has placed more of a focus on his boxing career.
After falling to Tyson Fury via split decision in his professional boxing debut in October, Ngannou scheduled a match with former world heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua on March 8 in Saudi Arabia.
Ngannou previously competed in UFC from 2015 to 2022, going 17-3 in that span with wins over the likes of Stipe Miocic and Ciryl Gane.
The 37-year-old defeated Miocic for the UFC heavyweight title at UFC 260 in 2021 and successfully defended his title against Gane at UFC 270 in January 2022. He then vacated the title after not being able to agree to terms on a new contract with the promotion.
Ferreira is now 13-3 in his PFL career following his win over Bader. In addition to Bader, he has also beaten Denis Goltsov, Jamelle Jones and Maurice Greene.
Francis Ngannou to Fight Winner of Renan Ferreira vs. Ryan Bader PFL Bout
Feb 22, 2024
LONDON, ENGLAND - JANUARY 15: Francis Ngannou speaks during the Anthony Joshua v Francis Ngannou Press Conference at Outernet London on January 15, 2024 in London, England. (Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images)
The Professional Fighters League announced Thursday that the winner of Saturday's heavyweight bout between Renan Ferreira and Ryan Bader will go on to face former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou.
According to ESPN's Brett Okamoto, Ngannou said earlier Thursday before the initial announcement was made that he anticipated fighting either Ferreira or Bader in his PFL debut:
"I think the winner of this is the guy I'm going to fight in my MMA return. It is my intention to return to the sport. When exactly, I think depends on March 8. [Ferreira and Bader] are both champions and one of them is going to be a 'champ champ.' So, I think there isn't a better way to find an opponent [for me], since I am a champion myself."
Ngannou signed with PFL back in May 2023, but he has yet to compete in a fight for the promotion due to his focus on his burgeoning boxing career.
The 37-year-old Ngannou competed in UFC from 2015 to 2022, beating Stipe Miocic for the UFC heavyweight title at UFC 260 in 2021 and then successfully defending it against Ciryl Gane at UFC 270 in January 2022.
Ngannou and UFC were unable to come to terms on a new contract, so he vacated the title, left the promotion and signed with PFL.
The 17-3 heavyweight's PFL debut was delayed when he decided to make his pro boxing debut against undefeated world heavyweight champion Tyson Fury in October.
Despite having never boxed professionally, Ngannou pushed Fury to the limit and lost by split decision, falling just short of handing the 34-0-1 Fury his first career loss.
Given the fact that Ngannou nearly beat arguably the best heavyweight boxer in the world in his boxing debut, he agreed to a second fight against former world heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua, which will take place on March 8 in Saudi Arabia.
The result of Ngannou vs. Joshua could dictate Ngannou's future in boxing, but his MMA return is in the cards regardless, and two accomplished heavyweights will vie for the chance to welcome him back into the fold.
Ferreira, 34, is 12-3 with three no contests in his career, and 10 of his wins have come by way of knockout. He scored the biggest victory of his career in November when he beat Denis Goltsov by second-round technical knockout to win the 2023 PFL heavyweight tournament.
The 40-year-old Bader is a UFC veteran who was part of the promotion from 2008 through 2016 before moving on to Bellator.
Bader is 31-7 with one no contest, and he held both the heavyweight and light heavyweight titles in Bellator. Bader is still the Bellator heavyweight champion and is the longest-reigning champ in Bellator history.
During his time in Bellator, Bader has beaten Fedor Emelianenko, Cheick Kongo, Lyoto Machida and Phil Davis, plus he owns wins over Quinton Jackson, Ovince Saint Preux, Rashad Evans and Davis from his UFC tenure.
The winner of Ferreira vs. Bader will have a ton of momentum on their side, and a subsequent win over Ngannou would perhaps be the biggest victory in either of their careers.
Mike Tyson to Present Custom Championship Belts to PFL vs. Bellator Fight Winners
Feb 21, 2024
RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA - OCTOBER 28: Mike Tyson looks on prior to the Heavyweight fight between Tyson Fury and Francis Ngannou at Boulevard Hall on October 28, 2023 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)
Legendary boxer Mike Tyson will be on hand for Saturday's PFL vs. Bellator: Champs to present a customized belt to the winners of the three championship fights.
"I called Mike two weeks ago, because I thought there was nobody more fitting to award the first ever in combat sports belt that goes to a champion beating a champion than the greatest champion of all time in Mike Tyson," PFL chairman Donn Davis said to ESPN's Marc Raimondi.
The PFL announced in November it acquired Bellator MMA and envisioned staging events pitting the starts from both promotions against one another. Saturday's super-show will be the first joint venture since the deal.
Renan Ferreira will carry the PFL banner when he faces off with Bellator's Ryan Bader in the main event. PFL light heavyweight champion Impa Kasanganay will take on Johnny Eblen. Patricio Freire (Bellator) and Gabriel Braga (PFL) cross paths in the third bout with gold on the line.
In the case of Ferreira and Bader, the stakes will be raised. Davis told Raimondi the winner will jump to the top of the list for a headliner against Francis Ngannou down the line.
Having Tyson present will help add to the grandeur of the spectacle. Even though he has been retired since 2005, the 57-year-old remains one of the most recognizable names in boxing.
"I'm really looking forward to this because this is the unification of the two champions of different divisions and different organizations," he said to Raimondi.
Saudi Arabia's Hattan Alsaif Signs Historic Contract with PFL Ahead of 2024 Debut
Jan 30, 2024
WASHINGTON, DC - NOVEMBER 24: Denis Goltsov of Russia battles Renan Ferreira of Brazil during the 2023 PFL Championships at The Anthem on November 24, 2023 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images)
The Professional Fighters League made a historic signing on Tuesday.
Per ESPN's Marc Raimondi, PFL has completed a deal with 22-year-old Saudi Arabian-born fighter Hattan Alsaif, making her the first female athlete from the country to sign with a major MMA promotion.
Alsaif has yet to compete in MMA, so her amateur debut will come in PFL. Raimondi noted that the Muay Thai practitioner "potentially" will have her first fight before the end of 2024.
"Receiving a contract from the PFL is a dream come true for me," Alsaif said in a statement. "Being the first female MMA fighter from Saudi Arabia to be signed by a major global organization like PFL is a true honor. I won't take this responsibility lightly, and I am committed to doing my best to represent my country. I hope this paves the way for more opportunities for aspiring female fighters."
Alsaif is a decorated Muay Thai competitor. She won a gold medal at the 2023 International Federation of Muay Thai Associations World Championships, becoming the first Saudi Arabian athlete to do so when she was victorious in the under-45-kilograms category. She also took home first place at the World Combat Games and the Saudi Games last year.
"With Alsaif's remarkable achievements in martial arts, she has undeniably earned her place in the PFL, and we believe she will pave the way for many more talented female fighters in Saudi Arabia and the Middle East," PFL president of fighter operations Ray Sefo said in a statement.
The next event on the PFL calendar will be a marquee pay-per-view dubbed PFL Champions vs. Bellator Champions on Feb. 24 at Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
PFL Acquires Bellator MMA After Rumors, Reveals Champs vs. Champs Fight Card For 2024
Nov 20, 2023
NEW YORK CITY, NY - AUGUST 23: Clay Collard throws a punch against Shane Burgos during PFL 2023 week 9 at The Theater at Madison Square Garden on August 23, 2023 in New York City. (Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images)
The Professional Fighters League acquired Bellator MMA to "create a stronger competitor to UFC," according to Samer Al-Atrush of the Financial Times.
PFL founder Donn Davis told Al-Atrush the deal "totally changes the MMA landscape overnight."
"You essentially put two number two companies to create a co-leader," he said. "The combined PFL Bellator roster now has 30 percent of its fighters who are ranked top 25 in the world by Fight Matrix. That's the same as UFC has in their roster."
Everyone on the Bellator roster is now a part of PFL, Davis said Monday:
Donn Davis says all 210 fighters currently under Bellator contract are coming over to the PFL umbrella with the new deal. #TheMMAHour
Rather than ditching the Bellator branding, the PFL said in Monday's press release it's creating the Bellator International Champions Series, which will feature eight standalone events each year. Fighters signed to Bellator will have the opportunity to compete in the PFL as well.
This deal symbolizes the PFL's rapid ascent in the MMA world.
Signing unbeaten boxing star Claressa Shields in 2020 was a bit of a coup. Striking a deal with Jake Paul in January brought plenty of mainstream attention. Then came the biggest move of all, bringing former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou aboard.
Perhaps the most transformative development for the PFL, however, came when it sold a minority stake to a company owned by the Public Investment Fund for more $100 million in August.
The PIF is Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund and the mechanism through which the country has built a bigger and bigger footprint in sports. Some have described the strategy as "sportswashing," a way for Saudi Arabia to improve its image abroad and deflect attention away from ongoing human rights abuses within the country.
It's not as though the UFC's status as the premiere power in MMA is under immediate threat. But a merger between the PFL and Bellator fueled in part by Saudi riches could create a serious challenger to the throne over the years to come.
Francis Ngannou 'Will Absolutely Make' PFL Debut in 2024 After Fury Loss, Says CEO
Nov 5, 2023
Britain's Tyson Fury (L) fights against Cameroonian-French Francis Ngannou during their heavyweight boxing match in Riyadh early on October 29, 2023. (Photo by Fayez NURELDINE / AFP) (Photo by FAYEZ NURELDINE/AFP via Getty Images)
Expect to see Francis Ngannou taking PFL fights in the upcoming year.
"In 2024 [Ngannou] will absolutely make his debut with PFL, and he'll return to the cage and MMA and we're putting that fight together as we speak," PFL's CEO Peter Murray told TMZ Sports. "So we're excited about it."
Ngannou, 37, is fresh off of losing a controversial split decision loss against Tyson Fury last week in his professional boxing debut. The former UFC heavyweight champion even knocked down Fury, the current WBC heavyweight champion, giving him one of his "toughest fights of the last 10 years."
As for Fury's return to MMA, Murray outlined a few big-name opponents for him going forward.
"Francis wants Jon Jones, and Jon Jones wants Francis. Francis wants Stipe [Miocic], and Stipe wants Francis," he said. "And there's a conversation going on with Deontay Wilder, whether it's boxing, whether it's modified rules. That could be exciting, so that's a real consideration."
Francis Ngannou Eyes Fights with Deontay Wilder, Healthy Jon Jones and Stipe Miocic
Nov 5, 2023
LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM - SEPTEMBER 07: Francis Ngannou, lineal MMA Heavyweight World Champion attends the Tyson Fury vs Francis Ngannou kick-off press conference at the Here at Outernet in London, United Kingdom on September 07, 2023. Fury and Ngannou will take part in a 10-round boxing match on Saturday, October 28th in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, which will mark the opening of this year's Riyadh Season. (Photo by Wiktor Szymanowicz/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
Francis Ngannou is keeping his options open when it comes to his next fight following his loss to Tyson Fury.
In an interview with TMZ Sports, the PFL star ruled out a clash with Jon Jones due to the torn pectoral Jones recently suffered. He was more enthusiastic about the prospect of opposing Stipe Miocic or heavyweight boxer Deontay Wilder.
PFL CEO Peter Murray told TMZ Sports the plan is to have Ngannou make his debut for the promotion in 2024, and he said the 37-year-old "wants" Jones and Miocic. Murray added that Wilder was under consideration as well, both as a traditional boxing matchup or one with modified rules.
Ngannou's stock has never been higher after he presented a much tougher challenge to Fury than many expected. He knocked the heavyweight champion down in the third round and connected with more power punches, ultimately losing a split decision.
Staging another crossover fight would almost certainly be a massive moneymaker for Ngannou. Boxing promoter Eddie Hearn argued opposing Anthony Joshua would be "one of the biggest fights in the history of the sport" if done right.
Eddie Hearn on a potential Anthony Joshua vs Francis Ngannou fight:
There's no question Ngannou opened new doors for himself thanks to his performance against Fury, and he stands to cash in with whatever choice he makes.
