Francis Ngannou vs Renan Ferreira: MMA & boxing risk-taker changing landscape of combat sports

Ngannou’s heavyweight fight against Brazil’s Renan Ferreira in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on Saturday is his first MMA bout since defending his UFC title against Ciryl Gane in 2021.

Despite boxing twice since, Ngannou is adamant he never departed MMA, even interrupting the interview midway to clarify his point.

“I’m not returning to MMA – I never left,” said Ngannou.

During the period when Ngannou’s only competitive action came in the boxing ring, the MMA heavyweight division landscape has altered dramatically, with American Jon Jones winning the UFC title and Britain’s Tom Aspinall becoming the promotion’s interim champion.

Ferreira won the PFL’s global annual heavyweight tournament in 2023, but doubts remain over his legitimacy as a challenger to Ngannou, in comparison to names like Jones and Aspinall.

Ferreira has won 13 and lost three professional fights, securing 11 knockouts, while Ngannou has won 20 and lost three of his bouts, including 12 knockouts.

“I think Renan’s a great fighter. I also have a feeling, I don’t know him personally, but I have a feeling he’s a great person,” said Ngannou.

“Right now this is the biggest challenge. I will have a six-foot-eight guy across from me, so right now he is the biggest challenge.”

In August, Ngannou said he considered retiring this year following the death of his son in April, but he has chosen to fight on as a way of honouring him.

The card in Riyadh, titled PFL Super Fights, is the most ambitious the promotion has ever hosted, with special commemorative titles being made for Ngannou’s bout and the co-main between Brazilian featherweights Cris Cyborg and Larissa Pacheco.

Such is Ngannou’s star power, the event has been built around him, with the Bellator middleweight title fight between American Johnny Eblen and Britain’s Fabian Edwards – a fight which was originally slated to headline in London in September – being relegated to third on the card.

Ngannou has many options going forward because of the money his name generates, and has hinted he plans to simultaneously compete in MMA and boxing.

“I want to achieve whatever is possible. I have no limits. Limits, you might end up breaking them, but doesn’t mean you should stop,” said Ngannou.

“At this point in time, I just want to see how far I can go and what else I can do before the sun sets. I’m just discovering myself.”

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