Francis Ngannou made a triumphant return to MMA with a first-round knockout of Renan Ferreira in the PFL Battle of the Giants, earning widespread praise from the combat sports community.
Francis Ngannou is back and making waves. After a hiatus from MMA since January 2022, "The Predator" returned with a bang. In Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, he delivered a stunning first-round knockout against Renan Ferreira in the PFL Battle of the Giants main event.
Ngannou’s journey to this fight was anything but ordinary. After parting ways with the UFC—where he never lost his heavyweight title—he joined the PFL in May 2023. Before stepping into the PFL cage, he had already lined up high-profile boxing matches with Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua. And when he finally fought for the league, it was worth the wait. Less than a round was all he needed to take Ferreira down, finishing him with powerful ground punches that left the 2023 PFL tournament champion limp.
The combat sports community erupted in praise for Ngannou’s performance. Jake Paul, another PFL signee, hailed him as “The real f*cking heavyweight champ.” Paul even called for a showdown between Ngannou and UFC heavyweight champion Jon Jones.
Social media buzzed with reactions. Jake Paul tweeted: "Let’s fcking go Francis. The real fcking heavyweight champ!!!" He continued to stir excitement by expressing his desire to see Ngannou face Jon Jones.
Paul didn’t stop there. He reminded fans about Stipe Miocic‘s last fight, where Ngannou knocked him out. Regardless of who wins between Jones and Miocic, Paul declared Ngannou as the top heavyweight.
In another tweet, Paul praised Ngannou for standing up against underpayment, likening his courage to "king sh*t." He respected Francis for finding his own path.
Meanwhile, Conor McGregor chimed in with his own take on the MMA landscape: "UFC has zero competition in MMA."
And Modestas Bukauskas showed heartfelt support, celebrating Ngannou’s triumph after all he’s been through. He expressed massive love for Francis and his family, noting that Ngannou did it for Kobe.
The MMA world continues to watch closely as Francis Ngannou redefines what it means to be a champion.