Renan Ferreira defeated Ryan Bader in just 21 seconds in the PFL vs. Bellator main event, setting himself up for a potential future showdown with Francis Ngannou.
Renan Ferreira just scored the most significant win of his career. The PFL vs. Bellator main event was his stage, and it could pave the way for even bigger things.
He’s the reigning PFL heavyweight champ. He took only 21 seconds to obliterate Ryan Bader. This win sets him up for a potential face-off with Francis Ngannou.
Ferreira’s performance was jaw-dropping. He hit Bader with a crushing right hand in the fight’s first exchange. The Bellator heavyweight king went down like a sack of potatoes.
Ferreira, a giant of a man, didn’t waste time. He followed Bader to the ground and let loose a flurry of punches. The ref had no choice but to call it. Ferreira was the only PFL fighter to beat his Bellator opponent that night.
After the fight, Ferreira had a message for Ngannou. Ngannou was there, watching from the sidelines in Saudi Arabia. “I am the real problem out here,” Ferreira roared. “I am the record breaker. I am the record setter. Francis, where you at? I’m waiting for you. Let’s go, let’s do this.”
Ferreira’s size advantage was a hot topic. He’s a towering 6-foot-8-inches with a massive wingspan. Bader’s used to fighting bigger guys since he moved to heavyweight. But his luck ran out on Saturday. Ferreira’s right hand caught him in an exchange, and his head snapped around.
Bader hit the canvas hard. He didn’t get a chance to recover. Ferreira was on him, raining down punches until the fight was stopped. Ferreira’s journey to PFL gold and the $1 million prize was impressive. But taking out a seasoned fighter like Bader? That’s a testament to his growth in the sport.
Now, Ferreira’s got his sights set on Ngannou. He’s hoping Ngannou will return to MMA after his boxing match with Anthony Joshua on March 8.
“I’ve always been ready to fight against the very best in the world,” Ferreira said. “Francis, it can be inside a PFL smart cage, it can be in a boxing ring, whatever you want to do, whenever you want to do it. I’m ready to go.”