Cameroon’s former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou will make his promotional debut for the Professional Fighters League (PFL) on October 19, facing off against Brazilian heavyweight Renan Ferreira.
The main event fight will mark Ngannou’s return to MMA after a year-long foray into the boxing world, where he suffered losses against former champions Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua.
In the co-main event, long-time Bellator featherweight queen Cris Cyborg will take on PFL two-weight champion Larissa Pacheco. The winners of both contests will be awarded the newly established “super-fights championship belt” by the PFL.
At 37 years old, Ngannou has decided to return to his MMA roots after unsuccessful attempts to secure boxing superfights. His opponent, the 34-year-old Ferreira, earned his shot at the former UFC champion by winning the PFL’s 2023 heavyweight tournament and knocking out Bellator heavyweight titleholder Ryan Bader earlier this year.
Ngannou, who held the UFC heavyweight crown in 2021, brings a 17-3 professional MMA record to the table, with his last victory coming against Ciryl Gane via decision in January 2022. Ferreira, on the other hand, owns a 13-3-3 MMA mark, with 11 of his 13 wins coming by way of knockout.
The PFL will be hoping Ngannou’s return to the cage, as well as the high-profile clash between Cyborg and Pacheco, will help the promotion continue its push to rival the industry-leading UFC. Ngannou was named the chairman of the PFL’s new African league, set to launch in 2025, further cementing his ties to the organization.