Tag: PFL: Battle of the Giants

Francis Ngannou vs. Renan Ferreira: Odds and what to know ahead of PFL’s Battle of the Giants

Oddsmakers have set Francis Ngannou as a comfortable opening favorite over Renan Ferrier for their PFL Super Fights showdown in Riyadh.

A big heavyweight showdown headlines PFL: Battle of the Giants when former UFC champion [autotag]Francis Ngannou[/autotag] returns to MMA to face 2023 PFL champion [autotag]Renan Ferreira[/autotag].

Francis Ngannou vs. Renan Ferreira preview

Ngannou (17-3 MMA, 0-0 PFL) competes in his first MMA bout after exiting the UFC and competing in a pair of big matchups in the boxing ring. Ngannou defeated Ciryl Gane at UFC 270 to retain the UFC heavyweight title, but after negotiations with the promotion fell through, “The Predator” became a free agent and signed with PFL.

The contract with PFL allowed Ngannou the freedom to compete in boxing matches, which led to a bout against WBC champ Tyson Fury in last October. Ngannou scored the only knockdown in the fight, but lost a split decision. Ngannou then faced former champion Anthony Joshua in March and was knocked out in Round 2. He now returns to the MMA cage for his first fight under the PFL banner.

Ferreira (13-3 MMA, 7-1 PFL) solidified his position as the top challenge for Ngannou by winning the 2023 PFL Championships with a second-round knockout of Denis Goltsov in November. “Problema” then faced Ryan Bader at PFL vs. Bellator: Champions in February, finishing the Bellator champ in just 21 seconds.

Francis Ngannou vs. Renan Ferreira odds

DraftKings released the odds for the bout, with Ngannou opening as a solid favorite at -298 and Ferriera as a +240 underdog.

How to watch Francis Ngannou vs. Renan Ferreira at PFL: Battle of the Giants

  • When: Saturday, Oct. 19, 2024
  • Where: The Mayadeen, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
  • Broadcast/streaming: ESPN+ pay-per-view

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for PFL: Battle of the Giants.

Video: Francis Ngannou, Renan Ferreira have first faceoff. Is the fight generating buzz?

Is Francis Ngannou vs. Renan Ferreira generating the buzz PFL hopes for? We discuss on “Spinning Back Clique.”

The first promotional event for PFL’s upcoming pay-per-view featuring [autotag]Francis Ngannou[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Renan Ferreira[/autotag] is in the books.

Last week, the two heavyweight giants traveled to Washington, D.C. for a press conference promoting their Oct. 19 title bout in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. A lot came out of the event, including an intense faceoff, several verbal jabs, and even some controversial comments from Ferreira –which were later clarified.

Is this fight between Ngannou (17-3 MMA, 0-0 PFL) and Ferreira (13-3 MMA, 7-1 PFL) generating the buzz PFL is hoping for?

MMA Junkie’s Matt Wells, Nolan King, Mike Bohn, and host “Gorgeous” George discuss the latest surrounding Ngannou vs. Ferreira and the first press conference promoting the event.

Watch their discussion in the video above, and don’t miss this week’s complete episode of “Spinning Back Clique” below on YouTube.

https://youtube.com/live/qNIbTNfY2Rk

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for PFL: Battle of the Giants.

Jake Paul: Dana White scared to co-promote and make Jon Jones vs. Francis Ngannou happen

Jake Paul continues to poke at UFC CEO Dana White.

[autotag]Jake Paul[/autotag] continues to poke at UFC CEO [autotag]Dana White[/autotag].

Paul regulated the faceoff between former UFC heavyweight champion [autotag]Francis Ngannou[/autotag] (17-3) and 2023 PFL heavyweight champion Renan Ferreira (13-3), who square off in the main event of PFL’s Oct. 19 pay-per-view card at Mayadeen Venue in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

It’s no secret how critical Paul has been towards UFC fighter pay. He was asked about the possibility of Ngannou vs. UFC heavyweight champion Jon Jones happening, but claims White is too afraid to make it happen.

“Well I think Dana’s scared to make it happen,” Paul said after the PFL press conference. “I think he doesn’t want to lose his horse in Jon Jones. I love Jon Jones, but that’s too much of a risk for Dana to take. Francis is one of the baddest, if not the baddest man on the planet. So I think Dana’s scared. I don’t think he would want to do that. But the MMA fans want that. Doesn’t everyone want that? But Dana never does anything for the fans.”

White and Ngannou have different versions of the story. White says Ngannou left the UFC because he didn’t want to fight Jones, but Ngannou insists he was the one pushing for the fight to happen. Either way, White has never been one for co-promoting, making the fight unlikely to happen.

Paul sees Ngannou as the “Baddest Man on the Planet,” and Ferreira with an opportunity to take that crown in October.

“Well, yeah of course,” Paul said. “That would be first of all a massive upset. Obviously, that could happen in combat sports. That’s what makes this fight exciting is Ferreira being an insane competitor – but he would become the man. He would become the greatest heavyweight in MMA. But currently as it stands, Francis Ngannou is the man to beat.”

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for PFL: Battle of the Giants.

Renan Ferreira clarifies ‘biggest problem’ comments toward Francis Ngannou at PFL presser

Renan Ferreira wasn’t talking about Francis Ngannou’s personal life when saying he would be his “biggest problem” at Thursday’s PFL press conference.

[autotag]Renan Ferreira[/autotag]’s strong comments toward [autotag]Francis Ngannou[/autotag] weren’t directed at his personal life.

On Thursday, during the press conference promoting their fight on Oct. 19 at PFL battle of the Giants, Ferreira casued a stir online after saying that he was “gonna be the biggest problem” of Ngannou’s “tough year.” Ngannou, a former UFC heavyweight champion, is coming off a KO loss to Anthony Joshua in boxing earlier this year, and tragically also the loss of his son – which had him contemplating retirement.

Some questioned if the Brazilian was directing those comments at Ngannou’s personal life, or if he was referring to his loss to Joshua. Ferreira clarified his comments in a video posted to Instagram, stating his words were not meant to be directed towards Ngannou’s personal life, just what has occurred inside combat sports competition.

“Hey, everyone. Today we had the press conference and I saw a few things came out in the press that were completely distorted when speaking about Francis, saying that I was the biggest problem for him this year, but I was referring to the fight,” Ferreira said in the video in Portuguese. “What I said has no connection to his personal life, of everything he just went through with son. I’m a father, I have kids as well, and I will never touch such a delicate subject. I wouldn’t go that low. My condolences to Francis. I feel for his loss. I’m a father, I have kids too, I would never say something like that.

“Everything I said was about Francis Ngannou’s year, you get me. He’s coming off two losses in boxing, two year layoff (in MMA), at no point did I want to talk about his personal life and everything that went down with his son. That wasn’t my intention. That’s not me, it’s not in my character. I’d never go that low. People are talking and distorting everything into a crazy version of what happened today. I just wanted to clarify what happened today, that it has nothing to do with what they’re saying. It’s not me doing something that low. I just wanted to make that clear.”

Ferreira (13-3 MMA, 7-1 PFL) won the 2023 PFL heavyweight title and then defeated Bellator heavyweight titleholder Ryan Bader in February to cement himself as the opponent for Ngannou’s highly-anticipated PFL debut.

Ngannou (17-3 MMA, 0-0 PFL), who competed twice in boxing since his departure from the UFC, will be fighting in his first MMA fight since his successful title defense in a unanimous decision victory over Ciryl Gane at UFC 270 back in January 2022.

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for PFL: Battle of the Giants.

Photos: PFL Super Fights: Battle of the Giants press conference

Check out these photos from the PFL Super Fights: Battle of the Giants press conference with Francis Ngannou, Renan Ferreira and Jake Paul.

Check out these photos from the PFL Super Fights: Battle of the Giants press conference, which took place in Washington, featuring [autotag]Francis Ngannou[/autotag], [autotag]Renan Ferreira[/autotag], [autotag]Jake Paul[/autotag], [autotag]Dakota Ditcheva[/autotag], and [autotag]Larissa Pacheco[/autotag]. (Photos by Cooper Neill and Matt Ferris, PFL MMA)

Renan Ferreira: Francis Ngannou has ‘big problem ahead,’ fight determines best heavyweight in MMA

Renan Ferreira believes a lot is on the line when he faces Francis Ngannou on Oct. 19.

[autotag]Renan Ferreira[/autotag] feels he’s one fight away from setting himself as the best heavyweight in MMA today.

Ferreira (13-3 MMA, 7-1 PFL) won the 2023 PFL heavyweight title and then defeated Bellator heavyweight titleholder Ryan Bader in his subsequent fight. The Brazilian is now set to return on Oct. 19 against former UFC heavyweight champion [autotag]Francis Ngannou[/autotag] at PFL Battle of the Giants in Saudi Arabia.

He strongly believes whoever wins between him and Ngannou (17-3 MMA, 0-0 PFL) will have a claim to being the “Baddest Man on the Planet.”

“For sure, this fight seals the deal on who’s the best heavyweight in the world,” Ferreira said on Thursday at the PFL Battle of the Giants press conference. “These are two guys in their prime, heavy hitters, very similar style, insane knockout power and that only know one motion and that’s forward.”

Ferreira respects what Ngannou brings to the table, as many consider him the hardest-hitting heavyweight in MMA history. However, he thinks Ngannou should be just as concerned.

“He’s a great athlete and the cage is the cage,” Ferreira said. “It’s going to bring other challenges and as I’ve said, and I’ll say it again, he has a big problem ahead of him. He knows I have knockout power, I can wrestle him, I can bring him down to the ground, and I can knock him out or submit him. Again, he has a big problem ahead of him.”

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for PFL: Battle of the Giants.

Francis Ngannou refutes ‘new narrative’ from Dana White: ‘I was the one requesting the Jon Jones fight’

Francis Ngannou fires back at Dana White over claims of avoiding to fight Jon Jones.

[autotag]Francis Ngannou[/autotag]’s recollection of the failed negotiations for the mega fight with [autotag]Jon Jones[/autotag] vastly differs from [autotag]Dana White[/autotag] offers today.

Ngannou (17-3 MMA, 0-0 PFL), a former UFC heavyweight champion who’s now signed with the PFL, disputed the UFC CEO’s recent claims, accusing Ngannou of avoiding and refusing to fight Jones while both were under contract with the promotion. Ngannou said he was the one pushing for the fight with Jones and accused White of changing the story for his convenience.

“That’s the new narrative, since he needs to say something either way,” Ngannou said at the PFL Battle of the Giants press conference on Thursday. “As far as I’m concerned, Jon Jones didn’t want to fight me according to them in so many times we sat down in meetings with them.

“They were like, ‘Oh, it can’t happen. Jon Jones doesn’t want to fight anymore. He lives in Albuquerque, and he lives his small life and has a lot of money in his bank account.’ I think the guy that controls the narrative can say whatever he wants. That’s just the narrative. I was the one requesting the Jon Jones fight.”

Back in 2020-21, White placed blame on Jones, questioning his desire to take the fight, even suggesting he prepare to move to middleweight instead of heavyweight, and ridiculed his demands for a large fight purse. Today, White’s story is different.

“It’s a long story,” White said Tuesday after Dana White’s Contender Series 68. “That dude (Hunter Campbell) did everything in his power to make Jon Jones vs. Francis. The fight did not happen, and let me tell you, it wasn’t because of Jon Jones.”

Ngannou is set for his first MMA fight since exiting the UFC in January 2023, as he takes on Renan Ferreira Oct. 19 in Saudi Arabia. “The Predator” left the UFC as champion, finishing out his contract with the promotion and walking away as a free agent.

Ngannou said he was keen on staying and re-signing with the UFC to fight with Jones, so long certain stipulations were met for his new contract. Those didn’t come to fruition according to Ngannou, thus prompting his exit from the UFC.

“I didn’t want that like a trap to get into some deal and get to something that I didn’t want, you know,” Ngannou said. ” I wanted things to be straight and squared. Yes, I wanted to fight Jon Jones, but in good conditions.”

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for PFL: Battle of the Giants.

PFL video: Francis Ngannou, Renan Ferreira get physical at faceoff regulated by Jake Paul

Francis Ngannou got a first look at PFL debut opponent Renan Ferreira at Thursday’s faceoff, which was regulated by Jake Paul.

[autotag]Francis Ngannou[/autotag] got a first look at the man he will be sharing the cage with in his first MMA fight since January 2022 at Thursday’s press conference.

Ngannou (17-3), a former UFC heavyweight champion, is set to clash with 2023 PFL heavyweight champion [autotag]Renan Ferreira[/autotag] (13-3) in the main event of the promotion’s Oct. 19 pay-per-view card at Mayadeen Venue in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

After signing with PFL for MMA fights following his well-documented departure from the UFC, Ngannou took a pair of boxing matches against Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua, neither of which went he way. He now returns to the sport where he made his name, and takes on a fellow knockout artist in the 6-foot-8 Ferreira.

At the conclusion of answering questions at the press conference in Washington, D.C., which was hosted by Jake Paul, the pair engaged in their first pre-fight staredown. It was intense, with Ngannou grabbing Ferreira’s arms and the Brazilian pounding the chest of the former UFC champ.

Check out the video above to see the first Ngannou vs. Ferreira faceoff ahead of their clash at “Battle of the Giants.”

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for PFL: Battle of the Giants.

Video: Watch PFL ‘Battle of the Giants’ Press Conference live (1 p.m. ET)

Watch Thursday’s PFL press conference featuring Francis Ngannou, Renan Ferreira and Jake Paul.

The first press conference for [autotag]Francis Ngannou[/autotag]’s anticipated return to MMA against [autotag]Renan Ferreira[/autotag] takes place Thursday at 1 p.m. ET (10 a.m. PT), and you can watch it live right here on MMA Junkie.

PFL Battle of the Giants takes place Saturday, Oct. 19, and features Ngannou vs. Ferreira fighting for the PFL Super Fights championship in the main event, which broadcasts on ESPN+ and DAZN pay-per-view.

Expected to participate in Thursday’s press conference at The Anthem in Washington are former UFC heavyweight champion Ngannou, PFL Super Fights heavyweight champion Ferreira, and YouTuber-turned-boxer and PFL Super Fight athlete [autotag]Jake Paul[/autotag].

You can watch the press conference in the video above.

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for PFL: Battle of the Giants.