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Francis Ngannou made a powerful return to MMA, dominating Renan Ferreira at the PFL: Battle of the Giants in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Competing in MMA for the first time since January 2022, the former UFC heavyweight champion took just over a minute to bring Ferreira to the ground. A few minutes later, he finished the Brazilian with a barrage of strikes, securing a first-round knockout at 3:32 in the main event.
The win was particularly emotional for Ngannou, who recently lost his 15-month-old son, Kobe, to a rare disease. This tragedy came just 50 days after Ngannou suffered a tough knockout loss to Anthony Joshua in a boxing match. Fighting through his grief, Ngannou dedicated the victory to his son, expressing his emotions in a heartfelt post-fight speech. He acknowledged the significance of his return to MMA, stating, “I can’t just think about anything but my son Kobe, I only took this fight because of him.” Ngannou added that despite the time away from the cage, he felt prepared to return, emphasizing that he had not missed a step in his MMA skills.
In the co-main event:
MMA legend Cris Cyborg continued to solidify her status as one of the sport’s best female fighters by defeating Larissa Pacheco to win the PFL women’s featherweight super fight title. Cyborg’s performance was a gritty display of skill and determination. Pacheco landed some hard shots early in the fight, opening cuts above Cyborg’s eyes. However, Cyborg’s relentless aggression, timely takedowns, and pressure allowed her to control much of the bout. The judges scored the fight 49-46 in her favor, but the bout was more competitive than the scorecards suggested, with both fighters delivering high-level performances.
With this victory, Cyborg, now 39 years old, adds the PFL title to her collection, which already includes belts from Strikeforce, Bellator, Invicta, and the UFC. Her longevity and success across multiple promotions have cemented her legacy as a trailblazer in women’s MMA.
Another notable bout on the card:
Bellator middleweight champion Johnny Eblen retain his title against Fabian Edwards in a rematch. Eblen used his wrestling and forward pressure to keep Edwards on the defensive, securing a unanimous decision win (48-47 across all scorecards). Despite a strong effort from Edwards in the final round, Eblen’s control throughout the earlier rounds was enough to maintain his undefeated record.
In the opening fight of the main card, rising Irish star Paul Hughes defeated former Bellator champion A.J. McKee by split decision. Hughes knocked McKee down with a right hook late in the first round and held off McKee’s grappling attempts in the later rounds to secure the biggest victory of his career. Hughes, now 13-1, called out Bellator lightweight champion Usman Nurmagomedov for a future bout, aiming to continue his ascent in the lightweight division.
The PFL event in Riyadh showcased a mix of rising talent and established champions, offering thrilling fights and dramatic moments. Ngannou’s dominant return and emotional tribute to his late son highlighted the evening. In tCyborg’s continued reign and Eblen’s successful title defense added depth to a memorable night of MMA action.
Main Card Results:
- Heavyweight: Francis Ngannou def. Renan Ferreira by KO (ground and pound) at 3:32 of Round 1
- Featherweight: Cris Cyborg def. Larissa Pacheco by unanimous decision (49-46, 49-46, 49-46)
- Middleweight: Johnny Eblen def. Fabian Edwards by unanimous decision (48-47, 48-47, 48-47)
- Lightweight: Paul Hughes def. A.J. McKee by split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
Preliminary Card Results:
- Bantamweight: Raufeon Stots def. Marcos Breno via submission
- Lightweight: Makkasharip Zaynukov def. Dedrek Sanders by unanimous decision (30-26, 30-26, 30-26)
- Featherweight: Ibragim Ibragimov def. Nacho Campos by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
- Featherweight: Taha Bendaoud def. Youssef Al Housani via submission (triangle choke) at 3:51 of Round 2