Francis Ngannou calls Renan Ferreira "a little less version" of himself while breaking down dangers the Brazilian possesses
Former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou is set to make his long-awaited return to MMA as he enters the PFL cage to face Brazilian behemoth Renan Ferreira. 'The Predator' will take on 'Problema' for the PFL heavyweight Superfight championship at the aptly titled PFL Super Fights: Battle of Giants in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Ahead of his fight with Ferreira, Francis Ngannou spoke to MMA media personality Shakiel Mahjouri on YouTube. In the interview, the Cameroonian KO artist was asked what he thought of his equally dangerous foe.
Ngannou said:
"I don't know, he [Ferreira] is very athletic. He's very skilled. Well-rounded. But I think whatever it is, it's a little less than me [laughs]. He is a little less version of me, I would say so."
Watch Francis Ngannou's statement here (2:32):
Francis Ngannou on MMA return: "Pick yourself up and keep going"
Ngannou departed from the UFC after retaining the heavyweight belt in a marvelous performance against Ciryl Gane in early 2022. After which, he signed a historic deal with Professional Fighters League (PFL), which allowed him to fight in professional boxing outside the organization.
'The Predator' then made history yet again and faced boxing's pound-for-pound great Tyson Fury in October 2023.
Francis Ngannou gave Fury more than he could handle, even knocking him down in the third round. Despite losing to the British boxer via a close decision, Ngannou's stock went up. He next faced Anthony Joshua, who violently knocked him out inside two rounds.
Now, nearing his MMA return after a KO loss in boxing, Ngannou was asked by Mahjouri what the storyline is for him this time.
Ngannou simply said:
"The story is always to pick yourself up and keep going no matter what." [4:34 onwards in the aforementioned video]
This has always been the storyline of Ngannou's life - from being a sandminer back home to crossing the Sahara to surviving homelessness in Paris to losing his son. The man has always pulled himself from the most impossible odds and shined bright when it matters most.