Francis Ngannou vs. Renan Ferreira prediction: Picking the winner for PFL Super Fights: Battle of the Giants main event
The Francis Ngannou vs. Renan Ferreira prediction is here to provide fans with some strategic and tactical insight into the upcoming heavyweight bout. It is one of the biggest fights of the year and headlines the PFL's 'Battle of the Giants' pay-per-view, where both men clash for the heavyweight superfight title.
Elsewhere on the card, Larissa Pacheco, the women's lightweight and featherweight champion, faces women's MMA legend Cris Cyborg, who also reigns as the Bellator women's featherweight champion. Johnny Eblen, another Bellator champion, also defends his middleweight title against Fabian Edwards.
With so much action awaiting fans on Oct. 19, what are the PFL Super Fights predictions?
#1. PFL heavyweight superfight title: Francis Ngannou vs. Renan Ferreira
Francis Ngannou vs. Renan Ferreira is a seismic fight. 'The Predator' is a former UFC heavyweight champion and one of MMA's most terrifying forces. From a stylistic standpoint, he is a fairly simple striker but extremely effective due to his reach and jaw-dropping power.
He is a patient counterpuncher with low kicks to destabilize his foe's stance and a thunderous check hook to send them into the shadow realm after poking them with jabs and one-twos that force offense from his opponent. While many have been on the receiving end of his knockouts, it isn't the only wrinkle in his game.
He displayed an exceptional understanding of wrestling, complete with trips and sweeps against both Ciryl Gane and Stipe Miocic. Meanwhile, Renan Ferreira is not nearly as technical. The Brazilian is large, bigger even than Ngannou. He is also powerful and extremely athletic.
However, he is wild and rarely tucks his chin. His one-two is lightning fast, especially with his back-and-forth bounce. But one wrong lunge and he could find himself on the receiving end of a devastating Ngannou counter.
Furthermore, Ferreira is a poor wrestler and, despite his Brazilian jiu-jitsu credentials, has even fewer submission wins than Ngannou. There's a path to victory for Ngannou if he wishes to outwrestle Ferreira like he did Gane. There is, however, an X factor. In fact, there are two.
'The Predator' is returning fairly soon after a brutal knockout loss to Anthony Joshua in boxing. He is also dealing with the tragedy of his young son's passing. Both events may very well impact how he fights come fight night, and Ngannou may no longer have the chin to take shots.
The Prediction: Renan Ferreira def. Francis Ngannou via TKO
#2. The rest of the main card Francis Ngannou vs. Renan Ferreira predictions
Winners in bold.
Women's featherweight title: Cris Cyborg vs. Larissa Pacheco
Middleweight title: Johnny Eblen vs. Fabian Edwards
Featherweight: Husein Kadimagomaev vs. Zafar Mohsen
Lightweight: A.J. McKee vs. Paul Hughes