PFL Super Fights: Battle of the Giants - Francis Ngannou vs. Renan Ferreira: Full results
The highly anticipated PFL Super Fights:'Battle of the Giants' delivered an explosive night of MMA action on Oct. 19, with the former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou, making his much-anticipated return to the cage.
Ngannou faced off against Brazilian powerhouse Renan Ferreira, the PFL heavyweight champion. The event featured three title fights and a host of other thrilling matchups, showcasing some of the best talent in MMA today.
PFL Super Fights: Prelim results
The preliminary card featured several exciting matchups. Taha Bendaoud secured a submission victory with a triangle choke over Tariq Ismail, while Ibrahim Ibragimov edged out Nacho Campos in a closely contested bout.
Makkasharip Zaynukov defeated Dedrek Sanders via unanimous decision, and former Bellator interim bantamweight champion Raufeon Stots continued his winning ways with a slick rear-naked choke submission of Marcos Breno.
PFL Super Fights: Main card results
Paul Hughes vs. A.J. McKee
The main card kicked off with an exciting matchup between Paul Hughes and A.J. McKee. McKee began the fight aggressively, throwing kicks and trying to pressure Hughes against the cage. However, the Irishman remained composed, catching his opponent's kicks and delivering sharp combinations.
As the fight progressed, the 26-year-old found his rhythm, landing powerful uppercuts and keeping McKee at bay with effective jabs. While McKee had some moments of success, particularly with his knees in the clinch and a few well-placed kicks, it was Hughes' consistency and precision that ultimately won over the judges.
Zafar Mohsen vs. Husein Kadimagomaev
In a tactical battle, Zafar Mohsen emerged victorious against Husein Kadimagomaev by unanimous decision. The fight started slowly, but Mohsen gradually increased his pace. In the second round, the German stunned his opponent with a powerful spinning back fist. As the fight progressed to the ground, Mohsen’s superior control and grappling skills became evident, as he dominated Kadimagomaev in the top position. In the final round, Mohsen executed a devastating push kick that visibly affected Kadimagomaev, followed by ground-and-pound strikes that sealed the win.
Johnny Eblen vs. Fabian Edwards
Bellator middleweight champion Johnny Eblen successfully defended his title against Fabian Edwards in a rematch at Bellator 304. The fight was a showcase of Eblen's grappling prowess, as he dominated Edwards on the ground for much of the contest. Eblen's wrestling was on full display, as he repeatedly took Edwards down and controlled him on the mat.
Edwards attempted to fight back, but Eblen's superior grappling skills proved to be too much. Despite Edwards' efforts, Eblen secured multiple takedowns and maintained control throughout the fight.
Following five rounds, Eblen's dominant performance earned him a unanimous decision victory taking his win record to 16.
Co-Main Event: Cris Cyborg vs. Larissa Pacheco
The co-main event featured another titanic clash, with former UFC and Bellator champion Cris Cyborg returning to MMA to take on PFL champion Larissa Pacheco. The two Brazilian warriors went to war in a hard-fought, five-round battle that left fans on the edge of their seats.
From the opening bell, Cyborg and Pacheco exchanged heavy strikes, showcasing their power and aggression. Cyborg, known for her relentless pace and takedown attempts, managed to secure one takedown in the early rounds, landing some damaging strikes from the top position. However, Pacheco proved to be a formidable opponent, escaping Cyborg's attempts and landing powerful counters of her own.
As the fight progressed, Pacheco began to gain momentum, dropping Cyborg with a big right hand in the third round. Cyborg, however, showed her resilience, recovering from the knockdown and continuing to fight. The fourth and fifth rounds saw both fighters exchange more heavy blows, with Cyborg maintaining a strong pace and landing effective strikes.
In the end, the judges scored the fight in favor of Cyborg, awarding her a unanimous decision victory.
Main event: Francis Ngannou vs. Renan Ferreira
In the main event, Ngannou made a statement with his dominant performance against Ferreira. The fight promised fireworks, as both fighters were known for their knockout power. Ferreira, standing at an imposing 6'8", entered the bout with a streak of knockouts and an aggressive style that many believed could give Ngannou trouble. However, it was Ngannou who proved too much for the Brazilian.
The fight began with both men trading powerful low kicks, each briefly knocking the other off balance. Ferreira looked to press the action, but Ngannou remained calm and calculated. As Ferreira swung wildly, Ngannou timed a perfect takedown, securing an advantageous position against the fence. From there, Ngannou unleashed his brutal ground-and-pound, pounding Ferreira into unconsciousness within the first round. The official decision came at 3:32 of round one, with Ngannou emerging victorious via knockout.