Set to commentate at Battle of the Giants, Jake Paul makes final prediction for Renan Ferreira vs. Francis Ngannou: "One punch and that could be it"
Jake Paul, a minority equity owner of the Professional Fighters League (PFL), has taken a keen interest in Francis Ngannou's highly-anticipated return to MMA. The former UFC heavyweight champion faces Renan Ferreira in the main event of the PFL Super Fights: Battle of the Giants card.
'The Problem Child' will serve as a commentator alongside Ariel Helwani on Helwani Vision for DAZN's exclusive pay-per-view. The fight, set to take place at the Mayadeen Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, sees Ngannou stepping back into the cage after a 33-month hiatus from MMA. Ferreira, on the other hand, has built a reputation as a formidable force with four consecutive victories in the PFL.
Ahead of the high-stake clash, Paul offered his final take on the PFL Instagram page, picking Ngannou to emerge victorious against Ferreira. He said:
"Francis Ngannou, the baddest man on the planet, is back against a backflipping six foot nine [inch] giant Renan Ferreira. I got Francis by KO in under three rounds. But you never know... One punch and that could be it."
Check out Jake Paul's pick for the upcoming fight below:
Ngannou is gearing up to make his PFL debut after he signed a multi-fight deal with the organization in May 2023. The Cameroonian's storied knockout power and experience, pitted against Ferreira’s background in jiu-jitsu and explosive fighting style, guarantees that this a battle that could swing in multiple directions.
Dan Hardy claims a dominant win over Francis Ngannou could elevate Renan Ferreira to top heavyweight status
Dan Hardy, the head of PFL Europe, believes that if Renan Ferreira dominates Francis Ngannou in their upcoming clash at PFL: Battle of the Giants, the Brazilian could be considered among the top heavyweights in MMA.
Ferreira, who has a 13-3 record, faces the former UFC heavyweight champion in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. While the PFL has been promoting the fight as a contest to determine 'The Baddest Man on the Planet,' many fans see their heavyweight counterparts like Jon Jones and Stipe Miocic as more deserving of that title.
Shedding light on this perspective in an interview with MMA Junkie, Hardy said:
"If Renan comes through his weekend looking like a world beater, I think a lot of people are going to look at him and go, ‘You know what, he’s 6-foot-8, he’s trained at ATT (American Top Team), he’s dangerous in striking, he’s got great grappling and takedown defense since he’s moved there, I can make an argument for him. Jon Jones, for me, is still not a proven heavyweight. Stipe is way past his peak. I love Stipe, but he’s way past his peak. So, I don’t think Jones benefits a great deal from beating Stipe at this point." [H/t: MMA Junkie]
Check out Dan Hardy's comments below (4:00):