It sounds like we’ll see Francis Ngannou make his long-awaited PFL debut earlier than expected.
After delivering a critically acclaimed performance against WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury, Ngannou failed to deliver a similar showing earlier this month when he made his second appearance in the sweet science against former two-time unified titleholder Anthony Joshua. After being KO’d in the second round, ‘The Predator’ is expected to step back into the world of mixed martial arts where the 2023 PFL heavyweight tournament winner awaits.
Offering up a timeline for Ngannou’s Smart Cage premiere, PFL founder Donn Davis revealed that ‘The Predator’ could strap on the four-ounce gloves as early as July, but no later than September of this year.
“Will it be as early as July? Maybe. Will it be as late as September? No later, but you’ll see Francis now in 2024 in the PFL against [Renan Ferreira] what I believe is the fight I’m looking forward to the most in the heavyweight division in all of MMA,” Davis said during a recent appearance on The MMA Hour with Ariel Helwani.
Donn Davis says if Francis Ngannou had won he would not have fought in the PFL until 2025 Q1.
Says Ngannou/Ferreira will happen on PPV sometime between July and September.
Also on that card will be Cyborg/Pacheco.#TheMMAHour pic.twitter.com/cc8qOVAHTn
— Jed I. Goodman © (@jedigoodman) March 20, 2024
Davis also dropped another bombshell, revealing that a bout between Bellator featherweight champion Cris Cyborg and two-time PFL champion Larissa Pacheco is in the works for the same event.
“That will be a pay-per-view fight,” Davis added. “That event will also have Cris Cyborg vs. Larissa Pacheco as the co-main event. That card will also have Cedric Doumbe against somebody we will announce. So that is going to be big just because of Francis, but it will have other compelling matchups on it.”
Davis noted that an official announcement is likely still a couple of months away, but did confirm that the event will emanate from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia — the site of last month’s PFL vs. Bellator card.
Cyborg last defended her Bellator belt at the promotion’s 300th event in October, defeating former UFC standout Cat Zingano via knockout in the opening round.
Francis Ngannou is expected to face Renan Ferreirain in his promotional debut after ‘Problema’ scored a 21-second knockout of Bellator heavyweight champion Ryan Bader in February.
Watch the full episode of The MMA Hour below:
