Renan Ferreira Issues Strong Warning to Francis Ngannou Ahead of PFL Showdown

Francis Ngannou (left), Renan Ferreira (right)

Renan Ferreira, a rising star in the Professional Fighters League (PFL), has issued a stern warning to Francis Ngannou, advising the former UFC heavyweight champion to focus entirely on his return to mixed martial arts. Ferreira believes that if Ngannou divides his attention between MMA and a potential return to boxing, the results could be disastrous.

Ngannou shocked the world in his boxing debut against Tyson Fury in late 2023, delivering an impressive performance despite losing via split decision. However, his momentum was halted when he suffered a second-round knockout loss to Anthony Joshua earlier this year. Now, Ngannou is set to face Ferreira in a highly anticipated PFL bout on October 19 in Saudi Arabia.

Ferreira’s confidence is rooted in his recent success, having decimated Ryan Bader in just 21 seconds during a champion vs. champion clash between PFL and Bellator stars. With a four-fight knockout streak, Ferreira feels primed to welcome Ngannou back to MMA. He stated,

“Francis is going through a rough year, but [the task] is even tougher ahead of him. He knows he has a big problem ahead of him that will be very hard to solve.”

Ferreira, who has followed Ngannou’s career closely, emphasized the stark difference between boxing and MMA. He acknowledged Ngannou’s warrior spirit but warned that the transition back to MMA after such a long absence could be challenging.

“It’s a long time away from the cages, and it’s completely different [from boxing],” Ferreira said.

“Francis has done boxing matches and it’s a whole different game so I think he will feel the difference, but he’s a warrior.”

As the fight date approaches, Ferreira remains focused on proving himself as the top heavyweight in the world. He believes this bout will determine who truly deserves the title of the world’s best heavyweight.

“This is the most anticipated fight of the year, two great heavyweights with similar styles, who move forward for the knockout. So this is definitely going to be a great fight and will definitely define who’s the world’s best heavyweight.”