UNCASVILLE, Conn. – PFL champion Renan Ferreira is waiting in the wings to take on Francis Ngannou.
Ferreira (13-3-3) is expected to welcome former UFC heavyweight champion Ngannou (17-3-0), back to MMA after lacing up his boxing gloves for his last two bouts.
“I've been ready for this fight ever since the Bader fight,” Ferreira told MMA Junkie and other reporters through a translator backstage at 2024 PFL 4. “I sat down with PFL and went through the contract and we've had discussions, so at this point I'm just waiting for the date to be finalized and then I'll take the fight.”
Ferreira defeated Denis Gortzov by TKO to win the 2023 PFL heavyweight title and then stopped Ryan Bader in 21 seconds in February, and he's ready to prove he's the No. 1 heavyweight when he faces Ngannou.
“I think Francis is a big name. He's accomplished a lot. He has a lot of big names on his resume,” Ferreira said. “If I beat him, I'll feel like I'm on top.”
Ferreira is not playing up Ngannou's performance after his knockout loss to Anthony Joshua in a boxing bout in March, and he expects the fighter to try and bounce back with a vengeance.
“Francis fought a boxing specialist, so no harm done,” Ferreira said. “It was a respectable defeat. I think he's going to get back to his MMA roots now and do everything he can to get back in the win column.”
For more details on the card, check out MMA Junkie's 2024 PFL 4 events hub.
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