Renan Ferreira Calls Out Francis Ngannou for PFL Fight After KO Win vs. Ryan Bader

Erin WalshFebruary 24, 2024

Cooper Neill/Getty Images

Renan Ferreira has his sights set on a bout with Francis Ngannou.

Following his win over Ryan Bader on Saturday in the main event at PFL vs. Bellator at Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Ferreira called out Ngannou for a PFL fight.

“Francis, where you at? I’m waiting for you,” Ferreira said, according to Ariel Helwani.

Ferreira, the 2023 PFL heavyweight champion, took down Bader, the Bellator heavyweight champion, in just 21 seconds on Saturday.

PFL @PFLMMAPFL takes home the Main Event win!#PFLvsBellator pic.twitter.com/LseKR2WOCu

PFL @PFLMMARenan Ferreira takes his place on the throne!#PFLvsBellator pic.twitter.com/6tZIRstvKR

Ferreira will now step into the ring with Ngannou, the former UFC heavyweight champion, soon.

Ngannou hinted earlier this week during an appearance on ESPN’s SportsCenter that he would likely make his MMA return against the winner of Saturday’s main event between Ferreira and Bader.

“I think the winner of this is the guy I’m going to fight in my MMA return,” Ngannou told ESPN. “It is my intention to return to the sport. When exactly, I think depends on March 8. [Ferreira and Bader] are both champions and one of them is going to be a ‘Champ Champ.’ So, I think there isn’t a better way to find an opponent [for me], since I am a champion myself.”

The PFL then confirmed that the two would step into the ring. The fight will mark Ngannou’s PFL debut.

PFL @PFLMMA🚨𝗕𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗞𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗡𝗘𝗪𝗦 🚨

𝗛𝗘𝗔𝗩𝗬 𝗦𝗧𝗔𝗞𝗘𝗦 For Saturday Night 👀@francis_ngannou will face the winner of the Renan Ferriera vs Ryan Bader bout#PFLvsBellator pic.twitter.com/4dP9RqYiMu

Ngannou signed with the PFL in May 2023 but has yet to debut as he has placed more of a focus on his boxing career.

After falling to Tyson Fury via split decision in his professional boxing debut in October, Ngannou scheduled a match with former world heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua on March 8 in Saudi Arabia.

Ngannou previously competed in UFC from 2015 to 2022, going 17-3 in that span with wins over the likes of Stipe Miocic and Ciryl Gane.

The 37-year-old defeated Miocic for the UFC heavyweight title at UFC 260 in 2021 and successfully defended his title against Gane at UFC 270 in January 2022. He then vacated the title after not being able to agree to terms on a new contract with the promotion.

Ferreira is now 13-3 in his PFL career following his win over Bader. In addition to Bader, he has also beaten Denis Goltsov, Jamelle Jones and Maurice Greene.