By Etienne Mainimo Mengnjo
Francis Ngannou is the new reigning Professional Fighter League (PFL) Super Fights Heavyweight World Champion. Ngannou claimed the title on October 19 in Mayadeen, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, defeating Brazilian Renan Ferreira in a fight that lasted three minutes and 32 seconds.
After the stoppage, the 38-year-old Cameroonian sat by Ferreira’s side weeping while receiving treatment. He had just finished a fight he dedicated to his son, who died in April at the age of 15 months.
“I just want to say please, remember my son, remember my son Kobe. I dedicate this one to him as his father,” Ngannou said. “I only took this fight because of him. I wanted to fight for him and I have done it. I hope the fans can remember his name because without Kobe, we wouldn’t be here tonight. I wouldn’t have fought.”
He added, “Thank you everyone for coming. Thank you to everyone for having us here. The people here are very lovely. I think you guys are more than fans in the 10 days I have been in Saudi. What I can call it in another way, family.”
“I think my next move in combat sports is all dependent on me, how I feel, how I deal with my life right now,” Ngannou said. “I always thought I still had a lot to give in combat sports and hopefully I keep thinking that way.”
In the first round, the two met in the center, receiving low kicks. After the low kicks, Ferreira narrowly missed a left hand, but a strong right hand from Ngannou shot in and scored a takedown. As Ngannou was looking to do work, Ferreira suddenly threw up his legs for a triangle choke attempt, but Ngannou got his head out as the referee warned Ferreira for having his toes in the fence.
About halfway through the round, Ngannou (6-4, 255 pounds) took down Ferreira (6-8, 261-pounds) near the fence inside the cage. Suddenly, caught dangerously between Ferreira’s massive legs, Ngannou muscled free and let his fists fly.
A barrage of punches pounded Ferreira’s head, and the massive Brazilian looked helpless when the referee called the fight with 1:28 left in the first round.
The victory marked Ngannou’s first appearance for the PFL since making his high-profile switch to the promotion in May last year. During the time in between, the heavyweight star made a brief, and lucrative, foray into boxing with bouts against Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua, also in Riyadh.
In another fight, Cris Cyborg, 39, was crowned PFL’s featherweight world champion, beating an opponent almost a decade younger in her fifth title from a major promotion. Larissa Pacheco, 30, landed plenty of hard shots, and it left Cyborg bleeding over both swollen eyes, but Cyborg survived thanks to her fists and determination. All three judges scored it 49-46.
“Larissa fights really hard. She’s a really good fighter,” Cyborg said. It’s a pleasure for me as I make the older generation fight for the new generation.”
