The Professional Fighters League (PFL) has revealed that combat sports sensation Francis “The Predator” Ngannou is set to make his first appearance in the league. Ngannou will face the victor of the upcoming Heavyweight Superfight between Renan Ferreira and Ryan Bader.
In a significant move in May, Ngannou disrupted the combat sports landscape by joining PFL, not only becoming the league’s first active fighter to be part of PFL’s Global Advisory Board but also taking on roles as an equity owner and Chairman of the forthcoming PFL Africa regional league. His venture into boxing saw him narrowly lose to Tyson Fury, the lineal heavyweight champion, in a split decision during his inaugural match. Presently, Ngannou is in Riyadh, gearing up for a bout against Anthony Joshua, a leading heavyweight boxing contender.
Shifting focus back to mixed martial arts (MMA), Ngannou is preparing for his debut in the PFL’s SmartCage. He will compete against the winner of the heavyweight clash between 2023 PFL Heavyweight Champion Renan “Problema” Ferreira and Bellator Heavyweight Champion Ryan “Darth” Bader. This match is the highlight of the PFL vs. Bellator Champions event, set for February 24th at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
PFL CEO Peter Murray expressed enthusiasm over Ngannou’s return to MMA, noting his stature as a global icon in combat sports. Murray highlighted the anticipation surrounding Ngannou’s first PFL opponent, be it Ferreira or Bader, showing the significance of his participation in the event.
Ngannou will also be present at the event in Riyadh, marking a notable moment in PFL history. In addition to his MMA commitments, Ngannou is training for his second professional boxing match, where he will face Anthony Joshua, a former two-time unified world heavyweight champion, on March 8th, broadcasted live on DAZN.
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