Emotional Francis Ngannou wins PFL title; says the fight was for his son

Francis Ngannou's life is ripe for a Hollywood blockbuster and the latest entry is sure to tug at his heartstrings the most.

The former UFC heavyweight champion returned to action following the heartbreaking loss of his 15-month-old son and violent elimination of Renan Ferreira in Saturday's main event of PFL: Battle of the Giants in Saudi Arabia.

Ngannou had not competed in MMA competition in almost three years and took a detour into boxing. But few knew whether the French Cameroonian still had any desire to compete after his son died in April from an unexpected fatal brain malformation. Instead of fighting for money or world titles, Ngannou entered the cage in memory of his son and proved why he is still the best heavyweight in the world.

“I can’t think about anything other than my son Kobe,” an emotional Ngannou said. “I took this fight for him. Without Kobe I wouldn’t be here fighting. Please remember my son’s name.”

Ngannou said it was a difficult process dealing with his emotions to prepare for his return to the cage.

“I tried to tell myself to be strong and keep moving, but it was very hard,” he said. “But I didn’t miss a step. I wasn't worried about it. As soon as I went to the gym for MMA, it was all still within me. I just had to deal with my emotions and deal with life.”

FRANCIS! FRANCIS! FRANCIS!
ALL HEAVYWEIGHTS ARE FOR REGISTRATION!#PFLSuperFights | #BraceForImpact pic.twitter.com/llttkZGxpr

– PFL (@PFLMMA) October 19, 2024

There were many questions surrounding Ngannou's return. Did he still want to compete? Had boxing spoiled his taste for MMA? The 2023 PFL Heavyweight Champion didn't present much of a challenge and Ngannou passed with flying colors. Ngannou's return to championship form reminded everyone why he was considered the “worst man on the planet” by UFC CEO Dana White before leaving the MMA promotion in 2023.

The two titans met in the middle of the SmartCage and drilled each other with leg kicks until Ngannou surprisingly scored a takedown. Ferreria attempted a triangle throw, but Ngannou escaped and unleashed a fierce barrage of punches that sent the Brazilian's head bouncing off the canvas. Referee Dan Miragliotta could have stopped the fight sooner, but intervened when Ferreria's body went limp from the punishment.

It only took 3 minutes and 32 seconds to get the job done and now Ngannou will weigh his options regarding his future in MMA

“My next step in martial arts depends on how I feel and deal with my life right now,” he said. “I always thought I had a lot to give and I hope I continue to think that way.”

In the co-main event, Cris Cyborg (28-2) won a unanimous decision over Larissa Pacheco (23-5), adding the PFL Women's Featherweight Superfight Champion to her collection of world championships.

Although all three judges scored the fight 49-46 in favor of the current Bellator women's featherweight champion, the bout was much closer than the reported scores.

The 39-year-old Cyborg started strong and surprised Pacheco by mixing takedowns with her punches. During a brief fight, Cyborg landed a head kick that might have knocked any other fighter out, but Pacheco went straight through. It was an indicator that the 2022 and 2023 tournament winner would not give up in the face of Cyborg's vaunted power.

During the kills, Pacheco managed to cause lacerations to both of Cyborg's eyes. At the end of the second round, the pendulum swung in favor of the younger opponent. Pacheco, 30, beckoned Cyborg to meet in the middle of the SmartCage for a firefight in Round 3, but Cyborg declined, opting to proceed tactically. Midway through the round, Pacheco caught a Cyborg kick and sent her to the canvas with a right hand.

The two traded heavy punches in round 4, but Cyborg used her experience in the final round to secure her spots with short attack jabs and a late takedown to secure the round and win.

The offense was almost identical with Cyborg's 145 significant strikes to Pacheco's 133. The difference, however, was in the takedown department, where Cyborg secured four out of five takedowns.

With the win, Cyborg is now world champion in four major MMA promotions: PFL, Strikeforce, Bellator and UFC.

Johnny Eblen (16-0) put on a wrestling clinic to retain his Bellator middleweight championship by winning a unanimous decision over Fabian Edwards in another match on Saturday.

The fight was a rematch of their September 2023 encounter, when Eblen stopped Edwards (13-4) in the third round. However, there would be no final end to the rematch. Instead, Eblen used his suffocating wrestling offense to stifle Edwards' attack and had to endure a late attack from the Brit to retain his 185-pound title.

Eblen was in control for most of the fight with a mix of punches, kicks and clinch work for takedowns. Admittedly, he gassed out in the second half of the fight and had to parry Edwards' attack with elbows. All three judges scored the fight 48-47.