https://arab.news/v2ww3
- The 37-year-old is set to challenge Anthony Joshua in the boxing ring on March 8, before making his PFL debut
RIYADH: The Professional Fighters League has announced combat sports superstar Francis “The Predator” Ngannou will make his debut for the world’s second-biggest MMA organization against the winner of the Heavyweight Superfight between Renan Ferreira and Ryan Bader in Riyadh on Saturday.
Ngannou shook up the combat sports world by signing with PFL in May, becoming the first active fighter to serve on the league’s Global Advisory Board, and an equity owner and chairman of the coming PFL Africa regional league.
He recently stepped into the boxing ring for the first time, losing a razor-thin split decision to Tyson Fury, the lineal heavyweight champion. Ngannou is currently in Riyadh, preparing to fight top heavyweight boxing contender Anthony Joshua on March 8.
Ngannou will then turn his attention back to MMA, where he will make his PFL SmartCage debut against the winner of the Ferreira and Bader, who clash in the main event the PFL Champions versus Bellator Champions at the Kingdom Arena.
“The PFL is excited to announce Francis Ngannou’s return to MMA in the PFL PPV Division will be against the winner of the PFL Champion versus Bellator Champion Heavyweight Superfight between Renan Ferreira and Ryan Bader,” said Peter Murray, PFL CEO.
“Francis is a true combat sports icon with a global fan base and appeal. We, along with the rest of the MMA world, will be watching to see who his first opponent will be, Ferreira or Bader.”
Ngannou will also attend the historic event in Riyadh.
Currently, he is preparing for his second professional boxing bout, when he will take on former two-time unified world heavyweight champion and world No.2 heavyweight Joshua in two weeks.
PFL is the only organization in MMA with a sports-season format, where individual fighters compete in a regular season, playoffs, and championship each year.
The combined roster of PFL and Bellator boasts 30 percent of its fighters independently world-ranked in the top 25 of their respective weight class, the same percentage as UFC.
PFL has an expansive global vision for the sport, and is building the “Champions League of MMA” with PFL Europe, PFL MENA, and more international leagues in development.