Francis Ngannou was overcome with emotion.

He had just competed in a match dedicated to his son, who passed away in April at just 15 months old.

Ngannou achieved victory in a spectacular manner.

“I hope they will remember his name, because without Kobe we wouldn’t be here tonight,” Ngannou said, fighting back tears. “I wouldn’t have fought without him.”

Touted as the “Battle of the Giants,” Ngannou defeated Renan Ferreira by knockout, earning the title of PFL Super Fights heavyweight world champion.

This victory occurred in the first round during Saturday’s main event at the PFL’s Super Fights in Saudi Arabia.

About halfway through the first round, Ngannou (6-4, 255 pounds) took Ferreira (6-8, 261 pounds) down near the cage. Suddenly, trapped between Ferreira’s sizable legs, Ngannou managed to break free and unleashed a flurry of punches.

A series of strikes battered Ferreira’s head, leaving the massive Brazilian seemingly unable to defend himself, prompting the referee to halt the fight with 1:28 remaining in the round.

Watch Francis Ngannou’s knockout of Renan Ferreira

Round 1: Ngannou starts with a right leg kick that causes Ferreira to stumble slightly. Ferreira counters with some caution. Ngannou kicks, and Ferreira swings an overhand right. Ngannou presses the attack, bringing Ferreira down. As the round nears its end, Ferreira attempts to rise but Ngannou connects with several punches, forcing the fight against the cage. Ferreira manages to capture a triangle, showcasing skill, but Ngannou retaliates with powerful left punches, prompting Ferreira to release the hold. Ngannou escalates his assault with relentless punches! Finally, the referee intervenes, declaring Ngannou the winner by TKO with 1:28 left in the opening round.

Francis Ngannou’s anticipated return to MMA

This marked a triumphant comeback to mixed martial arts for Ngannou, 38, from Cameroon, who hadn’t competed in the sport since January 2020. After departing the UFC due to a contract dispute, he ventured into boxing, shocking the sports community in October 2023 by knocking down Tyson Fury in his first professional boxing match. However, in March, he faced a harsh defeat against Anthony Joshua.

In April, tragedy struck when Ngannou revealed the death of his son, Kobe. He later remarked that doctors had overlooked a brain condition that ultimately contributed to Kobe’s passing.

While grieving, Ngannou made the decision to participate in his PFL debut on Saturday. With this victory, he elevated his record to 18-3, marking the 10th first-round knockout in his illustrious career.

And once the fight concluded, he stood in the cage, overwhelmed by emotion.

“I don’t know,” he replied when questioned about his feelings. “I just can’t think about anything. That my son Kobe, you know”

His emotion surged once more.

He explained that he accepted this fight to honor his son.

Cris Cyborg defeats Larissa Pacheco by unanimous decision

At age 39, Cyborg continued her streak.

She claimed victory against an opponent nearly a decade younger, capturing the PFL featherweight world title – marking her fifth title from a major promotion.

The fight was impressive, albeit not aesthetically pleasing.

Pacheco, 30, landed several powerful strikes, leaving Cyborg bloodied with swelling around both eyes. Yet, Cyborg persevered, relying on her striking skills and determination. Every judge scored the match 49-46 in her favor.

Cyborg delivered 108 strikes compared to Pacheco’s 91, and executed four takedowns, while Pacheco managed none. Though Pacheco didn’t win, she certainly garnered Cyborg’s respect.

Cyborg improved her record to 28-2, while Pacheco moved to 23-5.

Round 1: Cyborg begins with a solid left jab, performing impressively for her age. She pushes Pacheco, 30, to the cage with knees and evades a right, taking Pacheco down. Despite being 39, she looks very good in the fight. Cyborg maintains top position but Pacheco breaks free, responding with strong punches. Cyborg, with blood on her face from a cut above both eyes, executes an elbow to Pacheco. Cyborg secures a takedown but finds herself caught in Pacheco’s grip. Remarkably, she escapes and retaliates with ground and pound, covering Pacheco in blood. Cyborg 10, Pacheco 9.

Round 2: The fighters start a bit slow, likely due to the intensity of the previous round. Pacheco lands a leg kick but then drops, perhaps due to pain and fatigue. They clinch against the cage, and Cyborg strikes with a right elbow. Pacheco still advances but is taken down again by Cyborg, who pounds her with more elbows. A gruesome scene unfolds as Cyborg lands a series of left punches. Despite being bloodied and hurt, Cyborg has put on quite the show. Cyborg 10-9. Cumulative score: Cyborg 20-18.

Round 3: Pacheco scores a significant right punch, making Cyborg backpedal. Pacheco urges her forward, leading to an exchange of blows. A hard combo from Pacheco lands, pushing Cyborg against the ropes. Pacheco scores again, knocking Cyborg down, but fails to capitalize with follow-up strikes. Pacheco fights hard to create openings, landing an elbow but causing minimal damage. Pacheco 10-9. Total score: Cyborg 29-28.

Round 4: Pacheco connects with a fierce leg kick. Cyborg retaliates with a big right, partially landing. The opening 90 seconds of the round are relatively calm. Pacheco lands a couple more rights and a leg kick. Cyborg strikes back with a solid overhand right. Pacheco catches a kick and retaliates with a heavy blow. Just as fatigue sets in, Cyborg lands a left hook followed by aggressive punches. Pacheco 10-9. Total: 38-38.

Round 5: Cyborg starts the round with a sharp jab. Both fighters are pacing themselves, avoiding a chaotic finish. Cyborg throws a half-hearted kick as both seem to gauge their energy levels. Pacheco hits Cyborg with precision, pushing through fatigue.

With a powerful right hand, Cyborg springs to life! She takes Pacheco down to the mat and starts swinging before they both return to their feet. Blood is streaming from Cyborg’s left eye. Cyborg throws an overhand right, and Pacheco counters with a low kick. Cyborg retaliates with another right punch. She attempts a takedown, but Pacheco quickly escapes. The fighting gets intense in the last seconds, as both fighters exchange blows. Afterward, they embrace. Cyborg 10-9. Overall score: Cyborg 48, Pacheco 47.

Johnny Eblen def. Fabian Edwards by unanimous decision

Eblen showcased his strength with multiple body slams, achieving a total of 15 takedowns throughout the five-round bout and successfully defending his Bellator middleweight title.

In the final round, Edwards made a strong comeback with a series of punches and kicks, including an accidental poke to Eblen’s right eye and a kick that landed near Eblen’s groin. However, his impressive final surge was insufficient to overcome Eblen’s earlier control of the match.

The judges scored the fight 48-47 in favor of Eblen, a 32-year-old American who improved to 16-0, while Edwards, a 31-year-old from England, fell to 13-4.

Round 1: Edwards lands a left punch while Eblen counters with a left of his own. Eblen lands a left and a right, staggering Edwards momentarily. Eblen pushes Edwards against the fence, but Edwards manages to slip away. Edwards counters with leg kicks, but Eblen misses a kick, then charges forward to slam Edwards down twice. A significant takedown! Eblen lands a couple of knees to Edwards’ legs before they exchange knee strikes. Eblen 10-9.

Round 2: Edwards lands a left punch, indicating he’s still in the fight. Shortly after, Eblen takes him down to the mat, where he controls the position but fails to land meaningful punches before Edwards stands up again. However, he’s quickly taken back down! Edwards gets up again, and the cycle continues. Both fighters are back on their feet as Eblen strikes with a right elbow. They finish the round standing, with Edwards landing a solid left before the bell. Eblen 10-9. Total Eblen 20-18.

Round 3: After over a minute of fighting, Eblen finally puts Edwards on the mat again. Eblen lands a right, and Edwards counters with a left. Edwards shows marked improvement, engaging with Eblen in a trade of punches. Two and a half minutes in, Eblen tries yet another takedown, and he completes it successfully again, now 8 for 8. Edwards struggles to escape but manages. He throws a mostly blocked kick to Eblen’s face and lands a knee as well. Eblen drives him back to the fence. Eblen 10-9. Total Eblen 30-27.

Round 4: The round starts with missed head kicks. Face to face, Eblen scores a solid right punch. Edwards doesn’t seem very urgent. He lands a left but is quickly taken down by Eblen again. Edwards gets back up, but Eblen knees him and takes him down once more, landing another knee to Edwards’ rear. They separate, but Edwards lands a couple of strikes. Unfortunately, it feels too late for him this round. Eblen 10-9. Total Eblen 40-36.

Round 5: Edwards accidentally pokes Eblen in the eye, prompting the referee to step in for recovery time. An accidental kick to the groin follows, but no penalty is given. For the opening two minutes, the fight remains on their feet, creating a bit of tension. Eblen’s takedown attempt fails, and Edwards begins to connect with sharp punches, including an elbow to Eblen’s head. Edwards shows more aggression now! He knees Eblen in the body, showcasing a great final round. Where was this earlier? Edwards 10-9. Total Eblen 49, Edwards 46.

Zafar Mohsen def. Husein Kadimagomaev by unanimous decision

The match concluded with Mohsen hammering elbows down on Kadimagomaev, leaving blood smeared on him. This featherweight encounter was gritty and intense enough for any MMA event.

The fight started slowly. At the end of the first round, Kadimagomaev gestured for Mohsen to come forward.

Things heated up later in the fight.

The strong Mohsen took control of Kadimagomaev with superior grappling over the last two rounds while landing plenty of punches as well.

All three judges scored the match 30-27 in favor of Mohsen, a 29-year-old from Germany who improved to 14-4; Kad, 25, from Switzerland, dropped to 11-2.

Round 1: The first minute lacked energy. Fighters exchanged some leg kicks, and Kadimagomaev landed an overhand right before grappling Mohsen to the ground and pushing him against the fence. They broke apart and returned to the center, where Mohsen jabbed, and then delivered a strong elbow when Kadimagomaev invited him to engage. Kadimagomaev attempted a kick but slipped, making the round look unfavorable for him. Mohsen 10-9.

Round 2: Action was again light until Mohsen jumped onto Kadimagomaev, achieving the top position and landing punches. Kadimagomaev fought back and they clinched on the fence. Mohsen flipped Kadimagomaev during their tussle, though Kadimagomaev limited the effectiveness of his strikes. Mohsen was bleeding from his right eye, which highlighted the violence of the clash. Nonetheless, he dealt more damage throughout the round. 10-9 Mohsen. Total 20-18 Mohsen.

Round 3: Mohsen wasted no time getting back to grappling. Kadimagomaev seemed agreeable to the exchange. While clinched against the fence, Mohsen looked the stronger fighter, landing several punches to Kad’s head. The referee intervened to separate them (thankfully!), which allowed them to return to the center. Mohsen delivered some solid kicks followed by a powerful right. Kad tried for a low takedown, but it failed. Mohsen took Kad down, raining elbows and blood onto him. Mohsen 10-9. Total Mohsen 30-27.

Paul Hughes def. A.J. McKee by split decision

At the end of the fight, Hughes confidently declared himself a “superstar.”

“Absolutely!” he asserted during his in-cage interview.

Superstar? Perhaps he’s on the path to becoming one.

Hughes defeated the tough McKee with a flurry of punches throughout their three-round lightweight fight, winning the judges’ favor. They scored it 29-28, 28-29, and 29-28 for Hughes.

The bell saved McKee from being stopped when Hughes landed a right punch that dropped him at the end of the first round, but it wasn’t enough to change the final result. Hughes improved his record to 13-1.

and McKee’s record dropped to 21-2

Round 1: McKee starts with a kick, which Hughes almost catches but McKee breaks free. McKee lands punches and kicks, pushing Hughes against the fence; however, Hughes quickly retaliates. They engage in a clinch, exchanging knees to the body before they become entangled. McKee manages to escape but receives a knee to the body from Hughes. More kicks come from McKee, and Hughes responds with punches. They end up on the mat and soon get back to their feet, where Hughes delivers a powerful knee and connects with a significant right hand just as the bell signals the end of the round. Hughes 10, McKee 9.

Round 2: McKee launches a kick aimed at Hughes’ chin, followed by a spinning back kick. He then targets Hughes’ lead leg. Despite the knockdown from the previous round, McKee remains balanced and fires a left jab that lands. They push against the fence, and after a lull, McKee knees Hughes in the chest as Hughes counters with hard punches. The referee steps in and separates them, warning McKee for a low kick. Hughes returns fire with a left hook and follows up with a series of punches and a knee; McKee smartly catches the knee and takes Hughes down. McKee continues to control and keep pressure on Hughes. Hughes 10, McKee 9. Total 20-18 Hughes.

Round 3: McKee quickly sets to work, pushing Hughes against the fence and obtaining his back, but Hughes escapes. They briefly stand before McKee regains control as they wrestle against the fence. Hughes endures knees delivered by McKee while attempting to smother him with punches, one of which lands on McKee’s chin. They topple to the mat, with Hughes on top until McKee turns the tide and reverses the position. Hughes finds a moment to deliver another punch that scores. Hughes 10, McKee 9. Total 30-27 Hughes.

Main Card: Francis Ngannou vs. Renan Ferreira

• Cris Cyborg vs. Larissa Pacheco, women’s featherweight
• Johnny Eblen vs. Fabian Edwards, middleweight
• Husein Kadimagomaev vs. Zafar Mohsen, featherweight
• AJ McKee vs. Paul Hughes, lightweight

Fight Time for Cris Cyborg vs. Larissa Pacheco

This co-main event will commence right before the Francis Ngannou vs. Renan Ferreira fight.

Francis Ngannou vs. Renan Ferreira Preliminary Card

• Raufeon Stots defeated Marcos Breno by submission, 3rd round
• Makkasharip Zaynukov defeated Dedrek Sanders by unanimous decision
• Ibragim Ibragimov defeated Nacho Campos by unanimous decision
• Taha Bendaoud defeated Tariq Ismail by submission, 2nd round

Submission Victory for Raufeon Stots over Marcos Breno in Round 3

In their three-round bantamweight match, Breno almost knocked Stots down twice early in the first round, but celebrating prematurely would have been unwise.

Breno continued his aggressive strategy and took the round, while Stots, a former NCAA Division II wrestling champion, eventually found an opening to showcase his grappling skills.

Stots elevated his game in the third round when Breno took him down, only to quickly find himself in a vulnerable position under Stots’ control.

Stots unleashed punches and finished with a rear naked choke, forcing Breno to tap out with 1:59 remaining in the fight.

This win moves Stots, a 25-year-old from Texas, to 21-2, while Breno, a 26-year-old from Connecticut, drops to 15-4.

Makkasharip Zaynukov Defeats Dedrek Sanders by Unanimous Decision

In the end, the only uncertainty in this three-round lightweight fight was whether Sanders would avoid being submitted or endure strikes until the referee intervened.

He indeed managed to endure.

Zaynukov, showcasing dominance with seven takedowns, had a particularly notable one in the second round when Sanders caught his leg after an attempted kick, yet Zaynukov swiftly took Sanders down.

Despite Sanders appearing to escape several times, Zaynukov maintained his grip and continued to dominate with superior grappling.

All three judges scored the contest unanimously in favor of Zaynukov, who hails from Russia and improved to 16-4, while Sanders, a 34-year-old from Alaska, fell to 9-5.

Ibragim Ibragimov Defeats Nacho Campos by Unanimous Decision

Ibragimov began their featherweight bout with several kicks, including an impressive wheel kick, but it mainly felt like a show-off display.

He quickly shifted to his dominant grappling style, rendering Campos largely defenseless as he spent most of the fight on the ground, glancing at the referee in hopes of being stood up.

Campos landed some shots, but Ibragimov connected far more frequently—125 strikes to 57.

The crowd grew restless due to the wrestling-heavy match, but the judges remained unfazed, awarding Ibragimov a unanimous decision of 30-27. The 20-year-old from the Republic of Dagestan improved to 8-0, while Campos dropped to 5-1.

Taha Bendaoud Defeats Tariq Ismail by Submission in Round 2

Although Bendaoud’s face showed signs of damage after the bout, he still managed to pull off a surprising move to secure victory in their featherweight match.

Despite Ismail dominating the first round with a strong takedown, the second round started similarly as Ismail landed blows on Bendaoud’s injured face.

However, as Ismail leaned in for further strikes, Bendaoud caught him in a triangle choke, tightening his legs around him until Ismail tapped out with 1:09 to go in the second round.

This victory improved Bendaoud’s record to 4-0, while Ismail’s record fell to 8-2.

Francis Ngannou’s Boxing Record

Ngannou currently stands at 0-2 in boxing, with a record of 17-3-1 in MMA, boasting 12 KOs and 4 submissions.

Renan Ferreira’s Record

Ferreira has a record of 13-3 in MMA, with 11 KOs and one submission.

Francis Ngannou’s Family

Ngannou, a father of two, keeps details about his personal life private.

Circumstances Surrounding Francis Ngannou’s Son’s Passing

In April, Ngannou revealed that his son Kobe had passed away at just 15 months old, stating that medical professionals missed a diagnosis of a brain malformation that led to the tragic loss.

Francis Ngannou’s Height and Weight

6 feet 4 inches, 256 pounds

Renan Ferreira’s Height and Weight

6 feet 8 inches, 261 pounds

Francis Ngannou’s Age

38 years old

Renan Ferreira’s Age

34 years old

Cris Cyborg’s Record

27 wins, 2 losses with 21 knockouts and one submission

Cris Cyborg’s Height

5 feet 8 inches

Larissa Pacheco’s Record

23 wins, 4 losses with 11 knockouts and 8 submissions

Francis Ngannou vs. Renan Ferreira Fight Time

The preliminary card begins at 1:30 p.m. ET on Saturday, with the main card starting at 4:00 p.m. ET.

Location of Francis Ngannou vs. Renan Ferreira Fight

Taking place at The Mayadeen in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

How to Watch Francis Ngannou vs. Renan Ferreira

• Preliminary card available on ESPN+. Free with a subscription.
• Main card on DAZN. Pay-per-view cost: $49.99.