- The 37-year-old’s last fight was a boxing match against Tyson Fury
- Had an acrimonious divorce with the UFC last year, switched to PFL
- The PFL vs Bellator Champions card kicks off on Sunday, Australian time
Francis Ngannou has finally revealed his plan to make a long-awaited return to the Octagon almost two years after his bitter split with the UFC.
The former world heavyweight champion stunned the combat sports world when he knocked down boxer Tyson Fury before losing a controversial split decision last October, leaving fight fans clamoring for him to return to mixed martial arts.
Now the 193cm, 117kg knockout artist has announced he will face the winner of Renan Ferreira and Ryan Bader’s fight on this weekend’s PFL Champions vs Bellator Champions card.
One-man wrecking crew Francis Ngannou has finally revealed his plan to return to mixed martial arts for the first time since his bitter split with the UFC
The Cameroonian’s last fight saw him shock the combat sports world by knocking down Tyson Fury (pictured) en route to a controversial split-decision loss to the champion boxer
The fighting extravaganza in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, will feature seven matchups between current and former champions of the rival MMA organizations, with the clash between Ferreira and Bader being the main attraction.
Bellator champion Bader has the third most wins in modern UFC light heavyweight history, has defeated greats like Antonio Nogueira and Fedor Emelianenko and is currently on a three-fight winning streak.
PFL champion Ferreira comes into the match with a record of twelve wins and three losses, is also on a three-match winning streak and has a height, reach and weight advantage thanks to his 203cm, 118kg frame.
Ngannou is currently in Riyadh preparing for his boxing match against former world heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua and will be present at the PFL vs Bellator event.
PFL heavyweight champion Renan Ferreira (pictured, left) will put his 118kg, 203cm frame into action this weekend against former UFC superstar Ryan Bader in Saudi Arabia
Bader (pictured left) will face Ngannou if he can beat Brazil’s Ferreira
His fight against Ferreira of Bader will be his first for the PFL after signing a landmark deal with the organization in May last year.
The 36-year-old Cameroonian will compete in PFL’s Superfight division, which allows fighters to earn at least 50 percent of pay-per-view revenue.
It’s a far cry from the UFC’s 20 percent cut for fighters, and Ngannou also gets shares in the PFL.
The Bader vs. Ferreira fight is far from the only high profile clash on the card, which kicks off at 4am AEDT on Sunday.
Fireworks are guaranteed when the hard-hitting Thiago Santos takes on Yoel Romero, PFL light heavyweight king Impa Kasanganay puts his 15-3 record on the line against undefeated American Johnny Eblen, and Jesus Pinedo will look to earn his 24th win against Patricio Pitbull.
The PFL Champions vs Bellator Champions card also features the best female boxer in the world, Claressa Shields (pictured, right)
Muhammad Ali’s grandson Biaggio Ali Walsh (pictured) makes his professional MMA debut on the card in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Claressa Shields, widely considered the world’s greatest female boxer, will have her third mixed martial arts fight when she finds herself in the octagon with Kelsey DeSantis.
Biaggio Ali Walsh – who previously told Ny Breaking Australia how his grandfather Muhammad Ali inspired his rise through the ranks – makes his professional debut against Emmanuel Palacio after amassing an impressive 6-1 record in the amateur MMA ranks , with all of his wins coming by KO or TKO.
You can watch all the action from the PFL Champions vs Bellator Champions event at Stan Sports from 4am AEDT on Sunday.