PFL: Battle of the Giants takes place inside The Mayadeen in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia as heavyweights Francis Ngannou and Renan Ferreira clash for the PFL heavyweight super fights championship.
Click here to watch Francis Ngannou and Renan Ferreira face-off for the last time before Saturday’s explosive main event. Footage via ‘MMA Junkie’ on YouTube.
PFL Main Event: Francis Ngannou vs. Renan Ferreira
This heavyweight main event matchup at PFL: Battle of the Giants features former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou (17-3-0) making his PFL debut against the towering Brazilian giant and PFL champion Renan Ferreira (13-3-0) for the PFL heavyweight super fights championship.
This is a pivotal fight in the world of heavyweight mixed martial arts, as the former baddest man on the planet, Francis Ngannou, returns to the cage after a boxing stint against champions Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua.
The former UFC champion has his hands full with the Brazilian PFL champion Renan Ferreira. Ferreira stands at a staggering 6’8 while brandishing an unreal wingspan of 85-inches.
Ngannou, 38, has never faced an opponent with the size that Ferreira presents. The former UFC champion is riding a six-fight win streak in MMA from 2018.
Ngannou has impressive wins over Curtis Blaydes, Stipe Miocic, Jairzinho Rozenstruik, Ciryl Gane, Alistair Overeem, and Andrei Arlovski.
Ferreira, 34, has never faced an opponent with the punching power that Ngannou possesses. The PFL champion is 4-1 in his last five fights, with all victories being stoppages.
The best wins of Ferreira’s professional career include wins by Ryan Bader, Denis Goltsov, Jared Vanderaa, and Maurice Greene.
That said, I expect this fight to stay within the second round as both heavyweight champions will be looking to land emphatic knockout punches.
Ferreira will be best served by taking this fight to the mat; however, I believe he will try to strike with Ngannou instead.
This is where Ngannou will capitalize on Ferreira’s confidence. I expect Ngannou to close the distance on Ferreira with a few low kicks until eventually looking for the fight-ending right hand on Ferreira’s chin.
Prediction: Ngannou via KO/TKO R1
PFL Co-main Event: Cris Cyborg vs. Larissa Pachecho
PFL: Battle of the Giants’ co-main event features a premiere women’s featherweight showdown between former UFC champion and Bellator champion Cris Cyborg (27-2-0) and the powerful PFL champion Larissa Pacheco (23-4-0) for the PFL featherweight super fights championship.
This PFL women’s co-main event will pack a punch as both fighters possess legitimate one-punch knockout power.
Cyborg, 39, is easily regarded as one of the greatest women’s mixed martial artists of all time. She will seek to further this narrative as she takes on a younger, hungrier Brazilian phenom.
Cyborg is currently on a seven-fight win streak dating back to 2019, racking up impressive wins over Julia Budd, Cat Zingano, and Arlene Blencowe.
Pacheco, 30, is currently riding a 10-fight win streak dating back to 2021. Her most notable win was a unanimous decision over Kayla Harrison in November 2022.
I see Cyborg establishing herself on the feet in this matchup. In contrast, Pacheco’s best route to victory centers on getting Cyborgs back to the cage and imposing her physical will on the older fighter.
This is a toss-up fight as both women present threats on the mat and the feet. I expect the scoring for this five-rounder to be extremely narrow.
Prediction: Cyborg via Decision
Johnny Eblen vs. Fabian Edwards 2
This PFL main card matchup features the impressive undefeated Bellator champion Johnny Eblen
(15-0-0) taking on Fabian Edwards (13-3-0) in a rematch for the Bellator middleweight championship.
This middleweight title fight has high expectations to live up to after the first fight delivered a thrilling spectacle for fans worldwide.
These two fighters first clashed in September 2023, a memorable bout where Edwards put up a strong fight and even caused a significant cut on Eblen’s face with a well-placed elbow.
However, Eblen rose to the occasion in the third round after being cut open when he knocked Edwards to the canvas with a heavy punch. From there, Eblen jumped on top of Edwards, delivering fight-ending ground and pound.
Eblen, 32, has accumulated an impressive resume, with wins over Impa Kasanganay, Fabian Edwards, Anatoly Tokov, and Gegard Mousasi.
Edwards, 31, boasts an impressive record with notable victories over Aaron Jeffery, Gegard Mousasi, and Lyoto Machida, showcasing his potential in the upcoming fight.
That said, I see Eblen keeping his undefeated record intact in this title fight rematch.
I believe Eblen is the best talent the PFL has to offer. He is able to impose his game plan on all his opponents. Eblen does his best work when he puts his opponent’s back to the cage, where he can mix up takedowns and punches.
I see the Bellator champion putting an insane pace on Edwards, ultimately stifling the offense of the challenger.
Prediction: Eblen via Decision
AJ McKee vs. Paul Hughes
This PFL main card matchup is an absolute treat for fight fans as the battle-tested former Bellator featherweight champion AJ McKee (22-1-0) takes on the rising Irish prospect Paul Hughes (12-1-0) in a three round bout.
This lightweight matchup is an accurate tale of the veteran versus the rookie as the former Bellator featherweight champion AJ McKee welcomes Paul Hughes to the elite of the PFL and Bellator.
McKee, 29, is one of the premier fighters on the Bellator roster, with wins over Pat Curran, Patricio Pitbull, Spike Carlyle, and Clay Collard.
Hughes, 27, emerged as a highly anticipated prospect from Cage Warriors FC. His current six-fight win streak is a testament to his potential and the excitement he brings to the lightweight division.
That said, I see the older and more experienced lightweight McKee having the edge over Hughes in this matchup.
McKee has the larger stature between the two, has fought better competition, and has more to lose in this fight.
McKee’s strategy is to keep Hughes on his toes with a diverse attack of kicks, knees, and punches in the early stages of the fight. Once Hughes becomes too comfortable on his feet, McKee will shift his focus to securing a takedown and unleashing his submission threats.
Prediction: McKee via Decision
Other Fights on PFL: Battle of the Giants
Main Card:
- (145 lbs.) Husein Kadimagomaev (11-1-0) vs. Zafar Mohsen (13-4-0): Kadimagomaev via Decision
Prelims:
- (135 lbs.) Raufeon Stots (20-2-0) vs. Marcos Breno (15-3-0): Stots via Decision
- (155 lbs.) Makkasharip Zaynukov (15-4-0) vs. Dedrek Sanders (9-4-0): Zaynukov via Decision
- (145 lbs.) Ibragim Ibragimov (7-0-0) vs. Nacho Campos (5-0-0): Ibragimov via Submission R2
- (145 lbs.) Tariq Ismail (8-1-0) vs Taha Bendaoud (3-0-0): Ismail via Decision
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