Francis Ngannou KO in first round stuns Renan Ferreira: Results, highlights from PFL fight

Francis Ngannou wept.

He had just finished a fight he dedicated to his son, who died in April at 15 months old.

It was a fight he won in devastating fashion.

“I hope they can remember his name, because without Kobe we wouldn’t be here tonight,’’ Ngannou said with tears in his eyes. “I wouldn’t have (fought).”

More: Emotional Francis Ngannou dedicates KO to late son

In what was billed as “Battle of the Giants’’ in Saudi Arabia, Ngannou knocked out Renan Ferreira to become the PFL Super Fights heavyweight world champion.

It came in the first round of the main event Saturday at the PFL’s Super Fights in Saudi Arabia.

About halfway through the round, Ngannou (6-4, 255 pounds) took down Ferreira (6-8, 261-pounds) near the fence inside the cage. Suddenly, caught dangerously between Ferreira’s massive legs, Ngannou muscled free and let his fists fly.

A barrage of punches pounded Ferreira’s head and the massive Brazilian looked helpless when the the referee called the fight with 1:28 left in the first round.

Watch Francis Ngannou KO Renan Ferreira

Round 1: Ngannou opens with a right leg kick and Ferreira stumbles a bit. Ferreira responds with the Patience here. Or apprehension? Ngannou kicks and Ferreira swings with an overhand right. Ngannou attacks. Has Ferreira on the mat. Horns sound. Ferrieria trying to get up. Throws a couple lefts to the head. They’re up against the cage fence. Ferreira gets the triangle on Ngannou. Impressive move. But Ngannou punches with the left and Ferreira lets go of the triangle. Now Ngannou letting loose with punches! And more punches! Pulverizing Ferreira’s face, driving his left fist into his head. And the ref calls it! The fight is over! Ngannou over Ferreira by TKO with 1:28 left in the first round.

Francis Ngannou's long-awaited return to MMA

It was a highly successful return to mixed martial arts for Ngannou, 38 from Cameroon, who had not fought in MMA since January 2020. That was before he left the UFC over a contract dispute and tried boxing. He stunned the combat sports world in October 2023 when he knocked down Tyson Fury and almost won his pro boxing debut. But in March, against Anthony Joshua, he was brutally knocked out.

Then came tragedy.

Ngannou announced in April his son Kobe had died. He later said doctors failed to discover a brain malformation that ultimately led to his death.

While mourning the loss of his son, Ngannou agreed to make his PFL debut Saturday. He improved to 18-3 while scoring the 10th first-round knockout of his celebrated career.

And there he was when it ended, inside the cage and overcome with emotion.

“I don’t know,’’ he said when asked how it felt. “I just can’t think about anything. That my son Kobe, you know…’’

The emotion surged again.

He accepted the fight, Ngannou explained, to fight for his son.

Cris Cyborg def. Larissa Pacheco by unanimous decision

At 39, Cyborg did it again.

She beat an opponent almost a decade younger while winning the PFL’s featherweight world title – her fifth title from a major promotion.

It was impressive, but not pretty.

Pacheco, 30, landed plenty of hard shots, and it left Cyborg bleeding over both swollen eyes. But Cyborg survived thanks to her fists and determination. All three judges scored it 49-46.

Cyborg landed 108 strikes to 91 for Pacheco and she also had four takedowns while Pacheco had none. But while Pacheco did not earn the victory, she clearly earned Cyborg’s respect.

Cyborg improved to 28-2 and Pacheco 23-5.

Round 1: Cyborg opens with a stiff left jab. Looks good for 39. Cyborg has Pacheco, 30, on the fence. Cyborg drives in knees. Ducks a right, grabs Pacheco and drives Pacheco to the mat. Yeah, looks VERY good for 39. Cyborg on top. Pacheco breaks free, answers with big punches. Cyborg pleading around the left eye. Delivers an elbow to Pacheco. Cyborg gets a takedown but now finds herself wrapped up, Pacheco’s hands around her neck. Cyborg somehow gets her head free and then turns the ground-and-pound on Pacheco. Blood everywhere. Cyborg’s blood-smeared face looks like a mess ― cut over both eyes ― but that was quite the performance. Cyborg 10, Pacheco 9. 

Round 2: Fighters out a little slow, maybe because of that brutal first round. Pacheco lands a leg kick and Pacheco drops to the mat. Pain and fatigue, I’m guessing. They’re in a clinch against the fence. Cyborg lands a right elbow. Pacheco still coming forward, only to be grabbed by Cyborg and driven into the mat. Cyborg on top of Pacheco and pounding with the right elbow. A bloody mess, as Cyborg chocks away with some lefts. Cyborg up and Pacheco attacks from bottom before the ref waves her up. Pacheco a solid shot. Cyborg 10-9. Total Cyborg 20-18.

Round 3: Pacheco connects with a hard right. Cyborg backs away and Pacheco beckons her forward. Odd to watch Cyborg keep a distance. But they’re face to face again. Fists fly. Punches miss. Pacheco the aggressor. Throws a nice combo and backs up. Pacheco lands a right and drops Cyborg!!! But no luck capitalizing with ground-and-pound. Yet. Pacheco working hard to create room for punches. An elbow got through, but no serious damage. Pacheco 10-9. Total Cyborg 29-28.

Round 4: Pacheco lands a nasty leg kick. Cyborg throws a big right. Partial landing. A relatively peaceful opening 90 seconds for these two. Pacheco connects with a couple of rights. Another leg kick from Pacheco. Cyborg connects with a solid overhand right. Pacheco catches a kick and pummels Cyborg with a right. Just when she begins to tire…Cyborg lands a left hook and moves forward behind punches. Pacheco 10-9. Total Cyborg 38, Pacheco 38.

Round 5: Cyborg opens the round with a nice jab. Action is light. How does this not end in a brawl? Cyborg lets go with a halfhearted kick. How much gas is in the tank? Pacheco drills Cyborg with a right hand, and suddenly Cyborg comes alive! She’s got Pacheco on the mat and slugs away before they’re both back on their feet. Lots of blood leaking from Cyborg’s left eye. Cyborg lets fly with an overhand right. Pacheco responds with a low kick. Back comes Cyborg with a right. Cyborg with a takedown but Pacheco squirms free fast. Here comes the brawling. Fists fly in the final seconds. Fighters embrace. Cyborg 10-9. Total Cyborg 48, Pacheco 47.

Johnny Eblen def. Fabian Edwards by unanimous decision

It was one body slam after another for Eblen, who had 15 takedowns in all during the five-round fight while retaining his Bellator middleweight world title.

Edwards came alive in the final round with a flurry of punches and kicks. Not to mention an accidental poke to Eblen’s right eye and a kick that landed near Eblen’s groin. But the impressive attack was too little to overcome Eblen’s earlier dominance.

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

Round 1: Edwards connects with a left and Eblen counters with a left. Eblen connects with a left and a right; it staggers Edwards. Eblen has Edwards up against the fence before Edwards slips loose. Edwards connects with inside leg kicks. Eblen misses with a kick, then rushes forward and twice slams Edwards to the ground. Big takedown. And drops him a third time! Here come a couple of knees to Edwards’ hamstrings. The twirl around and Edwards knees Eblen in the gut a few times. Eblen 10-9. 

Round 2: Edwards drills Eblen with a left. Evidence he’s not done. Of course, not too long after Eblen has Edwards on the mat. Eblen looks solid in the dominant position, but not capitalizing yet with punches before Edwards gets back on his feet. Only to get slammed back to the mat! Oh, boy. Edwards back on his feet. Wanna guess what happened next? Up and down and up…They’re both on their feet and Eblen strikes with a right elbow. Finishing up the round on their feet. Edwards lands a solid left as the round ends. Eblen 10-9. Total Eblen 20-18.

Round 3: More than a minute and Eblen has yet to take down Edwards. Wow. Eblen lands a right and Edwards counters with a left. Edwards looks far better now – standing face to face with Eblen and trading punches. But 2 ½ minutes in, Eblen attempts another takedown – and he’s now 8 for 8. Edwards fighting hard to get free, and he does. Edwards lets fly with a kick to the face. Mostly blocked. Edward scores with his knee and, ugh, back against the fence he goes, with Eblen driving him there. Eblen 10-9. Total Eblen 30-27. 

Round 4: They open with head kicks – that miss. Face to face here. Eblen connects with a right. Edwards lacks much urgency. He scored with a left and his reward? Another takedown by Eblen. Edwards back on his feet and Eblen knees Edwards and slams him back on the mat. Oof. And, again. Eblen drives another knee into Edwards’ backside. Edwards slides back down on the mat. Geez. He's up, and guess what? Another body slam. They separate and Edwards lands a couple of blows. Way to late and way to little for this ground. Eblen 10-9. Total Eblen 40-36. 

Round 5: Edwards pokes Eblen with a finger. The ref steps in and gives Eblen time to recover and the poke is ruled accidental. Now Edwards delivers a kick in the groin area and the ref again steps in. No penalty. With fighters on their feet for the opening two minutes, the fight gains a little uncertainty. A little. Eblen tries to take down Edwards and fails. Edwards connects with a sharp left and then a right. Edwards drills an elbow into Eblen’s head. Edwards showing some life!! Now Eblen has Edwards pushed against the fence. Briefly. Edwards showing some viciousness. Edwards strikes with a knee to the body. What a terrific round for Edwards. Where was this earlier? Edwards 10-9. Total Eblen 49, Edwards 46.

Zafar Mohsen def. Husein Kadimagomaev, unanimous decision

It ended with Mohsen dropping elbows and blood on Kadimagomaev. Yes, the three-rounded featherweight was gritty and gory enough for an MMA card.

The fight unfolded slowly. And at the end of the first round, Kadimagomaev waved on Mohsen.

The action came later.

The powerfully built Mohsen dominated Kadimagomaev with his superior grappling over the final two rounds and snuck in ample punches too.

All three judges scored the fight 30-27 for Mohsen, a 29-year-old German who improves to 14-4. Kad, 25 from Switzerland, fell to 11-2.

Round 1: Lackluster first minute. Fighters exchange some leg kicks and Kadimagomaev fires an overhand right, wrestles down Mohsen and drives him into the fence. Tangled on the fence. They break free and work back to the middle of the cage. Mohsen connects with a jab. Kadimagomaev calls him forward and Mohsen delivers a hard elbow. Kadimagomaev kicks and slips. Banana peel? Mohsen 10-9.

Round 2: Light action again until Mohsen tried to leap onto Kadimagomaev. He’s now on top of Kadimagomaev and getting in some right-hand punches. But Kad gains the advantage and they’re clinched on the fence. Kadimagomaev working from underneath, then gets flipped by Mohsen. But his punches are mostly stifled. Mohsen is bleeding from the right eye and Kadimagomaev is covered with it. But Mohsen inflicted more pain. 10-9 Mohsen. Total 20-18 Mohsen.

Round 3: Mohen wastes little time initiating the grappling. Kad seems happy to do it. They’re clinched against the fence, and Mohsen does appear to be the stronger of the two men. Mohsen dropping punches on Kad’s head with his right hand. More punches to the head. Ref breaks then up (thanks, ref!) and they’re back at the center of the cage. Mohsen delivers some nice kicks and a powerful right. Kad shoots low for a takedown and, well, that ain’t happening. Mohsen on top of Kad and dropping elbows and blood onto Kad. Mohsen 10-9. Total Mohsen 30-27.

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

When it was over, Hughes declared himself a “superstar.’’

“Damn straight,’’ he said during his in-cage interview.

Superstar? Well, maybe headed in that direction.

Hughes defeated a formidable McKee with a barrage of punches unleashed over the course of their three-round lightweight bout. The judges scored it 29-28, 28-29, 29-28 for Hughes.

The bell saved McKee when Hughes dropped him with a right at the end of the first round. But nothing could save McKee from the final outcome. Hughes improved to 13-1 and McKee dropped to 21-2

Round 1: McKee fires with a kick. Hughes nearly catches it but McKee jerks free. McKee punches and kicks and works Hughes against the fence before Hughes turns the tables. Clinched now. They trade knees to the gut. Just tangled. McKee breaks free and Hughes rewards him with a knee to the body. McKee delivers a couple of kicks and Hughes answers with punches. More kicks from McKee and more punches from Hughes. They’re wrapped up on the mat. Back on their feet and Hughes delivers a nasty knee and drops McKee with a huge right as the bell rings. Hughes 10, McKee 9.

Round 2: McKee lets fly with a kick to the chin. Nice spinning back kick there. Now, he’s working Hughes’ lead leg. McKee is surprisingly steady in light of the knockdown at the end of the round. He fires a left jab that gets through. Now they’re up against the fence. Not much happening, and then the fists fly and McKee knees Hughes in the chest. Hughes unloads a few strong punches. Referee sends the fighters to neutral corners. McKee warned for a kick that landed in Hughes’ groin area. Hughes answers with a left hook. He fires a barrage and a knee, and McKee cleverly catches it and slams McKee to the ground. Yet McKee works to control and knee McKee. Hughes 10, McKee 9. Total 20-18 Hughes. 

Round 3: McKee quickly works Hughes against the fence and McKee has the back before Hughes squirms free. They’re both back on their feet. Well, for a few seconds. McKee has the back again as they’re against the fence in wrestling mode. Hughes taking knees on his backside. Hughes is lose and smothering McKee with punches. The punches just keep on coming, one landing on McKee’s chin. Fight is back on the mat, with Hughes on top before McKee shows life and turns the table. Hughes find room to throw another scoring punch. Hughes 10, McKee 9. Total 30-27 Hughes.

Francis Ngannou vs. Renan Ferreira main card

• 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

Cris Cyborg vs. Larissa Pacheco time

This fight is the co-main and will start directly before Francis Ngannou vs. Renan Ferriera

Francis Ngannou vs. Renan Ferreira preliminary card

• Raufeon Stots def. Marcos Breno, bantamweight

• Makkasharip  Zaynukov def. Dedrek Sanders, lightweight

• Ibragim Ibragimov def. Nacho Campos, featherweight

• Taha Bendaoud def. Tariq Ismail, featherweight

Raufeon Stots def. Marcos Breno by submission, 3rd round

Breno nearly knocked down Stots twice early in the first round of their three-round bantamweight fight. Any celebration would have been premature.

Breno maintained his aggressive attack and won the round. But Stots, a former NCAA Division II wrestling champion, eventually found an opportunity to capitalize on his grappling.

It went from good to brilliant for Stots in the third round, when Breno took down Stots only to find himself quickly under Stots’ control.

He punished Breno with punches and finished him off with a rear naked choke. Breno tapped out with 1:59 left in the fight.

Stots, a 25-year-old from Texas, improved to 21-2. Breno, a 26-year-old from Connecticut, fell to 15-4.

Makkasharip Zaynukov def. Dedrek Sanders, unanimous decision

By the end, about the only thing in question about this three-round lightweight fight was whether Sanders would avoid a submission or survive late hammer fists before the referee interceded.

He did.

But Zaynukov was dominant, securing seven takedowns. Perhaps the most impressive takedown: in the second round, Sanders caught Zaynukov’s leg after an attempted kick and yet moments later it was Zaynukov who wrestled Sanders to the mat.

Multiple times, Sanders appeared to squirm free. It was false hope, as Zaynukov sustained his dominance with superior grappling.

All three referees scored it as a unanimous decision for Zaynukov, a Russian who improved to 16-4. Sanders, a 34-year-old from Alaska, fell to 9-5.

Ibragim Ibragimov def. Nacho Campos by unanimous decision

Ibragimov opened the featherweight bout with a few kicks, including a flashy wheel kick. In retrospect, it felt like mostly show.

He quickly shifted into his dominant position: grappling, and Campos looked largely helpless. He spent most of the time on the mat – and looking to the referee in hopes he would instruct the fighters to stand up during the three-round featherweight bout.

No luck.

Campos did get in his shots, but Ibragimov’s fists connected far more – 125 strikes for Ibragimov to 57 strikes for Campos.

The crowd grew restless with all the wrestling, but the judges didn’t seem to mind. All three scored it 30-27 in favor of Ibrahimov, the 20-year-old from Republic of Dagestan who improved to 8-0.

Campos, a Spaniard, fell to 5-1.

Taha Bendaoud def. Tariq Ismail by submission, 2nd round 

Bendaoud’s face was bloody and swollen after the fight, but it didn’t keep him from pulling off a surprise move to win the featherweight bout.

Ismail dominated the first round after securing a takedown. It was more of the same in the second round, only this time Ismail pounded Bendaoud’s face as the blood flowed.

But as Ismail leaned in for more strikes, Bendaoud surprised him with a triangle choke and with his legs squeezed him like a boa constrictor before Ismail tapped out with 1:09 left in the second round.

Bendaoud, a 29-year-old from Morocco, improved to 4-0. Ismael, a 34-year-old from Sudan, fell to 8-2.

Francis Ngannou boxing record

Ngannou is 0-2 in boxing. He is 17-3-1 in MMA with 12 KOs and 4 submissions. \

Renan Ferreira record

13-3 in MMA with 11 KOs and one submission

Francis Ngannou wife

Ngannou, who has two children, has protected the details of his private life.

How did Francis Ngannou son pass away

In April, Ngannou announced his son Kobe had died at the age of 15 months. Ngannou said doctors failed to diagnose a brain malformation that resulted in Kobe’s death.

Francis Ngannou height & weight

6-4, 256 pounds

Renan Ferreira height & weight

6-8, 261 pounds

How old is Francis Ngannou?

38

How old is Renan Ferreira?

34

Cris Cyborg record

27-2 with 21 KOs and one submission

How tall is Cris Cyborg?

5-8

Larissa Pacheco record

23-4 with 11 KOs and 8 submissions

What time is Francis Ngannou vs. Renan Ferreira?

Preliminary card starts at 1:30 p.m. ET Saturday. Main card starts at 4 ET.

Where is the Francis Ngannou vs. Renan Ferreira fight tonight?

The Mayadeen in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Francis Ngannou vs. Renan Ferreira how to watch 

• Preliminary card on ESPN+. Free with subscription.

• Main card on DAZN. PPV fee: $49.99.

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Ngannou vs. Ferreira fight result: KO in PFL Battle of Giants