Francis Ngannou defeated Renan Ferreira in the first round by knockout during the PFL Super Fights: Battle of the Giants event held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The event featured three title bouts across PFL and Bellator, with Johnny Eblen successfully defending his title against Fabian Edwards. Ngannou, alongside Cris Cyborg, who also made her PFL debut, earned the Super Fights belts in their respective matches.
Following his win, Ngannou reflected on his recent loss, as his son Kobe passed away in late April. He expressed that he would continue to grieve the loss but might soon seek new challenges. His ongoing relationship with Saudi Arabia, where he has fought multiple times, suggests he may have future opportunities there, particularly in boxing. Experts predict Ngannou may return to competition as early as the first half of next year, likely in boxing.
Cris Cyborg won a unanimous decision over Larissa Pacheco and claimed the PFL Super Fight women’s featherweight title. At 39, Cyborg adds another championship to her accolades, reaffirming her status among the sport’s greatest. The fight was closely contested, leaving Pacheco with valuable experience, which could set up an intriguing rematch and provide a potential rivalry that the PFL could leverage to draw interest.
Johnny Eblen retained his Bellator middleweight title against Fabian Edwards in another unanimous decision. Despite a competitive match where Eblen couldn’t surpass his previous knockout victory over Edwards, he secured his second win against him. The question remains about Eblen’s next steps, as he lacks a clear challenger in a division where he has already defeated the top contenders. The future for Eblen may include considering a move to the UFC due to the absence of a suitable opponent within Bellator.