Francis Ngannou challenges Renan Ferreira for the superfight heavyweight title in the main event of “Battle of the Giants: Brace for Impact” held Saturday at Mayadeen in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. .
‘The Predator’ showed a well-rounded skill set, taking Ferreira to the ground early, surviving a triangle attempt and winning with ground and pound in the first round. The former UFC champion then broke down in tears inside the cage, dedicating the victory to his late son Kobe, who passed away at 15 months old earlier this year.
“All I can think about is my son Kobe. I wanted to fight for him…I hope they remember his name because without Kobe we wouldn’t be here tonight. I wouldn’t have fought,” Ngannou said.
“In martial arts, it all depends on how I feel, how I’m dealing with life right now. But if not…I always thought I still had a lot to contribute to martial arts. And I hope that I continue to think that way, I keep that idea alive…I just want to say, remember my son Kobe. I dedicate this to him. It’s for you.”
Ngannou left the UFC in January 2023 after a lengthy contract dispute. He soon signed with the PFL, but his title win against Ferreira marked his promotion debut. The Cameroonian-born Frenchman is currently on a seven-fight winning streak against top-level competition, including six finishes.
