π¨ Breaking News π¨
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The Return of π Francis Ngannou
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And it all ends on October 19th
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β PFL (@PFLMMA)
August 7, 2024
The Professional Fighters League will stage its second major pay-per-view event in 2024.
The organization announced Wednesday that the card’s main event will be a heavyweight showdown between former UFC champion Francis Ngannou and 2023 PFL champion Renan Ferreira, while the co-main event will see current Bellator MMA featherweight titleholder Cristiane Justino take on 2023 PFL 145-pound queen Larissa Pacheco.
The PFL pay-per-view event, titled “Battle of the Giants: Brace for Impact,” will take place on Oct. 19 and be available on ESPN+. The venue and pricing for the card have not been announced. Both bouts will be on the line for the PFL Super Fight Championship belt.
Ngannou will be competing in MMA for the first time since defending his heavyweight title against Ciryl Gane at UFC 270 in January 2022. “The Predator” is currently on a six-fight win streak, with additional wins over Stipe Miocic, Jairzinho Rozenstruik, Junior dos Santos, Cain Velasquez and Curtis Blaydes. During his time away from the cage, Ngannou has tried his hand at professional boxing, fighting Tyson Fury by a close split decision last October and losing by second-round knockout to Anthony Joshua in March.
Meanwhile, Ferreira defeated Matheus Schaeffl, Maurice Greene and Denis Goltzov to win the PFL heavyweight title in 2023. “Problema” made his return in a PFL vs. Bellator Champions match on Feb. 24, defeating Ryan Bader in just 24 seconds.
Justino brings a seven-fight winning streak to her matchup against Pacheco. The current Bellator champion defeated Cat Zingano by first-round knockout last October at Bellator 300. “Cyborg” has not lost since losing by first-round knockout to Amanda Nunes at UFC 232 in December 2018.
Pacheco’s recent success has been reminiscent of Justino’s dominance. The 29-year-old Brazilian has won 10 straight bouts, including seven wins inside the first round. Pacheco defeated Kayla Harrison to become the 2022 PFL lightweight champion before winning four straight bouts at 145 pounds to become the promotion’s featherweight queen last year.
