Former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou has announced his plans to make a comeback to MMA in October, with his first fight set to take place in Saudi Arabia.
After dedicating the past two years to his boxing career, Ngannou, 37, has not participated in MMA since January 2022. Last year, he left the UFC to join the PFL (Professional Fighters League) and stated that he will make his promotional debut against Renan Ferreira.
Although the exact date is not yet confirmed, Ngannou mentioned during an interview on the JRE MMA Show that discussions have taken place regarding an October 19th fight.
Prior to his return to MMA, Ngannou faced off against former world champions Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua in boxing matches, both ending in defeat. In March, Joshua knocked out Ngannou in just two rounds.
Ferreira, who won the PFL’s 2023 heavyweight tournament, holds a record of 13 wins, three losses, and three no-contests. The Brazilian fighter’s most recent victory came in February when he defeated Bellator’s heavyweight champion Ryan Bader in a 21-second demolition.
Ngannou spoke highly of Ferreira, describing him as an athletic fighter with fast hands, impressive knee strikes, and overall athleticism. Ngannou believes Ferreira could be his next opponent.
In addition to his comeback, Ngannou was recently announced as the head of PFL Africa, which is set to launch in 2025.
Earlier this year, Ngannou took a hiatus from the public eye following the devastating loss of his 15-month-old son. The Cameroonian fighter revealed that his son had fainted twice before his death in Dubai due to a mild inflammation of the brain.
Despite the tragedy, Ngannou expressed a sense of acceptance, stating, “At least whenever I die, I’m going to see my kid. I’m not afraid of it. I still want to live, but you get to that point.”
