Pros React To Ngannou’s Win Over Ferreira – ‘One Of The Greatest Heavyweights’
MMA pros reacted to Francis Ngannou’s spectacular PFL debut, where he knocked out Renan Ferreira in the first round.
Ngannou was having his first MMA fight since 2022 when he stopped Ciryl Gane at UFC 270 in 2022. Since then, he only had two boxing fights when he faced Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua. He put in a commendable performance against Fury as he dropped him in the third round before making it to the final bell. Although he lost a split decision, some in the boxing community felt he should have been given the win. The performance earned him a top-ten WBC ranking, but Joshua knocked him out in the second round.
He entered the Renan fight following the tragic passing of his 15-month-old son, Kobe. However, Ngannou stated that he would use this as motivation. He showed that in the fight when he immediately took Ferreira to the ground. He then got out of a triangular choke attempt by the Brazilian before getting him on his back. Ngannou then rained down a series of strikes to pummel Ferreira as the referee stopped the bout. In his post-fight comments, he was very emotional, dedicating the win to his son. And MMA pros have now given their reaction to the victory.
Reaction
“What an amazing job Francis did tonight, displayed a complete MMA game. Great kicks, great takedowns. It feels good to see him shine. Wow congratulations Champ, I see you,” Jon Jones
“Francis Ngannou vs Jon Jones. That’s what I want. That’s what you want. Repost this now. That’s some king [stuff]. They tried to underpay him but he had the balls to find his way out. Respect Francis #Kobe. I love Jon Jones and Stipe Miocic. But don’t forget the last time Stipe fought he was KOd by Francis Ngannou. So no matter who wins that fight, the top heavyweight is Francis,” Jake Paul
“So happy for Francis. After everything he been through. Massive love to him and his family. He did it for Kobe,” Modestas Bukauskas
Further Reactions
“Prayig for a cross promotion scrap! One can always hope cooler heads could prevail in negotiations,” Aljamain Sterling
“Yeah, he would of beat the bricks off [Anthony Joshua in MMA],” Demetrious Johnson
“Y’all must’ve forgot bro!” [2:30]. Flawless, that was a beautiful performance. He took one leg kick and dodged the flurry. Eventually timed the right hand [punch], shot the [double-leg takedown], kept him there and knocked him out. Proud, inspired and just happy to watch him do his thing. Because he’s gone through so much in his career… People are prisoners of the moment, they forget who this man is.” [4:36-5:15],” Israel Adesanya
“For my money, Aspinall, Francis, Jones-those guys all live in a bubble. I don’t think that you can separate one from the other, because he has not been competing in mixed martial arts. I think tonight, Francis Ngannou cemented himself as still one of the greatest heavyweights in the world, if not the best heavyweight fighter in the world right now,” Daniel Cormier
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