Francis Ngannou made a powerful statement in his PFL debut on Saturday night, stopping Renan Ferreira in the first round during the Super Fights pay-per-view event in Riyadh.
Ngannou’s dominant victory has sparked intrigue about his next move, with fans and followers eagerly eyeing a potential showdown with UFC heavyweight champion Jon Jones.
Ngannou has been vocal about his desire to face Jones, stating that a fight between them is what could finally satisfy his competitive drive. Both fighters have expressed interest in a cross-promotional bout, though logistical challenges make it unlikely at this time.
However, the debate over who holds the title of the true heavyweight champion continues to linger. After the fight with Ferreira, Ngannou reaffirmed his long-standing wish to face Jones, telling the media:
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“You know it’s a fight I’ve always asked for... It’s been 4 years or more that I’ve been asking for this fight. So if in the future there’s an opportunity to do this fight, I think if I only ever had one fight to be in, and I had to choose, it would be this one.” [H/t:Bloody Elbow]
Conor McGregor lost $500k as Francis Ngannou secured a vicious KO win over Renan Ferreira
Conor McGregor is facing a tough financial blow after losing a hefty $500,000 bet on the PFL debut of Francis Ngannou. McGregor had placed the bet on underdog Renan Ferreira to pull off an upset and knock out Ngannou, a risky wager that could have netted him $1.7 million if successful.
However, Ngannou lived up to his reputation and delivered a first-round knockout, crushing McGregor’s hopes for a big payday.
The Irish champion, who recently won $1.2 million from a bet on Alex Pereira at UFC 307, was confident in his betting streak. He publicly shared his wager in a since-deleted post, where he stated:
"500k on Ferreira to win by KO at 12/5... the Mac is back with his winning bets."
Unfortunately for McGregor, Ferreira was no match for the Cameroonian powerhouse.
Despite the loss, McGregor maintained his signature bravado, telling fans:
“THE RICH GET RICHER I’LL GET THAT BACK.”