Former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou is set to return to MMA

Former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou is set to return to MMA when he makes his Professional Fighters League debut in October, stepping back inside the cage after a pair of high-profile paydays in boxing.

Ngannou fights 2023 PFL heavyweight champion Renan Ferreira on a PFL pay-per-view super fight card on Oct. 19. The PFL did not disclose a location for the bout, though Saudi Arabia purchased a stake in the league last year.

“Renan is a great fighter, I have been watching him for years,” Ngannou said. “I have been studying him for years, in fact I’ve been telling people to watch this guy. He’s quite unique, he’s athletic, fast and he showed that in his last fight.”

Ngannou has not fought in an MMA bout since he successfully defended the UFC heavyweight title against Ciryl Gane at UFC 270 in January 2022 before he left the promotion in a contentious contract dispute. Ngannou was still UFC heavyweight champion when contract talks collapsed once the African fighter said his demands for health insurance and personal sponsorships were rejected. UFC President Dana White stripped Ngannou of the belt in January 2023.

The 37-year-old Ngannou, who defeated Stipe Miocic in 2021 to win the UFC crown, signed with PFL in May 2023 as part of a deal that made him chairman and equity owner in PFL Africa.

While the PFL has a unique MMA competition format that includes a regular season, a postseason and a championship event, Ngannou will compete only on the promotion’s super fight cards.

He took time off from MMA fights to turn his attention to the squared circle and a pair of heavyweights in Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua. Ngannou not only shockingly took Fury the 10-round distance, he came within one judge’s scoreboard of pulling off the upset in an October 2023 loss. He knocked down Fury in the third round and challenged him throughout a defeat that showed Ngannou was much more dangerous than any other MMA fighter that has made the recently fashionable move into boxing. The result sparked interest in Ngannou as a legitimate contender in the heavyweight division, which has been repeatedly hurt by promotional clashes and ego-driven disputes during an era featuring impressive talents who haven’t fought each other as often as they should.

Joshua floored Ngannou in the first round and again in the second with right hands for the easy win in March.

Both of Ngannou’s bouts were in Saudi Arabia, where PFL ran a card earlier this year. The oil-rich kingdom’s purchase was relatively modest — a reported $100 million — but even in a minority role, Saudi-backed SRJ Sports Investments ensured mixed-martial arts events will take place in that country.

Ferreira has fought eight times since Ngannou’s last MMA bout, including February’s 21-second victory over longtime Bellator champion Ryan Bader.

“This is the fight of my life,” Ferreira said. “I am preparing like never before to bring Ngannou a whole lot of problems.”

Also on the October card, Cris “Cyborg” Justino fights Larissa Pacheco.