Former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou made a triumphant return to MMA last weekend in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, putting both his past struggles and his 6’8″ opponent, PFL heavyweight Renan Ferreira, behind him. ‘The Predator’ overwhelmed his opponent with a first-round finish, utilizing a blend of powerful wrestling and striking skills. This approach, recently described as the “evasive path to victory,” put Ferreira to slumber and ended his four-fight winning streak in the Professional Fighters League (PFL).

Following a two-year absence, Francis Ngannou’s long-awaited return to the cage generated significant intrigue from fans and media alike, with many wondering what strategy ‘The Predator’ would employ. Ariel Helwani echoed this sentiment on his podcast, where he asked Ngannou, “What was the game plan to try to take him down so early?”

Ngannou explained that there wasn’t a specific strategy to take Ferreira down early, but rather, he seized the opportunity when it presented itself. The Cameroonian clarified, “He was part of the plan because, like, even though he has a good ground game, what I do know for sure is that he doesn’t have great wrestling. So if we got on the ground and I was on top, I knew I could manage and give him a rough time. Also, one thing that played into the takedown was timing. He’s got that right hand, which is almost automatic.”

‘The Predator’ elaborated on his game plan and what led to his victory over Ferreira. He added, “You just need to press the trigger to let that right hand go and then have good timing to do whatever can be effective, whether it’s a punch or a takedown.”

Ferreira had been hyping himself up before the fight, claiming, “Francis has had a tough year… I’m going to be his biggest problem yet.” However, after being swiftly sent into the shadow realm by Francis Ngannou, Ferreira’s tune quickly changed.

Renan Ferreira reflects on his defeat against Ngannou

Since the announcement of the PFL Battle of Giants headline event, the MMA community was divided into two camps. One group is impressed by Renan Ferreira’s immense strength, considering Ngannou’s inactivity in MMA for more than two years. The other group consists of those who have already witnessed Francis Ngannou’s tremendous power. Included in this first group are notable fighters such as Jon Jones and Conor McGregor, who anticipated ‘The Predator’s’ defeat.

Even Ferreira was taken aback by the result. After regrouping from his defeat, he shared an official statement on his Instagram story, giving all credit to Francis Ngannou for his victory. Ferreira wrote, “Hey guys, Renan ‘Problema’ here, a bit broken. Yesterday wasn’t a good day at work, but I’m very happy with all our dedication and everything that developed through our work. I’ve always had the mindset of never losing and fighting against any lack of dedication and commitment, and thank God I have a clean conscience. I worked very hard, showed up well to the fight, and was happy to return.”

What’s your take on Francis Ngannou’s performance? Do you think he merely took advantage of the opportunities that arose, or did he actively create the openings that allowed him to trap Renan Ferreira? Drop your opinion below.