After spending some time in boxing, former UFC champion Francis Ngannou is now set to return to action, making his debut in the PFL on October 19 in the ‘holy land’ of Saudi Arabia against heavyweight king Renan Ferreira. Though the fight is still a few weeks away, it’s already the talk of the town, with many labeling it the ‘battle of the giants.’ Oddsmakers are predicting a win for ‘The Predator,’ making Ferreira the underdog.

However, Ngannou’s coach, Erick Nicksick, has a different perspective. He views ‘Brazilian sensation’ as a dangerous threat to his fighter and shared his thoughts on this in a recent interview with ESPN.

Coach Erick Nicksick Sees Ferreira’s “Athleticism” as a Challenge for Francis Ngannou

Since his debut in MMA, 34-year-old Renan Ferreira has derailed everyone on his path to the title, including big names like Maurice Greene and former champion Denis Goltsov. Out of his 13 wins, 11 have come by knockout, putting him almost on par with his opponent Francis Ngannou, who has 12 knockouts out of his 17 wins. This resemblance was recently echoed by ESPN’s Brett Okamoto when he asked Coach Erick Nicksick, “Do you feel like you’re meeting your equal in terms of athleticism in this fight?” Nicksick agreed, stating, “I think Renan is very athletic, but I feel like we have more ways to win. Athleticism? Man, I think they’re both right up there.”

The coach also pointed out Ferreira’s towering height of 6’8″, which could pose a problem for Ngannou, adding, “Especially a guy who’s like 6’9″ and can do a backflip, right? This dude is insanely athletic. And he’s only getting better.” Nicksick went on to emphasize that Ferreira’s continuous improvement, combined with his athleticism and solid camp, makes him a dangerous opponent. He concluded, “That’s the scary thing. You expect to see something out of this athlete, but he’s at a great team and a great camp, and they’re shoring up all those things in the meantime.”

Francis Ngannou’s coach didn’t stop there, in the same interview, he took a dig at UFC CEO Dana White and his favorite contender, Jon Jones, for choosing 41-year-old Stipe Miocic for his first title defense.

Francis Ngannou’s Coach Takes a Dig at Jon Jones

Since the announcement of the highly anticipated Jon Jones vs. Stipe Miocic bout, criticism has poured in, and for good reason. The elephant in the room is Tom Aspinall—an interim heavyweight champion whose demand for a unification fight has been completely overlooked by Dana White. Many see this as White playing defense, keeping Jones’s legacy intact by not risking a fight with the younger, in-form Aspinall.

Adding fuel to the fire, Erick Nicksick recently threw shade at this fight, stating: “I feel like Renan Ferreira now is a bigger win than if you were to fight Stipe again, based on where they’re at in their careers. The name Stipe on your resume is huge, but considering the quality of wins right now in their careers, I think Renan is a bigger win than what Stipe would be.”

This statement is a direct hit at the legacy of Jon Jones, questioning the value of beating Miocic at this stage. Nicksick’s point? While Miocic’s name shines brightly on paper, Ferreira’s victory holds more weight considering recent performances and where fighters currently stand.

So, what’s your take—has Dana White been keeping Jones away from legitimate threats to protect his status? And will Renan Ferreira’s rise actually be the greater storyline? Drop your thoughts below; let’s see if the UFC is really avoiding a fight with more bite.