The UFC’s heavyweight division has been in a bit of chaos recently, leaving fans and fighters alike wondering who the true champion really is. But while the UFC sorts things out, some argue that the real heavyweight champion may be getting crowned elsewhere.
The Professional Fighters League (PFL) is set to host a major clash on October 19 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, where Francis Ngannou, the former UFC heavyweight champion who never lost his title in the Octagon, will face Renan Ferreira, the PFL’s 2023 tournament winner. The fight is being dubbed the “Battle of the Giants,” and there’s a lot of buzz surrounding it.
PFL’s CEO, Peter Murray, is confident that the winner of this bout will be recognized as the true heavyweight king in the world of MMA. He’s not shy about making that claim, especially with the uncertainty still lingering in the UFC’s heavyweight ranks.
While the PFL gears up for this big event, the UFC has its own issues to deal with regarding its heavyweight title. Jon Jones was crowned the new champion after he defeated Ciryl Gane in March last year, but an injury has kept him from defending the belt since then. Meanwhile, Tom Aspinall has made a name for himself, winning and defending the interim title while Jones has been sidelined. However, a fight between Jones and Aspinall doesn’t seem to be on the horizon, especially with Jones hinting at retirement by the end of the year.
Is Winner of Francis Ngannou vs. Renan Ferreira MMA’s Best Heavyweight?
Before hanging up his gloves, Jones is scheduled to fight Stipe Miocic, a fighter many consider the greatest heavyweight of all time due to his multiple title reigns and record-breaking defenses. However, Miocic hasn’t fought since being knocked out by Ngannou in 2021, adding more uncertainty to the division.
The common thread in all this is that none of these fighters—Jones, Aspinall, or Miocic—were able to dethrone Ngannou when he was still in the UFC. Ngannou’s departure from the promotion after his last title defense in 2022 was a controversial one, but many fans still see him as the true champion, even as he took on Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua in the world of boxing during his time away from the cage.
Ngannou Still The Baddest of Them All?
Ngannou’s move to the PFL has only added to his mystique. He’s signed a deal that not only includes pay-per-view fights but also allows him to launch a new division in Africa. For Peter Murray, this solidifies Ngannou’s status as the rightful heavyweight champion in MMA.
“This is the biggest heavyweight fight in MMA of the year,” Murray told Bloody Elbow in an exclusive interview:
“It’s in Riyadh, it has all the makings, and the co-main event with Cris Cyborg against Larissa Pacheco, who is a two-time PFL champion, so it’s a big night.”
Murray also touched on the ongoing situation in the UFC, saying, “[The Jones and Aspinall situation] is their business but I think it speaks volumes. Francis is the heavyweight MMA champion of the world and we’re now going to see what he has. I don’t think he’s lost a step but we’ll see.”
Murray isn’t underestimating Francis Ngannou opponent, Renan Ferreira, either:
“He’s in top condition but Renan Ferreira is there and it’s nothing but respect that you see Francis giving Renan. We’ve seen what Renan can do, he’s young, big, strong and this is the battle of the giants, but the subtext is ‘brace for impact,’” he added.
As the date of the PFL showdown approaches, MMA fans are eagerly anticipating what could be one of the biggest fights of the year, but the argument will always be up in the air with Jon Jones leading the charge as the UFC heavyweight champion.
Do you agree with PFL boss Peter Murray? Let us know in the comments!
Featured image credits to Embed from Getty Images
