After Francis Ngannou’s first round demolition in his MMA Return out in Saudi Arabia, fans ask is the best heavyweight now outside the UFC?
Francis Ngannou was at his devastating best when he dispatched Renan Ferreira in the very first round, and fans are all clamouring to see him compete with the best. However, all the best reside within the UFC whom have had a turbulent relationship with the Cameroonian. One man that can potentially resolve the friction is Turki Alalshikh. The man has been at the forefront of combat sports in Saudi Arabia and has impacted the world of Boxing in particular massively. Alongside immense promos it is one event that really stands out, the 5v5 where he pitched promoters Eddie Hearn and Frank Warren against each other with 5 of their best fighters competing on one card. An idea that could be replicated in spectacular fashion in MMA.
Ngannou has a great relationship with Alalshikh as he is one of the main men behind making the boxing dreams of the Heavyweight a reality even though he suffered a pair of defeats in the ring. UFC President Dana White also boasts a great relationship with the Saudi Arabian after a sensational UFC Fight Night and the Riyadh Season sponsorship of the amazing UFC 306 event at The Sphere. Below is a pitch for a 5 vs 5 between the two premier promotions in the MMA world the UFC and the PFL.
Heavyweight – Tom Aspinall vs Francis Ngannou
What would be a mouth watering main event is Tom Aspinall vs Francis Ngannou. Aspinall the current UFC interim champion has looked untouchable since joining the UFC and many believe he is the man that would eliminate that unbeaten record of the great Jon Jones, if they were to ever fight. That if is a huge if as fans expect the retirement of Jones to take place after his UFC 309 main event against Stipe Miocic whom himself is staring down the barrel of retirement. Aspinall has already beaten many of his fellow heavyweight top contenders in destructive fashion so with him possibly claiming the full title contenders could be hard to come by. Ngannou never lost his UFC title he walked away, so the question remains who is the baddest man alive, Tom Aspinall or Francis Ngannou?
Light Heavyweight – Alex Pereira vs Impa Kasanganay / Dovlet Yagshimuradov
One of the sports biggest superstars Alex Pereira is well on his way to claiming UFC fighter of the year for 2024. Three unbelievable title defences and terrifying knockouts have landed him atop of many fans Pound for Pound rankings. One of the few fighters to hold UFC belts in two divisions many believe he is the man that can claim three belts with a move up to heavyweight at some point in the future. ‘Poatan’ has to feature on this dream card and he needs an opponent.
Since joining the PFL in 2023 Impa Kasanganay has gone 8-1 and looked excellent and while also winning the PFL 205lbs tournament. Kasanganay is the leading competitor and has another PFL final in November awaiting him in the ‘SmartCage’ will be Dovlet Yagshimuradov. The vastly experienced Turkmenistani light heavyweight is 3-0 this year on his way to the 205lbs final located in Riyadh Saudi Arabia. He can announce himself this year, furthermore with a nation behind him he could become the man crossing over at 205lbs on this fantasy card.
Welterweight – Shavkat Rakhmonov / Belal Muhammed vs Magomedov Umalatov / Shamil Musaev
Belal Muhammed surprised the world back in July when he dominated Leon Edwards in Manchester and claimed the welterweight strap. He is set to return at this December at UFC 310 against Shavkat Rakhmonov, the 18-0 Kazakh is one of the most frightening tests at 170lbs. One of the very few fighters on the roster to hold a 100% finish rate and many believe he is the uncrowned king at 170lbs. However, if Muhammed is able to take that 0 then many believe he could pinch the fighter of the year award away from the previously mentioned Alex Pereira.
Over in PFL their welterweight crown will be claimed only a matter of weeks before at the end of November. Competing in the tournament final is a pair of elite Russians, Shamil Musaev and Magomed Umalatov both boasting unbeaten records. Musaev finished former Bellator Champion Logan Storley in his PFL debut in April and has not looked back. Now 19-0-1 he aims to give his countryman Umalatov his first career defeat. Umalatov is 8-0 in the PFL and has been in formidable since joining in 2021. With three of the four welterweights mentioned being unbeaten a crossover fight between promotions is bound to excite the masses.
Featherweight – Ilia Topuria / Max Holloway vs Brendan Loughnane / Timur Khizriev
One of the UFC’s most competitive title fights takes place at UFC 308. Newly crowned champion Ilia Topuria makes his first defence against fan favourite and future Hall of Famer Max Holloway. Topuria has taken the sport by storm and won the belt in February in brutal fashion by knocking out Alexander Volkanovski, whom looked unbeatable at 145lbs until running into the Spaniard. For Holloway he will always be considered one of featherweight’s greatest champions and his resume speaks for itself. Since losing the belt to Volkanovski he’s been awaiting a chance to reclaim gold, now with a new champion his chance arrives. Either of these two huge stars in the UFC would be a welcome addition to the 5v5.
The PFL has always had a strong 145lbs division and that is mainly down to one man, Brendan Loughnane. The Mancunian was publicly turned down by Dana White on the contender series but that was merely the start of his journey. He joined the PFL in 2019 and is now 12-2 in the organisation, he has already won the featherweight tournament once and this November he aims to become two time tournament winner. He is England’s best fighter outside of the UFC. Meeting him in the final will be an unbeaten Dagestani in Timur Khizriev. At 17-0 his immense wrestling prowess has earned him his spot in the final. However, for all his wins he lacks in his finishing instincts, with 13 of his 17 wins coming via decision.
Women’s Flyweight – Valentina Shevchenko vs Dakota Ditcheva / Talia Santos
Valentina Shevchenko reclaimed her flyweight title at UFC 306 at The Sphere. She did so in gruelling fashion dominating Alexa Grasso for all five rounds. Her only defeats in the UFC have come to Grasso and the all time great Amanda Nunes. Her reign in the UFC has been phenomenal and she is the first fighter to get all 8 rubies on her UFC title belt.Two contenders that could raise her game reside within the PFL. Talia Santos was razor close to taking the belt from Shevchenko when the pair fought in 2022. Since the defeat she has moved across to the PFL and found excellent form this year in the flyweight tournament. She will compete at the end of November in the tournament finale against a potential superstar out of Manchester.
Dakota Ditcheva is the hottest prospect in women’s MMA and has proved herself to be truly sensational inside the cage. At 13-0 the 26 year old is a finishing machine with 11 knockouts on her record. Last year Ditcheva won the PFL Europe Tournament with ease and 2024 has seen her electric form continue. Three first round knockouts this year on her way to the final prove why she is the best female prospect in the sport. Her test against Santos is undoubtedly her toughest opponent to date, however if she’s victorious it’ll prove she is truly ready for the elite.
