Francis Ngannou challenged Renan Ferreira for the Super Fight heavyweight title in the main event at “Battle of the Giants: Brace for Impact” on Saturday at the Mayadeen in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
“The Predator” displayed a well-rounded skillset, taking Ferreira to the ground early and surviving a triangle attempt before earning a victory via ground-and-pound in the first round. The former UFC champ then broke down in tears inside the cage while dedicating his win to his late son Kobe, who died earlier this year at 15 months old.
“I can’t think of anything than my son Kobe. I wanted to fight for him… I hope they can remember his name, because without Kobe we wouldn’t be here tonight. I wouldn’t have fight,” Ngannou said.
“In combat sports all depends on me, how I feel. How I deal with life right now. But otherwise… I always thought I still have a lot to give to combat sports. And I hope I keep thinking that way, I keep that thought alive… I just want to say, please remember my son Kobe. I dedicate this to him. This is for Kobe.”
Ngannou exited the UFC in January 2023 following a lengthy contract dispute. While he signed with the PFL soon after, his title win over Ferreira marked his debut in the promotion. The Cameroonian-born Frenchman is currently on a seven-fight winning streak overall against top tier competition that includes six finishes.
