After knocking out Russian Denis Goltsov in his final match of the season, new PFL heavyweight champion Henan Ferreira believes he has done enough to qualify for a fight with former UFC champion Francis Ngannou, who plans to make his league debut next year.
“I’m the new PFL heavyweight champion,” the Brazilian said in a post-fight interview. “Francis, I’m here! I’m waiting for you! Let’s make this fight happen.”
That the winner of the heavyweight championship bout would be a prime candidate to fight The Predator was revealed the day before by the PFL’s head of European operations, Dan Hardy, who is also the league’s top commentator.
After leaving the UFC earlier this year, Francis Ngannou signed with the PFL league and was named head of the organization’s African division. A month ago, the Cameroonian heavyweight made his professional boxing debut, losing a ten round split decision to Tyson Fury, knocking out the reigning world boxing champion in the third round.
By finishing Goltsov in the second round, Henan Ferreira earned his third straight knockout victory. If the newly crowned PFL champion fails to secure a fight with Francis Ngannou, his next opponent will be American Ryan Bader, who holds the Bellator heavyweight title.
According to the plan of the PFL league, which a few days earlier officially announced the purchase of Bellator MMA, the organizations will hold a joint event next year in which champions in all weight classes will compete.
Source: https://fighttime.ru/news/item/33241-chempion-pfl-khenan-ferrejra-brosil-vyzov-frensisu-ngannu.html?rand=19907
