The Professional Fighters League (PFL) is in Saudi Arabia for today's PFL: Battle of the Giants Super Fights card. In the main event, former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou meets PFL heavyweight tournament winner Renan Ferreira. Meanwhile, in the PFL co-main event, Bellator women's featherweight champion Cris Cyborg takes on two-time PFL tournament champion Larissa Pacheco at 145 pounds. PFL Super Fights titles are on the line in every contest.

Today's PFL fight card takes place at The Mayadeen in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The event's main card airs at 4:00 p.m. ET on ESPN+ PPV, followed by prelims at 1:30 p.m. ET on ESPN+.

Ngannou (17-3) has not fought inside the cage since scoring a unanimous decision over Ciryl Gane in January 2022. Ngannou left the UFC as reigning champion after he and the promotion were unable to agree on a contract.

At the time, Ngannou said: “In this contract I am not free. I am not an independent contractor in this Agreement. In this contract I have no rights, I have no power. I give you all power and I have seen how you can use that power in the past.”

During his time in the UFC, Ngannou achieved a 12-2 record with two six-fight winning streaks that were broken by decision setbacks to Stipe Miocic and Derrick Lewis.

Ngannou signed with the PFL in May 2023. Since then he has had two lucrative boxing matches, losing a decision to Tyson Fury in October 2023 and being knocked out by Anthony Joshua in March this year.

Ferreira (13-3-0-3) is enjoying the best run of his MMA career. In November 2023, he earned $1 million for winning the PFL heavyweight tournament with a knockout victory over Denis Goltsov. Then, in February, he scored a 21-second knockout victory over Bellator heavyweight champion Ryan Bader to win the PFL Champion vs. Bellator Champion super belt.

Cyborg (27-2-0-1) has not lost since losing the UFC featherweight title to Amanda Nunes in December 2018. The 39-year-old has since won seven straight times, with five of those bouts ending in stoppage. Cyborg last fought in October 2023, when she scored a TKO against Cat Zingano to defend her Bellator title. 22 of Cyborg's wins were stoppages, giving her a completion rate of 81 percent.

Pacheco (23-4) is undefeated since losing a decision to top-ranked UFC fighter Kayla Harrison in the finals of the 2019 PFL lightweight tournament. The 30-year-old is 10-0 since that setback and has won two PFL tournament titles. One of those tournament wins came in 2022 when she defeated Harrison. Pacheco has scored seven knockouts during her ten-fight winning streak. Nineteen of the 30-year-old's victories were stoppages. Pacheco has an 83 percent completion rate. Pacheco last fought in November 2023 when she defeated Marina Mokhnatkina to win her second PFL tournament.

PFL Battle of the Giants winners

Zafar Mohsen: Zafar Mohsen finished off Husein Kadimagomaev and had a more effective striking, which was enough for him to earn a decision victory in the featherweight bout that preceded the three title fights on Saturday's PFL fight card.

Paul Hughes: When the PFL booked Paul Hughes against former Bellator champion AJ McKee, there were some who thought the matchup would be too big a step up for the former Cage Warriors champion. Hughes answered these and other questions with an incredible performance on Saturday.

Hughes' striking was on point throughout the fight. He mixed up his targets and techniques and was close to ending the competition in the final seconds of the first verse. Hughes has strength and speed and his fight IQ is impressive. The 27-year-old also fared well against McKee's wrestling, fending off takedowns and not accepting positions when McKee gained an advantage.

Hughes is ready to face tough competition in the PFL's lightweight division.

Raufeon Stots: Raufeon Stots had a slow start against Marcos Breno. Breno controlled everything in the first four minutes of the contest. However, Stots weathered the storm and got his wrestling going. This grappling and ground control led to him suffering a rear-naked choke submission in the third round.

Makkasharip Zaynukov: Makkasharip Zaynukov showed a dominant performance against Dedrek Sanders. Zaynukov showed he could pack a punch early on by mixing up his targets and techniques, but it was on the mat that he shined. His takedowns and control were on point in the first two rounds of the fight. Then, in the third stanza, Zaynukov opened his striking on the mat, looking for the finish, which didn't come.

Ibragim Ibragimov: Ibragim Ibragimov did his thing against Nacho Campos. This thing dominated the mat by wrestling, staying focused and looking for opportunities for strikes and submissions.

The 20-year-old from Dagestan showed a lot of composure and skill in the featherweight fight as he overwhelmed his opponent Nacho Campos. His style and approach will be familiar to those who have followed the development and growth of MMA in Dagestan.

Despite his young age, Ibragimov appears ready for a rise in competition. With the decision win he moved to 8-0 and lived up to his nickname “Mauler”.

Taha Bendaoud: Taha Bendaoud wanted to continue his fight against Tariq Ismail. He couldn't do that. Ismail's takedowns and ground attacks were too much for Bendaoud, who bled from cuts on his face as the fight progressed. However, Bendaoud's active guard paid off in the second round as he grabbed a triangle choke when Ismail became sloppy with his striking.

PFL Battle of the Giants Losers

Husein Kadimamagayev: Husein Kadimagomaev was a big betting favorite over Zafar Mohsen, but he couldn't get his wrestling going during the three-round featherweight bout. Without his wrestling, Kadimagomaev found himself on the wrong end of a decision.

AJ McKee: AJ McKee suffered the second loss of his MMA career on Saturday when Paul Hughes defeated him via split decision. McKee struggled with the pressure Hughes put on him during the three-round fight. McKee did not fare well when Hughes forced him on the back foot, and his wrestling was largely ineffective against the younger and less experienced fighter.

McKee's most recent loss came against Patrício Pitbull in a rematch for the Bellator featherweight title in 2022. Saturday's loss ended McKee's streak of four consecutive victories.

Marcos Breno: Marcos Breno had a fantastic first four minutes of his fight against Raufeon Stots. He was very effective with his punches, throwing everything with power and appearing to catch stots several times. He did an excellent job of landing on the body. However, Breno was unable to keep Stots on his heels, and as Stots established his wrestling game, Breno struggled and was eventually forced to submit in the third round.

Dedrek Sanders: Dedrek Sanders had no answer to the grappling and ground control of Makkasharip Zaynukov. As he tried to follow up with his punch, he reached too far inward and threw himself off balance.

Nacho Campos: Nacho Campos had no answer to the wrestling and ground control of Ibragim Ibragimov.

Tariq Ismail: Tariq Ismail looked good early on against Taha Bendaoud, but he might have let his confidence get the best of him.

Ismail's takedowns, ground control and ground attacks seemed to have him on the path to victory, but he left himself room for a triangle choke against the fence, and when Bendaoud found that opportunity, he ended the fight.

PFL Battle of the Giants fight card

PFL Battle of the Giants PPV card

Francis Ngannou vs Renan Ferreira

Cris Cyborg vs. Larissa Pacheco

Johnny Eblen vs. Fabian Edwards

Zafar Mohsen defeats Husein Kadimagomaev by unanimous decision (30-27 x 3)

Paul Hughes vs. AJ McKee via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)

front matter

Raufeon Stots defeated Marcos Breno via submission at 3:01 of round 3 (rear-naked choke)

Makkasharip Zaynukov defeats Dedrek Sanders by unanimous decision (30-26)

Ibragim Ibragimov defeats Nacho Campos by unanimous decision (30-27 x 3)

Taha Bendaoud defeats Tariq Ismail via submission at 3:51 of round 2 (triangle choke)

Video highlights

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