Ngannou KOs Ferreira in 1st round of MMA return

"The Predator" is back.

Former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou made his long-awaited return to mixed martial arts and knocked out Renan Ferreira at the 3:32 mark of the first round in the main event of PFL Super Fights: Battle of the Giants on Saturday in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Ngannou captured the PFL heavyweight super fights championship with the victory.

It was Ngannou's PFL debut and his first MMA bout since January 2022. The Cameroonian left the UFC in January 2023, signed with the PFL later that year, and then crossed over to boxing for two lucrative fights against Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua, both of which he lost.

Ngannou was dominant in his return to MMA - and he took full advantage of the different rule set. He took Ferreira down a minute into the first round, and after a couple of minutes of grappling, he began opening up with ground-and-pound. Ngannou rained down heavy punches as Ferreira covered up against the fence, and he eventually rendered his opponent unconscious, forcing referee Dan Miragliotta to step in.

"I knew I didn't miss a step," Ngannou said of his return to MMA after the two losses in boxing. "I wasn't worried about it, because as soon as I walked in the gym for MMA, I knew that everything was still there."

It was also Ngannou's first fight since his 15-month-old son, Kobe, tragically died in April. Ngannou was emotional as he embraced his team after the victory.

"I can't think about anything other than my son, Kobe," Ngannou said. "I took this fight because of him. ... I hope they can remember his name."

Ngannou's last MMA bout before Saturday was a unanimous decision win over Ciryl Gane in his first UFC heavyweight title defense. That was the final fight on Ngannou's UFC contract. His deal expired a year later, making Ngannou a free agent and allowing him to explore options outside the promotion. In May 2023, Ngannou signed a lucrative deal with the PFL.

Then, that October, Ngannou made his professional boxing debut against then-WBC heavyweight champion Fury in a non-title fight. Ngannou was a huge underdog but knocked Fury down and took him to a split decision.

Ngannou made his second appearance in the ring in March against Joshua, losing via brutal second-round knockout.

Against Ferreira, Ngannou scored his first stoppage win since beating Stipe Miocic for the UFC heavyweight crown in March 2021. The 38-year-old has now won seven in a row in MMA and hasn't suffered a loss in the sport since 2018.

Ferreira, the 2023 PFL heavyweight champion, saw his four-fight winning streak end. The 34-year-old Brazilian won three straight fights by knockout last year to win the title and then scored a 21-second stoppage of Bellator heavyweight champion Ryan Bader in February at the PFL vs. Bellator: Champs event.

When asked about what's next, Ngannou didn't have a firm answer. He could either make his second appearance in the PFL or go back to boxing for another big payday. Regardless of which direction he chooses, Ngannou was adamant he has a lot left to do as a fighter.

"I think my next move in combat sports all depends on me, how I feel, how I deal with my life right now," Ngannou said. "But I always thought I still had a lot to give in combat sports, and hopefully I keep thinking that way, I keep that thought alive."