RIYADH, Saudi Arabia – There are few matchups in MMA that can provide a more stunning visual than Francis Ngannou vs. Renan Ferreira, and that was on display for the final time Friday ahead of the pair battling in the PFL: Battle of the Giants main event.
Ngannou (17-3) and Ferreira (13-3) got a final look at each other at ceremonial weigh-ins with an intense staredown in which they literally went head to head. The scene sets the stage for their inaugural PFL heavyweight super fight title clash at The Mayadeen (ESPN+ pay-per-view, DAZN).
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It will be former UFC heavyweight champion Ngannou’s first MMA fight since January 2022 as he returns in a new promotion against 2023 season champion Ferreira, who is fresh off a 21-second knockout of Ryan Bader in February.
Check out the video above to see Ngannou and Ferreira have their final faceoff at ceremonial weigh-ins.
Watch highlights as Falkirk score three first-half goals to ease past Hamilton Academical and move five points clear at the top of the Scottish Championship.
Cris Cyborg and Larissa Pacheco meet Saturday in the co-main event of PFL: Battle of the Giants at The Mayadeen in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.. Check out this quick breakdown of the matchup from MMA Junkie analyst Dan Tom.
Cris Cyborg vs. Larissa Pacheco PFL Super Fights preview
Cyborg, the reigning Bellator women’s champion at 145 pounds, is competing for the first time in a year, when she defeated Cat Zingano by first-round TKO at Bellator 300. Cyborg, 39, is a former UFC, Strikeforce and Invicta FC champion. She enters on a seven-fight winning streak, which includes five consecutive defenses of her Bellator title. Cyborg hasn’t lost since a December 2018 first-round knockout against Amanda Nunes at UFC 232. … Pacheco, 30, is coming off back-to-back PFL championship seasons at lightweight and featherweight. She brings a 10-fight winning streak into the matchup with Cyborg, which includes her 2022 lightweight title win over Kayla Harrison.
Cris Cyborg vs. Larissa Pacheco expert pick, prediction
2024 PFL Superfights PPV: Battle of the Giants at the Mayadeen Theater in Diriyah, Saudi Arabia, Thursday, Oct. 17, 2024. (Alvaro Martinez / PFL)
Both fighters have continued to find success since their stints with the UFC, particularly Pachecho – who was able to end her series with Kayla Harrison with a win.
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Given that there is so much at stake for each woman’s legacies, I wouldn’t be surprised to see a more measured approach from both parties.
Cyborg, of course, most notably lost an important fight to Amanda Nunes due to getting over-aggressive, so don’t be shocked to see the former Strikeforce champion continue her subsequent trend of grappling-friendly approaches (especially when looking at Pacheco’s willingness to work from her back in previous fights).
Although Cyborg has also had success striking in recent professional boxing bouts, I’m not sure how eager she’ll be to exchange considering Pacheco’s counter-striking acumen. In fact, I believe that countering – akin to the main event – will be the major dynamic at play while this fight is on the feet.
For that reason, I’ll semi-reluctantly take the more experienced and tactically flexible fighter despite the age differential at hand.
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Pacheco’s damaging style will be potent early, but the official pick is for Cyborg to win a competitive decision (with a strong potential for earning a stoppage down the stretch) by being the more effective grappler.
Cris Cyborg vs. Larissa Pacheco odds
Despite the oddsmakers opening this as a pick’em fight, public money has pushed the younger fighter to favorite odds, listing Pacheco (-130) and Cyborg (+102) via FanDuel.
Cris Cyborg vs. Larissa Pacheco start time, how to watch
As the co-main event, Cyborg and Pacheco are expected to walk out to the cage at approximately 6:15 p.m. ET. The fight will stream on ESPN+ pay-per-view in the U.S. and DAZN pay-per-view internationally.
A.J. McKee has some business to handle on Saturday but if all goes well it looks like he’ll finally get the fight he’s been chasing for over a year.
At the upcoming PFL: Battle of the Giants event, McKee faces fast-rising prospect Paul Hughes in the first bout on the pay-per-view main card but it seemed like a showdown against Bellator lightweight champion Usman Nurmagomedov was inevitable. An injury knocked McKee out of the Bellator Lightweight Grand Prix, which prevented him from chasing the fight back then, but a recent encounter with Usman’s cousin and coach Khabib Nurmagomedov gave him the news he’s been waiting to hear.
“That’s the fight everyone wants is Usman and McKee,” McKee told MMA Fighting. “I think that’s what’s on the roster next. That’s what everybody wants and I don’t think there’s any other fights to make.
“I was down at [Usman’s] fight in San Diego and Khabib [Nurmagomedov] walks by and says ‘see you in Dubai.’ I’m like I’ll see you in Dubai so it looks like they’re pushing for it and I’m pushing for it. So it looks like we’re going to make it happen. There’s really no other fight to make happen.”
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Since moving to lightweight, McKee has gone undefeated with a perfect 4-0 record including a lightning quick finish over PFL favorite Clay Collard back in February.
This time around he’s facing an up and comer in Hughes, who just signed with PFL as a free agent earlier this year and only has one fight under his belt with the promotion. Going from a win over a journeyman like Bobby King to a fight against arguably the No. 1 contender in the lightweight division might seem like an almost unrealistic step up in competition.
McKee can’t get inside Hughes’ head to know what he’s thinking but he plans on showing him there are levels to this game when they meet on Saturday.
“He really hasn’t dealt with any pressure,” McKee said. “He’s just been kind of walking through guys. How’s he going to react when things get a little nitty gritty and sticky? I’m not one to back down. So I’m going to be in his face the entire time. That’s what we’re going to have to see. How does Paul Hughes react when things aren’t going his way? What is he going to be capable of in those moments?
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“I remember wanting to be neck and neck with the best. But it’s like Fast and the Furious — too soon Junior. That’s the quote I’m looking to drop in this one.”
Truth be told, McKee didn’t even really knows Hughes before he got offered the fight because he leaves scouting up to his father and trainer, Antonio McKee.
Maybe Hughes really is the next big thing but McKee promises he’s not going to be the stepping stone on his ascension to stardom.
“I don’t really pay attention [to my opponents],” McKee said. “My dad’s the one who watches video and footage and puts together the game plan. For me, a name is a name. The hit list is the hit list and I’m just going to continue to go in there and take out people one at a time. Paul Hughes, he’s a tough cat. I can’t take anything away from him. He’s been in there, he’s been fighting and I’m just going to go in there and show him I’m a different breed.
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“I’ve been in his position so I know that young, hungry feeling. I remember the first time I fought a vet. My first vet was Pat Curran. So I remember that hungry feeling. I remember wanting that moment. I’m older but I ain’t that old. I’m still holding my ground. I’m going to do what I do best and that’s come out victorious by any means.
“He lacks some game time, but that is normal,” Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola said Friday. “He is feeling very well, doing well, has good sensations and has trained very well this (international) break with us. He is ready.”
Adams was limited to three EPL games last season because of a hamstring injury that sidelined him from Sept. 27 until March 13. He returned for two matches, then didn’t play for Bournemouth after March 30 because of back spasms.
The 25-year-old Adams played a full game for the U.S. when it was eliminated from the Copa América with a 1-0 group stage loss to Uruguay on July 1 and had back surgery days later.
LAS VEGAS – UFC Fight Night 245 weigh-ins took place Friday, and the fighters came face-to-face one final time before Saturday’s event.
The weigh-ins took place at the UFC Apex, which hosts Saturday’s event (ESPN+). Check out the video above to see the athletes from all 11 scheduled matchups come face-to-face, and don’t miss the photo gallery below.
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