Francis Ngannou is set to return to MMA in October in Saudi Arabia.
The former UFC heavyweight champion has been out of the MMA scene since January 2022, dedicating the past two years to his boxing career.
At 37, Ngannou left the UFC and joined the PFL last year. He has announced that his promotional debut will be against Renan Ferreira.
“It’s not finalised yet, but they were talking about 19 October,” Ngannou said on the JRE MMA Show.
Ngannou faced former world champions Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua in back-to-back boxing matches, with both fights ending in defeat. Joshua knocked out Ngannou in just two rounds in their bout in March.
Renan Ferreira, who won the PFL’s 2023 heavyweight tournament, has a record of 13 wins, three losses, and three no-contests.
The 34-year-old Brazilian’s most recent victory came in February, when he swiftly defeated Bellator’s heavyweight champion Ryan Bader in just 21 seconds.
“I’ve been telling people about this guy for almost two years,” Ngannou said of Ferreira .
“I said ‘watch this guy’. Very athletic. Fast hands, one-two, knees – very athletic. So I think it’s going to be him.”
It was announced earlier this month that Ngannou will oversee PFL Africa when it launches a series there in 2025.
Ngannou has been out of the public eye following the tragic death of his 15-month-old son in April.
He revealed that his son had fainted twice before passing away in Dubai due to mild brain inflammation.
“At least whenever I die, I’m going to see my kid. I’m not afraid of it. I still want to live but you get to that point,” Ngannou said.