Francis Ngannou is best known for his pulverizing power and killer instinct, acquiring a formidable reputation as one of the most ferocious MMA stars of all time.
His ruthlessness in the heat of battle, you see, should never be underestimated, with four of his last six UFC outings ending inside the opening round.
But now, the 38-year-old is preparing for his PFL debut against Renan Ferreira this Saturday, representing his first MMA contest since leaving the sport’s flagship promotion.
And while the heavyweight showdown – billed as ‘Battle of the Giants’ – should deliver a thrilling spectacle, it is difficult to envision Francis Ngannou surpassing his UFC accolades.
Francis Ngannou showcased his destructive power in victory over Alistair Overeem
One fight on Ngannou’s resume that sent shivers down most people’s spines was his bone-shuddering knockout win against Alistair Overeem back in 2017.
Prior to their showdown, Overeem made his UFC debut in 2011, coming up against WWE star Brock Lesnar following a decorated kickboxing career.
After dispatching Lesnar in emphatic fashion, the dutchman then secured several more victories against the likes of Frank Mir, before challenging Stipe Miocic for the UFC heavyweight title.
Despite losing to one of the division’s greatest champions of all time, though, Overeem remained at the top level of his sport, and was seen as a solid gatekeeper for Ngannou.
But unfortunately for the former title challenger, his opponent’s ascendency was never going to be compromised.
And so, before long, Ngannou caught Overeem with a vicious uppercut, scoring a first-round knockout in what was supposed to be a relatively stern test.
Francis Ngannou’s road to beating Stipe Miocic
Ngannou’s spiteful stoppage against Overeem was the springboard that, in turn, launched him into his first title shot.
Long-reigning champion Miocic, however, became the first man to humble the electric knockout artist in 2018.
But then, after losing a unanimous decision to the American, Ngannou walked straight into another crushing defeat, this time against Derrick Lewis.
And yet, while hopes were beginning to dwindle, ‘The Predator’ finally earned his rematch with Miocic after securing four wins on the bounce, halting his seasoned opponent in the second round to become the UFC heavyweight champion in 2021.