PFL heavyweight finalist Alexander Romanov feels right at home with his new promotion after being one of the UFC’s top prospects.
Alexander Romanov was one of the UFC’s top heavyweight prospects during his time in the promotion, earning wins over the likes of Chase Sherman, Rodrigo Nascimento, and Blagoy Ivanov. After an up-and-down tenure in the UFC, Romanov left for the PFL in free agency earlier this year to enter the league’s World Tournament format.
Romanov’s big gamble has paid off handsomely, and could pay him $500k with a win over Oleg Popov at the PFL World Tournament finals on August 21st. Romanov advanced to the championship via no-contest, due to an accidental groin shot from Valentin Moldavsky in the first round.
Alexander Romanov puts UFC, PFL titles on the same level on MMA hierarchy
Romanov is one of several UFC castaways to find success in the PFL Smartcage. Francis Ngannou led the way when the former UFC heavyweight champion joined the PFL roster in 2023.
The PFL’s purchase of Bellator hasn’t met immense expectations, as several top stars like Aaron Pico and Patricio ‘Pitbull’ have left the league on negative terms. Some fans and pundits believe the PFL has further distanced itself as a potential ‘co-leader’ in MMA with the UFC.
Romanov doesn’t subscribe to that narrative, and views the two promotions as equals.
In an exclusive interview with Bloody Elbow, Romanov made a bold claim about what winning a PFL championship would mean for his life and career, compared to if he had won a UFC title.
“100 percent [more gratifying],” Romanov said.
“I don’t see a difference between these titles, because you become a world champion. I don’t understand the people who say ‘Oh [the PFL title] isn’t as good’. You have the best two organizations in the world and in this business, it doesn’t matter. UFC champion, PFL champion, I think it’s at the same level.
“Same level of skills, because I’m pretty confident that some of the guys who are active PFL champions, can beat the current UFC champions.”
If Romanov wins next month, he plans to call out Ngannou for a potential superfight in the PFL SmartCage. Ngannou hasn’t fought since defeating 2023 PFL champion Renan Ferreira last year.
Alexander Romanov picked an intriguing opponent for Francis Ngannou’s boxing return
In our sitdown with Romanov, the PFL heavyweight picked an intriguing option for Ngannou’s next boxing fight, as the former UFC champ prepares for his return. Romanov believes Ngannou should target a heavyweight fight with former titleholder Daniel Dubois.
Dubois lost in his title rematch with Oleksandr Usyk by knockout earlier this month. In footage shared just hours before the fight, Dubois hosted a large house party into the early morning hours, drawing criticism from around combat sports.
Ngannou hasn’t fought in boxing since getting knocked out by Dubois’s former rival, Anthony Joshua, last year. He’s 0-2 in his professional boxing career.