Former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou made a triumphant return to mixed martial arts (MMA) with a dominating performance in his PFL debut against Renan Ferreira. Competing for the first time in nearly three years, Ngannou secured a swift victory, finishing Ferreira with powerful ground-and-pound strikes in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The win marked Ngannou’s first TKO/KO in MMA since his victory over Stipe Miocic at UFC 260.

Following his impressive debut, Ngannou received a congratulatory message on Twitter from his longtime rival, UFC heavyweight champion Jon Jones. Jones, who won the UFC heavyweight title after Ngannou’s departure, kept his message respectful, praising Ngannou’s return to form.

Ngannou, during an appearance on The Ariel Helwani Show, responded to Jones’ classy tweet, saying, “I saw his tweet. Whatever he means, I think it’s class. He said it very nicely, and I’ll see him too! And I’ll be watching on November 16th.”

The November fight Ngannou referenced is Jones’ upcoming UFC heavyweight title defense against Stipe Miocic at UFC 309. There has been speculation that this could be Jones’ final fight, as the UFC star has hinted at retirement. However, the possibility of a super fight between Ngannou and Jones still lingers, even though UFC CEO Dana White has expressed reluctance to cross-promote with other organizations like PFL.

Ngannou’s future remains open, with opportunities in both MMA and professional boxing, but fans continue to hope for a showdown between two of the sport’s most dominant figures. A fight between Jones and Ngannou would be one of the most highly anticipated in MMA history.