In a thrilling return to MMA, Francis Ngannou reminded the world of his devastating power, claiming a first-round knockout victory over Renan Ferreira at PFL: Battle of the Giants. The win not only marked Ngannou’s return after nearly three years away from the cage but also crowned him as the PFL Super Fights Heavyweight Champion.

Ngannou, 38, faced immense pressure heading into the fight, especially following a recent second-round KO loss to Anthony Joshua in a high-profile boxing match. His opponent, 34-year-old Ferreira, had been on a hot streak, with four consecutive finishes, including a 21-second TKO over Ryan Bader.

But Ngannou wasted no time in asserting his dominance. After securing a takedown early in the first round, Ngannou unleashed a barrage of heavy ground-and-pound, rendering Ferreira unconscious at 3:32 before the referee stepped in to stop the fight.

Meanwhile, in the co-main event, MMA legend Cris ‘Cyborg’ made her highly anticipated PFL debut. Facing off against two-division PFL tournament champion Larissa Pacheco, the 39-year-old Cyborg secured a unanimous decision victory (49-46 x3) to capture the Super Fights Women’s Featherweight Champion title.

Despite early adversity—Pacheco opened cuts over both of Cyborg’s eyes—the seasoned veteran used her experience, landing her own powerful strikes and incorporating takedowns to control the fight. Pacheco, unshaken, challenged Cyborg throughout the contest but ultimately couldn’t match her opponent’s offence in the later rounds.

PFL: Battle of the Giants Results:

Francis Ngannou defeats Renan Ferreira via KO (3:32, Round 1, ground strikes)

Cris Cyborg defeats Larissa Pacheco via unanimous decision (49-46 x 3)

Johnny Eblen defeats Fabian Edwards via unanimous decision (48-47 x 3)

Zafar Mohsen defeats Husein Kadimagomaev via unanimous decision (30-27 x 3)

Paul Hughes defeats A.J. McKee via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)