Former UFC Heavyweight Champion Francis Ngannou made a triumphant return to MMA after nearly three years, securing a dominant first-round victory against Renan Ferreira at the PFL Battle of the Giants. In his first MMA fight since defending his UFC title in 2022, Ngannou shared an unusual pre-fight ritual: wetting his feet to improve traction on the slippery canvas. The tactic worked as Ngannou swiftly took down Ferreira and won via ground-and-pound at 3:32 in the opening round.

The win was emotional for Ngannou, as it marked his first fight since the passing of his infant son, Kobe, in April. He expressed that while the timing felt early, he fought to honor his son’s memory and believes he will compete again, whether in MMA or boxing. Ngannou has one more fight left on his PFL contract, with the potential to earn up to $10 million.