Ngannou’s heavyweight combat towards Brazil’s Renan Ferreira in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on Saturday is his first MMA bout since protecting his UFC identify towards Ciryl Gane in 2021.

In spite of boxing two times since, Ngannou is adamant he by no means departed MMA, even interrupting the interview halfway to explain his level.

“I’m not returning to MMA – I never left,” stated Ngannou.

Throughout the duration when Ngannou’s best aggressive motion got here within the boxing ring, the MMA heavyweight category park has altered dramatically, with American Jon Jones successful the UFC identify and Britain’s Tom Aspinall turning into the promotion’s meantime champion.

Ferreira received the PFL’s international annual heavyweight match in 2023, however doubts stay over his legitimacy as a challenger to Ngannou, compared to names like Jones and Aspinall.

Ferreira has received 13 and misplaced 3 skilled fights, securing 11 knockouts, era Ngannou has received 20 and misplaced 3 of his bouts, together with 12 knockouts.

“I think Renan’s a great fighter. I also have a feeling, I don’t know him personally, but I have a feeling he’s a great person,” stated Ngannou.

“Right now this is the biggest challenge. I will have a six-foot-eight guy across from me, so right now he is the biggest challenge.”

In August, Ngannou said he considered retiring this year following the death of his son in April, but he has chosen to fight on as a way of honouring him.

The card in Riyadh, titled PFL Super Fights, is the most ambitious the promotion has ever hosted, with special commemorative titles being made for Ngannou’s bout and the co-main between Brazilian featherweights Cris Cyborg and Larissa Pacheco.

Such is Ngannou’s star power, the event has been built around him, with the Bellator middleweight title fight between American Johnny Eblen and Britain’s Fabian Edwards – a fight which was originally slated to headline in London in September – being relegated to third on the card.

Ngannou has many options going forward because of the money his name generates, and has hinted he plans to simultaneously compete in MMA and boxing.

“I wish to succeed in no matter is imaginable. I don’t have any limits. Limits, you may finally end up breaking them, however doesn’t cruel you will have to forbid,” stated Ngannou.

“At this level in year, I simply wish to see how some distance I will advance and what else I will do ahead of the solar units. I’m simply finding myself.”