The PFL put on its biggest event since its inception with its Battle of the Giants PPV, headlined by the return of Francis Ngannou.
The event saw the Bellator middleweight title on the line, Cris Cyborg becoming a champion in a fifth promotion, and the future on display. The main event saw Ngannou compete in MMA for the first time in two years, knocking out Renan Ferreira. It was an emotional moment for Ngannou as he honored his late son Kobe.
Ngannou competed in boxing fights after signing with the PFL, which he was allowed to do after leaving the UFC as the lineal heavyweight champion. Getting to this moment was a long journey, but the ending felt sweet for "The Predator."
Now that the dust has settled, what's next for Ngannou? The man himself didn't exactly provide a straight answer to that question.
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"I think my next move in combat sports all depends on me, how I feel. I always thought I still had a lot to give in combat sports. Hopefully, I keep thinking that way," said Ngannou.
The Sporting News has provided a few options for Ngannou if he continues his journey in combat sports.
What's next for Francis Ngannou following PFL's Battle of the Giants event?
Denis Goltsov/Oleg Popov winner
Ngannou beat the 2023 PFL heavyweight tournament winner in Ferreira. What about the runner-up?
Denis Goltsov lost against Ferreira but has since won three straight contests, all via TKO. "The Russian Bogatyr" makes the most sense for Ngannou if we stick to pure PFL heavyweights.
However, in the way of the Russian is another Russian in Oleg Popov.
Popov is 3-0 in the PFL SmartCage and faces Goltsov in the finals of the 2024 PFL Heavyweight Tournament. A fight between two of the best in the division to determine who faces Ngannou? There is some deja vu to it, but sign us up!
Vadim Nemkov
There are no true threats for Ngannou outside Ferreira. One option is a former Bellator light heavyweight champion who has made the smooth transition to heavyweight.
Vadim Nemkov is on a thirteen-fight unbeaten streak, with one fight ending in a no-contest. The Russian, who holds six gold medals in Sambo, dominated the Bellator light heavyweight division, including Ryan Bader, to become champion. He vacated the belt after running through the competition to focus on heavyweight.
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The 32-year-old last fought in February. He showed interest in fighting Ngannou, wanting to test himself right away. While he is a true light heavyweight, his wrestling could be a challenge for Ngannou, who has stepped it up on the ground.
Ryan Bader
Speaking of Bader, the Bellator heavyweight champion has been quiet since losing against Ferreira to secure a shot at Ngannou. The 41-year-old is part of the upcoming Mark Kerr movie, "The Smashing Machine," starring The Rock. Outside of that, he doesn't have any fight obligations.
Could "Darth" Bader face Ngannou next?
At the moment, Bader hasn't officially retired, so a fight isn't impossible. Though his last win was in 2023, it doesn't seem far off PFL/Bellator brass could book this fight.
Boxing: Tyson Fury rematch, Deontay Wilder
Ngannou has proven he can compete in the squared circle, which was a dream when he was a kid. He could return to boxing if he wanted to. The right opponent would need to be booked, especially after losing against Anthony Joshua.
Ngannou knocked down then-WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury in a shocker last October. While he lost, Ngannou standing over "The Gypsy King" shut down detractors, even if many believed Fury didn't take the fight seriously. If Fury loses a rematch against Oleksandr Usyk in December for undisputed gold and doesn't fight Joshua, a Ngannou rematch would be enticing.
Then there is Deontay Wilder.
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The former WBC heavyweight champion is on a two-fight losing streak and 1-4 in his last five fights. The man with 42 wins via knockout still has some pop despite his best days being behind him. Out of the title picture, Ngannou and Wilder fighting over who is the hardest puncher in combat sports would be a sight to see.
Jon Jones
Finally, the fight everyone wants to see is the most obvious one to make.
A fight between Ngannou and Jones, the current UFC heavyweight champion, was teased years back. However, financial differences got in the way of anything coming to fruition. It led to Jones relinquishing the UFC light heavyweight title and Ngannou eventually moving on from the UFC.
Jones will fight at UFC 309 in November against Stipe Miocic. It is unknown if he will retire following the affair or, with a win, face interim UFC heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall. While his future is unclear, now makes all the sense in the world for the two to fight.
How would it be possible? For one, the UFC and PFL have a relationship with Saudi Arabia.
The UFC works with Turki Alalshikh and the General Entertainment Authority for Riyadh Season, while the SRJ Sports Investments, a branch of Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, invests in the PFL. Saudi Arabia has worked to make the best fights possible in combat sports happen, so it is possible something can be discussed.
The UFC and PFL's deal with ESPN could also come into play. Investors could see money coming from a collaboration. However, UFC CEO Dana White has been adamant about not co-promoting with the PFL. Could that change with meetings and dollar bills?
