Former UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya has officially recognized Francis Ngannou as the best heavyweight fighter in the world following his stunning knockout victory over Renan Ferreira at PFL Super Fights.
This matchup marked not only Ngannouโs return to mixed martial arts but also his debut with the Professional Fighters League (PFL), setting the stage for a thrilling performance.
In a display that underscored his formidable power, Ngannou managed to secure a first-round knockout against Ferreira. This victory highlighted his status as a dominant force in the heavyweight division, nullifying any doubts about his abilities after his transition into professional boxing.
Adesanya, who watched the fight intently from the sidelines, could hardly contain his admiration for Ngannouโs feats, particularly given the personal and professional challenges the Cameroonian-French fighter has navigated recently.
โThat was beautiful,โ Adesanya remarked, clearly moved by Ngannouโs performance. โI feel that man. Thatโs for Kobeโฆ Yโall must have forgotten, broโฆ Flawless. It was a beautiful performance. He took one leg kick, avoided the subsequent flurry, timed his right hand perfectly, shot for a double leg, maintained his position, and then delivered that knockout punch.โ
Adesanya took the opportunity to delve deeper into Ngannouโs resilience, pointing out the doubts that had crept in following Ngannouโs departure from the UFC and foray into the world of professional boxing.
โIโm proud, inspired, and just happy to watch him do his thing. Heโs gone through so much in his career, even after the whole boxing thing. People doubted himโฆ They are prisoners of the moment, but they forget who this man is. Iโm glad he reminded everybody why heโs the best, why heโs the one, why heโs Francis Ngannou,โ Adesanya noted.