Battle of the Giants: Francis Ngannou vs. Renan Ferreira keys to victory

After a brief hiatus in the boxing ring, Ngannou will be making his highly anticipated return to MMA and his Proffesional Fighters League debut.

Ferreira hasn't fought since he appeared at the PFL vs. Bellator super fight card where he defeated Bellator heavyweight champion Ryan Bader. 

Here's what each man needs to do in the hopes of getting their hand raised on Saturday night. 

Francis Ngannou's keys to victory

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Boxing

Ngannou is already known for his one-punch power but he should use some of the boxing skills he honed when fighting Tyson Fury and out-box Ferreira. If he can get Ferreira tired and on the defense, he'll find the one shot to flatten him. 

Channel his motivation

Ngannou spoke at length about his desire to make this fight a tribute to his son. If he can keep Kobe in his thoughts, he could edge Ferreira just enough to make his son proud. The mind is one of the most powerful tools in a fight and should not be underestimated. 

Take him to deep water

We all expect this fight to end fairly quickly but if that doesn't happen, Ngannou should capitalize on the fact that Ferreira hasn't had to go into the championship rounds. He's never gone past a third round and hasn't had his gas tank tested. This could be an edge for Ngannou who went five rounds with Stipe Miocic in 2018. 

Renan Ferreira's keys to victory

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Neutralize

Ngannou is good everywhere, but Ferreira can neutralize Ngannou by meeting his intensity, power, and accuracy. We'll be in for a long night if Ferreira can play Ngannou's game. 

Kicks

Ferreira's kicks might be his biggest asset in this fight. His reach will be longer than Ngannou's due to his height and he should capitalize on keeping Ngannou at bay with kicks to the legs, body, and, if given the right chance, head. I could see this ending with a head-kick knockout if Ferreira plays his cards right. 

Let it all go

If Ferreira can flurry early he might just get Ngannou on the defense and land that one-punch KO he's known for. This could become a "who lands first" affair so starting first and fast could be key in this fight. 

Watch Ngannou vs. Ferreira on DAZN

Watch Francis Ngannou's return to the cage as he faces Renan Ferreira in the PFL Super Fights: Battle of the Giants this Saturday on DAZN Pay-Per-View.

The card also features Cris Cyborg against Larissa Pacheco for the women's featherweight world title.

The PPV is priced at £19.99 for UK viewers to watch on any device, including Smart TV's, game consoles, phones, tablets and PC's. 

To purchase and find the prices in your region click here.

Purchasing the PPV includes a seven-day free trial of all of DAZN's programming across a range of sports.

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