KO loss to Joshua won’t affect Ngannou as a brand or fighter

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia – Dan Hardy expects Francis Ngannou’s boxing expertise to serve him properly in opposition to Renan Ferreira.

Former UFC heavyweight champion Ngannou (17-3) takes on Ferreira (13-3) in Saturday’s PFL: Battle of the Giants (DAZN/ESPN+) major occasion at The Mayadeen.

Since parting methods with the UFC, Ngannou boxed twice – a controversial determination loss to Tyson Fury, adopted by a knockout loss to Anthony Joshua in March. Regardless of Ngannou coming off the primary knockout lack of his fight sports activities profession, Hardy says the abilities he acquired as a boxer will profit him in opposition to the taller and rangier Ferreira.

“I don’t actually suppose it affected Ngannou as a model in any means,” Hardy instructed MMA Junkie. “So, I don’t essentially suppose it’ll have an effect on him as a fighter in any means, if that is smart. I feel that the time he’s spent in boxing, it’ll make him a greater MMA fighter. …It permits folks to handle vary higher. They’re capable of step into vary to land punches, however not crowd themselves and go right into a clinch, and that’s going to be actually, actually beneficial for him on this combat.

“As a result of I might say that he must be near Renan Ferreira to get inside his attain. I don’t know if he needs to waste an excessive amount of power grappling with him. I feel we’ll see some wrestling and grappling out of Ngannou. Ferreira’s enormous, he’s a large particular person. Simply to take him down and management him goes to be a large quantity of power expended. So, I feel Ngannou having the ability to keep within the pocket and field goes to be very helpful for him on this combat.”

Ngannou returns to MMA for the primary time since efficiently defending his UFC heavyweight title in opposition to Ciryl Gane in January 2022.

For extra on the cardboard, go to MMA Junkie’s occasion hub for PFL: Battle of the Giants.