Ngannou also thanks Saudi Arabia, saying the country feels like 'family', on a night that also saw victories for Cris Cyborg, Johnny Eblen, Zafar Mohsen, and Paul Hughes

Riyadh – October 20, 2024: Francis Ngannou dedicated his PFL debut victory at Battle of the Giants: Brace For Impact victory in Riyadh to late son Kobe in an emotional and historic night on Saturday.

'The Predator' lived up to his name and reputation with a brutal first-round stoppage of 6'8 Renan 'Problema' Ferreira during the headline heavyweight world title event at The Mayadeen in Riyadh.

The Cameroonian announced six months ago that his 15-month-old son Kobe had died in an emotional social media post. He recently revealed that the cause of death was a malformation on the brain.

Speaking in the post-fight press conference after dedicating his win to Kobe, Ngannou said: 'I used to think I was tough and then I found out that I wasn't that tough. Life can take different paths and then it hits you really bad, from the front. And then it's something I never imagined.

'It was pretty hard to focus on the fight today. It was hard at any moment from the beginning to the end. You think it's never going to be over, but you just learn to roll with it, to live with it. In certain cases, I would have taken (a longer) time to grieve but how long would that take? I don't think there's enough time. It's about keeping going and a new way of living.'

Speaking about the exact moment when he won, Ngannou said: 'I was feeling pretty good. I was watching his movement and was able to take him down. I came here to do what I came to do.'

After previously fighting Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua in boxing matches in Riyadh, Ngannou also thanked Saudi Arabia and said the Kingdom to him felt like 'family'.

The 38-year-old wasn't the only winner in an incredible night in Riyadh, however. In the co-main event at Battle of the Giants, Brazil's Cris Cyborg beat countrywoman Larissa Pacheco by unanimous decision in a fascinating back-and-forth bout.

Speaking at the post-fight press conference, Cyborg said: 'I feel very happy to get the PFL belt. For me, it was a historical fight here in Saudi Arabia. Thank you to Saudi Arabia. I feel very happy and grateful to be here. Thank you, MashAllah (God has willed it).'

Elsewhere, Johnny Eblen again got the better of Fabian Edwards in the middleweight title fight in another unanimous decision; with the same result seeing Zafar Mohsen overcome Husein Kadimagomaev at featherweight. Paul Hughes defeated AJ McKee in a lightweight fight in a 2-1 split decision.

Eblen said: 'I feel it felt the same as the first time around but this time I actually showed my whole deck of cards. I utilized my wrestling a bit more. I wish I could have ended him.'

Irishman Hughes was delighted to have Al Nassr star Cristiano Ronaldo watch him win and said: 'That's incredible. I was a huge Manchester United fan and huge Ronaldo fan growing up as a kid. I have to get out there and meet him! Somebody please take me to him after this!

Keen to fight Usman Nurmagomedov, Hughes was asked about the prospect of having Conor McGregor in his corner, with Khabib Nurmagomedov, McGregor's old rival, going to be in his cousin's.

Hughes said: 'Conor! Somebody clip this! Conor, I want you in my corner for that fight, 100%. How cool would that be? We might need some extra security that night but I'm down for it! I think it would be fun.'

The preliminary card for Battle of the Giants in Riyadh saw Raufeon Stots     defeat Marcos Breno; Makkasharip Zaynukov beat Dedrek Sanders; Ibragim Ibragimov defeat Nacho Campos; and Taha Bendaoud beat Tariq Ismail.

Saturday's fight night was the latest of six PFL events in the Kingdom in 2024, including three of them PPV, and reinforces Saudi Arabia's role as a leading destination for major MMA competitions. PFL and the Saudi Mixed Martial Arts Federation (SMMAF) have partnered to advance the sport across the Kingdom. Participation in MMA in Saudi Arabia has grown 21% this year from last.

Saudi Arabia has hosted more than 100 global sports events since 2018, with 2.5 million international fans in attendance. The number of sports federations has increased by 200% in the last nine years from 32 in 2015 to 97 in 2024. The inspiration Saudi people have taken from the hosting of world-class events is indisputable: sports participation rose from 13% in 2015 to 48% in 2023 – up 300%.