In combat sports, the heavyweight division commands a distinguished and respected status among other weight classes, owing to iconic fighters such as Mike Tyson and Muhammad Ali in boxing, as well as Cain Velasquez and Francis Ngannou in MMA’s heavyweight legacy. These athletes aren’t just renowned; they are revered for their immense size and strength, which amplify the power behind their punches and strikes compared to those in lighter divisions.

This unique characteristic of heavyweight fighters captivates newer audiences. Now that the golden era has passed, with many legends either retired or no longer with us, fans wonder who will carry the torch for the new generation of heavyweights.

Among the current crop, reigning PFL heavyweight king Renan Ferreira believes he is the most lethal striker. In an interview with Essentially Sports’ Andrew Whitelaw, ‘Problemo’ made this bold claim while preparing to face former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou in a fight scheduled to take place today in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. When Whitelaw pressed Ferreira with the question, “Who hits harder?”, the Brazilian juggernaut wasted no time in settling the debate between himself and ‘The Predator’, confidently stating, “I already showed it. It’s me, of course. My hand—my black hand—the hand that doesn’t grow anymore.”

Ferreira wasn’t finished. When Whitelaw inquired whether the Brazilian MMA prospect considered himself a more dangerous opponent for Ngannou than Jon Jones, Ferreira delivered the final word on the matter, asserting, “Of course, I think I’m more dangerous for him. And because of my hand—the power that I bring to the fight, the power that I bring with my hand.” If Ferreira claims to be the hardest hitter, does that make Francis Ngannou a weaker opponent? Well, let’s find out what Ferreira has to say about that.

Renan Ferreira on Francis Ngannou’s weaknesses ahead of their ‘Battle of the Giants’

Earlier in August, at the PFL press conference, Renan Ferreira and Francis Ngannou faced each other for the first time. The towering 6’8″ ‘Problemo’ made ‘The Predator’ appear diminutive, even though the Cameroonian was once a nightmare in the UFC’s heavyweight division. In the PFL, he seems to be the underdog.

This dynamic became even clearer when Ferreira discussed his mental warfare techniques at the press conference, potentially hinting at Ngannou’s late son in his trash talk. He claimed, “Francis has been going through a tough year in his life, but the toughest challenge in his life this year is going to be me.” This statement appeared to affect ‘The Predator’ mentally.

However, things seem different now. In a recent interview, when Whitelaw asked ‘Problemo’, “What weakness do you see in Francis?” he shifted the focus away from Ngannou, and instead of engaging in mental warfare, Ferreira said, “I don’t f–k with him, actually. I f–k with myself… I f–k with what I have to improve, what I have to get better at, what I have to get done. And I know he is a tough fight. That’s what I know. I know he’ll be hard to fight. And I want to do my best.”

Now, all eyes are on the ‘Battle of the Giants,’ which is set to make waves in the MMA world. The reigning PFL tournament winner is determined to defend his crown against Francis Ngannou, who, with his extensive MMA background, has also gained valuable experience from his brief stint in the boxing world. Who are you rooting for—Ferreira or Ngannou? Drop your opinion below!