Francis Ngannou surprises and declares himself an underdog for the duel against Renan Problem in the PFL

Francis Ngannou in his second boxing appearance. Photo: Reproduction/Twitter/@francisngannou

Former UFC heavyweight champion (up to 120,2 kg) and considered one of the division's greatest talents in the last decade, Francis Ngannou returns to MMA after almost three years and debuts in the PFL this Saturday (19), in a duel against the Brazilian Renan Problem, champion of the organization. Despite the time away, the Cameroonian appears as a considerable favorite in the bookmakers, but there are serious doubts about such condition.

In a recent interview with the 'Ariel Helwani Show', Ngannou heaped praise on Problema and highlighted the Brazilian's athleticism and grappling skills to state that he considers himself an 'underdog' for the PFL Super FIghts: Battle of Giants title fight.

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“We’re not facing a name, we’re facing a talent. The name inside the octagon doesn’t matter, it’s useless. This guy (Problema) has talent. Of all my opponents, this is going to be one of the toughest fights. Look at his athleticism, his grappling. He’s a black belt. His striking is top-notch, very complete. When he’s striking, you wouldn’t even imagine that he also knows how to grapple. He brings a lot of challenges because of his height, speed, everything. In my opinion, I feel like the underdog in this fight. I feel like the underdog,” admitted the former UFC champion.

Underdog or not, Francis Ngannou faces Renan Problem for the special PFL Super Fights: Battle of Giants belt this Saturday (19), in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The event also features two more title fights, including the Brazilian duel between Chris Cyborg e Larissa pacheco in featherweight (up to 65,7 kg).