Must-Watch Heavyweight Renan Ferreira Ready For Next Challenge At PFL 5 On Friday Night

It’s the buzz. It’s the hype. And it’s whipping around one MMA fighter: heavyweight Renan “Problema” Ferreira, who opened his PFL season back in April with a don’t-blink annihilation of Jamelle Jones.

Ferreira KO’d Jones with a head kick and ground-and-pound in just 25 seconds. It was the quickest finish in PFL heavyweight history.

A 6-foot-8, 260-pound colossus who can pull off a celebratory back flip, Ferreira is not just a rising star — he’s a must-watch performer. He said his record-setting victory was only a preview of the remainder of his PFL season. “Rest assured, there’s more to come,” the native Brazilian said via a translator.

Ferreira’s next challenge will be on Friday night when he faces fellow Brazilian Klidson Abreu (16-5) as the heavyweight division gets the spotlight at PFL 5 at Overtime Elite Arena in Atlanta. The event starts at 8 p.m. ET on ESPN and ESPN+, with prelims at 6 on ESPN+.

Ferreira (9-2) said Abreu is “a grappling connoisseur, who fights at a short distance in order to take people down.” But he said Abreu’s inside game won’t deter his strategy to finish the fight quickly. “That’s who I am. I’m always coming for the finish, trying to make it as fast as possible. I’m ready to put on a show,” Ferreira said.

Also fighting on Friday night is 2021 PFL heavyweight champion Bruno Cappelozza (15-5), who faces Matheus Scheffel. With KO’s in four of his last five fights, Cappelozza is the favorite to win the title again, along with the million-dollar prize that PFL awards to every division winner.

Arguably, the biggest threat to Cappelozza is Ferreira. Fight fans are dreaming the two fighters meet later this season, so are PFL executives. “Bruno and Renan still have some work to do to secure their spots in the playoffs, but I can’t wait to see these guys square off in what will be one of the best heavyweight bouts of the year if everything comes together,” said PFL president Ray Sefo told ESPN. “Either way, I’m sure this is a fight we will end up seeing sooner or later.”

Ferreira currently leads the heavyweight division with 6 points. Cappelozza, who also has 6 points, trails slightly since his first-round knockout in April wasn’t as fast as Ferreira’s.

Ferreira and Cappelozza both can clinch a playoff spot at PFL 5, increasing the likelihood of a showdown that’s starting to feel inevitable.

Ferreira wouldn’t name Cappelozza as the fighter he wants most, but alluded to him, saying: “All I want is the other best fighter, and I’ll be ready.”

Beyond the 2022 season, Ferreira has bigger plans. “My goal in the sport is much bigger than winning the belt and the million dollars,” he said. “I want to create a legacy. I want people to know who I am. I want people to recognize my work, not just inside the cage, but also out. I want to help people in need. And I want to be remembered.”

Anthony Pettis set ‘to get gold this year’

It’s not just heavyweights on Friday night. Anthony “Showtime” Pettis — one of the most electric fighters on the planet, even at age 35 — will face Stevie Ray (23-10) in a PFL lightweight battle. Pettis (25-12) has already clinched a playoff spot after kicking off his 2022 PFL season with a victory on May 6 when he submitted Ireland’s Myles Price at 4:17 of Round 1.

After dropping two fights in his PFL debut in 2021, Pettis said he’s “on a mission to get gold this year.” And if he does, Pettis would become the only fighter who has held the lightweight crowns in the WEC, UFC and PFL.

Here’s a look at the PFL 5 lineup on Friday night:

MAIN CARD (ESPN/ESPN+, 8 p.m. ET)

• Bruno Cappelozza vs. Matheus Scheffel
• Anthony Pettis vs. Stevie Ray
• Chris Wade vs. Kyle Bochniak
• Renan Ferreira vs. Klidson Abreu

PRELIMINARY CARD (ESPN+, 6 p.m. ET)

• Ante Delija vs. Shelton Graves
• Denis Goltsov vs. Maurice Greene
• Sam Kei vs. Juan Adams
• Reinaldo Ekson vs. Bubba Jenkins
• Sheymon Moraes vs. Lance Palmer
• Brendan Loughnane vs. Ago Huskic
• Alejandro Flores vs. Ryoji Kudo