Matches to Make After PFL Super Fights ‘Battle of the Giants’

The Professional Fighters League put on the most important event in its history Saturday, with three title fights in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

PFL CEO Peter Murray publicly said Super Fights titles will need to be defended, so here are some bouts that need to be booked:.

Francis Ngannou vs. Denis Goltsov/Oleg Popov Winner

The fight between Ngannou and Renan Ferreira was for the heavyweight Super Fights crown, but what comes next? Ngannou has defeated the PFL heavyweight champ, but now the king is here and he can have any fight he wants on the roster. With Goltsov and Popov fighting at the end of this year to crown the PFL heavyweight ruler, they would be first in line to face Ngannou. Depending on the next venture for Cameroonian, he could go back to boxing, or he could sit and wait to see how business plays out.

Cris Cyborg vs. Sara Collins

There was no PFL women’s featherweight season this year, but Bellator Champions Series saw a top contender emerge in its women’s 145-pound division. Despite having massive cuts over her eyes throughout the fight, Cyborg brought relentless pressure and a very smart fight IQ into this Riyadh. There were moments for both her and Larissa Pacheco, but Cyborg was able to weather the storm. During fight week, Cyborg declared her last three fights to be a legacy tour; and while Collins may not be the biggest name, she’s certainly the newest and biggest threat currently available other than Pacheco.

Johnny Eblen vs. Aaron Jeffery

Since the Bellator title was on the line, the focus remains on the Bellator middleweight division and who could be next. After Eblen defended his title again against Edwards, there are only a few contenders worthy of consideration for the crown. Following the first victory over Edwards, the champion called for a fight against top contender Jeffery, but Edwards beat him for this opportunity. Bouncing back from his loss to Edwards, Jeffery defeated former champion Douglas Lima in September and has firmly cemented himself as the top contender in the division.

Paul Hughes vs. Usman Nurmagomedov

Hughes was on fire in his performance against former featherweight champion A.J. McKee, including a near finish in the first round. Hughes dropped McKee with a right hook, but the former champion was saved by the bell. The two men would fight all 15 minutes of their fight, and Hughes would be rewarded the split decision victory. In his post-fight interview, Hughes wasted no time in calling for Bellator lightweight ace Nurmagomedov. After defeating Bobby King in his promotional debut, Hughes made himself undeniable for a title fight opportunity in his next bout. Nearly finishing a former champ in the first round is one thing, but the way Hughes handled himself and pushed forward against McKee, he’s not only announced his arrival, but he’s earned a title fight opportunity.