Renan Ferreira (fighter)

Last updated
Renan Ferreira
BornThalles Renan Ferreira
(1989-11-23) 23 November 1989 (age 35)
Porangatu, Goiás, Brazil
NicknameProblema
Height6 ft 8 in (203 cm)
Weight262 lb (119 kg; 18 st 10 lb)
Division Heavyweight
Reach85 in (216 cm)
Fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
TeamTeam Nogueira
Years active2013–present
Mixed martial arts record
Total20
Wins13
By knockout11
By submission1
By decision1
Losses4
By knockout2
By submission1
By disqualification1
No contests3
Other information
Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog

Thalles Renan Ferreira [1] (born 23 November 1989) is a Brazilian professional mixed martial artist who competes in the Heavyweight division of Professional Fighters League (PFL). He won the 2023 PFL Heavyweight Championship. A professional MMA fighter since 2013, he has formerly competed in the Legacy Fighting Alliance (LFA).

Contents

Background

Prior to pursuing a full-time career in fighting, Ferreira worked as a private security guard and construction worker. His journey began with training in jiu-jitsu at a social project for low-income kids in Brasilia in 2013. Three years later, upon moving to Rio de Janeiro, he left his previous jobs behind to focus exclusively on MMA. [2]

His move to Rio marked a turning point in his cage career, as he trained at the gym of MMA legends, the twins Big Nog and Lil Nog. At the gym, he interacted with former UFC stars like Jacare Souza and Junior dos Santos. [3] [2]

Additionally, Ferreira was invited to portray Werdum in a biographical film about jiu-jitsu legend Fernando Tererê, titled "O Faixa Preta." [4]

Mixed martial arts career

Early career

Ferreira started his professional MMA career in 2013 and amassed a record of 5–1 prior to signing with the Legacy Fighting Alliance. [5] [6]

Legacy Fighting Alliance

In his LFA debut, Ferreira faced Brett Martin on June 28, 2019, at LFA 70. He lost the bout by disqualification as a result of illegal strikes. [7] [8]

Ferreira faced Jared Vanderaa on August 30, 2019, at LFA 74. He won the bout via triangle choke submission in the second round. [9]

Professional Fighters League

2021 season

Ferreira made his promotional debut against Fabrício Werdum on May 6, 2021, at PFL 3. [10] He initially won the fight via technical knockout in the first round. However, the result was surrounded by controversy as replays showed Ferreira tapping out while Werdum had him locked into a triangle choke right before Ferreira finished Werdum. [11] On May 10, the New Jersey State Athletic Control Board announced that Ferreira's TKO win against Werdum was overturned to a no contest due to the controversy of the stoppage. [12] [13]

Ferreira was scheduled to face 2019 Professional Fighters League season Heavyweight Champion Ali Isaev on June 25, 2021, at PFL 6. [14] However, Isaev was forced to withdraw from the event after not being medically cleared to compete and was replaced by PFL newcomer Stuart Austin. [15] Austin however was pulled from the bout due to unknown reasons and replaced by returning PFL fighter, Carl Seumanutafa. [16] Ferreira won the bout via unanimous decision. [17] [18]

2022 season

Starting off the 2022 season, Ferreira faced Jamelle Jones on April 28, 2022, at PFL 2. [19] He won the bout by first-round knockout. [20]

Ferreira faced Klidson Abreu on June 24, 2022, at PFL 5. [21] He initially lost the bout via unanimous decision. [22] However, the Georgia Athletic and Entertainment Commission overturned the result of the bout to a no contest, after Abreu failed a drug test for unspecified substances. [23]

Ferreira faced Ante Delija on August 13, 2022, at PFL 8. He lost the bout by first-round TKO. [24]

2023 season

Ferreira started off the 2023 season against Rizvan Kuniev on April 7, 2023, at PFL 2. [25] He initially lost the fight by unanimous decision but the result was changed to a no contest when Kuniev failed a drug test. [26] [27]

Ferreira faced Matheus Scheffel on June 16, 2023, at PFL 5. [28] He won the bout by first-round knockout. [29] [30]

In the semi-finals, Ferreira faced Maurice Greene on August 18, 2023, at PFL 8. [31] He won the fight via knockout in the first round. [32]

Heading into the finals of the heavyweight tournament, Ferreira faced Denis Goltsov on November 24, 2023, at PFL 10. [33] He won the bout by second-round TKO to win the 2023 Heavyweight tournament and the $1 million collective prize. [34]

2024

Ferreira faced Bellator Heavyweight Champion Ryan Bader in a three round non-title crossover fight on February 24, 2024, at PFL vs. Bellator. [35] He won the bout via knockout twenty-one seconds into the first round. [36]

Ferreira faced former UFC Heavyweight Champion Francis Ngannou for the PFL Heavyweight Superfight Championship on October 19, 2024 at PFL Super Fights: Battle of the Giants. [37] He lost the fight by knockout via ground punches in the first round. [38]

Championships and accomplishments

Mixed martial arts record

Professional record breakdown
20 matches13 wins4 losses
By knockout112
By submission11
By decision10
By disqualification01
No contests3
Res.RecordOpponentMethodEventDateRoundTimeLocationNotes
Loss13–4 (3) Francis Ngannou KO (punches) PFL Super Fights: Battle of the Giants October 19, 202413:32 Riyadh, Saudi ArabiaFor the inaugural PFL Super Fights Heavyweight Championship.
Win13–3 (3) Ryan Bader TKO (punches) PFL vs. Bellator February 24, 202410:21 Riyadh, Saudi ArabiaWon the PFL vs. Bellator Champion of Champions" Super Fights World Heavyweight Championship.
Win12–3 (3) Denis Goltsov TKO (punches) PFL 10 (2023) November 24, 202320:26 Washington, D.C., United StatesWon the 2023 PFL Heavyweight Tournament.
Win11–3 (3) Maurice Greene KO (punches) PFL 8 (2023) August 18, 202314:46 New York City, New York, United States 2023 PFL Heavyweight Tournament Semifinal.
Win10–3 (3)Matheus ScheffelKO (punch) PFL 5 (2023) June 16, 202310:50 Atlanta, Georgia, United States
NC9–3 (3)Rizvan KunievNC (overturned) PFL 2 (2023) April 7, 202335:00 Las Vegas, Nevada, United StatesOriginally a Decision (unanimous) win for Kuniev; overturned after he tested positive for banned substances.
Loss9–3 (2) Ante Delija TKO (punches) PFL 8 (2022) August 13, 202214:31 Cardiff, Wales 2022 PFL Heavyweight Tournament Semifinal.
NC9–2 (2) Klidson Abreu NC (overturned) PFL 5 (2022) 24 June 202235:00 Atlanta, Georgia, United StatesOriginally a Decision (unanimous) win for Abreu; overturned after he tested positive for banned substances.
Win9–2 (1)Jamelle JonesKO (front kick and punches) PFL 2 (2022) April 28, 202210:25 Arlington, Texas, United States
Win8–2 (1)Stuart AustinKO (punch) PFL 8 (2021) August 19, 202110:31 Hollywood, Florida, United States
Win7–2 (1) Carl Seumanutafa Decision (unanimous) PFL 6 (2021) June 25, 202135:00 Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States
NC6–2 (1) Fabrício Werdum NC (overturned) PFL 3 (2021) 6 May 202112:32 Atlantic City, New Jersey, United StatesOriginally a TKO (punches) win for Ferreira; later ruled a no contest after it was determined Ferreira tapped out to a triangle choke applied by Werdum.
Win6–2 Jared Vanderaa Submission (triangle choke) LFA 74 August 30, 201922:37 Riverside, California, United States
Loss5–2Brett MartinDQ (illegal strikes) LFA 70 June 28, 201913:14 Madison, Wisconsin, United StatesLFA Heavyweight Tournament Semifinal.
Win5–1Fabrício AlmeidaTKO (punches)Future FC 3March 22, 201923:57 Indaiatuba, Brazil
Win4–1Tiago CardosoKO (punches)NCE 30September 15, 201811:39 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Win3–1Carlos RuanKO (punches)FLC 6December 14, 201713:30 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Loss2–1 Vinicius Moreira Submission (armbar)FAM Fight Night 1September 3, 201613:37 Goiânia, BrazilFor the vacant FAMMA Heavyweight Championship.
Win2–0Alexandre SabaraTKO (retirement)Acai do Japa Fight 2December 13, 20142N/A Paranoá, Brazil
Win1–0Marcio MarquesTKO (punches)MMA Fest: PorangatuDecember 14, 201310:43 Porangatu, Brazil

Pay-per-view bouts

NoEventFightDateVenueCityPPV buys
1. PFL vs. Bellator Ferreira vs. BaderFebruary 24, 2024 Kingdom Arena Riyadh, Saudi ArabiaNot Disclosed [39]
2. PFL Super Fights: Battle of the Giants Ngannou vs. FerreiraOctober 19, 2024The Mayadeen Riyadh, Saudi ArabiaNot Disclosed [40]

See also

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References

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  2. 1 2 Davies, Harry (2023-11-20). "Meet the 6'8" PFL star who went from security job to fighting for $1million". The Mirror. Retrieved 2024-02-19.
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  35. ↑ Iskenderov, Parviz (16 January 2024). "Renan Ferreira vs Ryan Bader tops PFL vs Bellator on Feb 24". FIGHTMAG.
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  40. ↑ "PFL Super Fights: Battle of the Giants | MMA Event". Tapology.
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