Renan Ferreira (fighter)

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)
DivisionHeavyweight
Reach85 in (216 cm)
Fighting out ofRio 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).

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 matches 13 wins 4 losses
By knockout 11 2
By submission 1 1
By decision 1 0
By disqualification 0 1
No contests 3
Res. Record Opponent Method Event Date Round Time Location Notes
Loss 13–4 (3) Francis Ngannou KO (punches) PFL Super Fights: Battle of the Giants October 19, 2024 1 3:32 Riyadh, Saudi Arabia For the inaugural PFL Super Fights Heavyweight Championship.
Win 13–3 (3) Ryan Bader TKO (punches) PFL vs. Bellator February 24, 2024 1 0:21 Riyadh, Saudi Arabia Won the PFL vs. Bellator Champion of Champions" Super Fights World Heavyweight Championship.
Win 12–3 (3) Denis Goltsov TKO (punches) PFL 10 (2023) November 24, 2023 2 0:26 Washington, D.C., United States Won the 2023 PFL Heavyweight Tournament.
Win 11–3 (3) Maurice Greene KO (punches) PFL 8 (2023) August 18, 2023 1 4:46 New York City, New York, United States 2023 PFL Heavyweight Tournament Semifinal.
Win 10–3 (3) Matheus Scheffel KO (punch) PFL 5 (2023) June 16, 2023 1 0:50 Atlanta, Georgia, United States
NC 9–3 (3) Rizvan Kuniev NC (overturned) PFL 2 (2023) April 7, 2023 3 5:00 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Originally a Decision (unanimous) win for Kuniev; overturned after he tested positive for banned substances.
Loss 9–3 (2) Ante Delija TKO (punches) PFL 8 (2022) August 13, 2022 1 4:31 Cardiff, Wales 2022 PFL Heavyweight Tournament Semifinal.
NC 9–2 (2) Klidson Abreu NC (overturned) PFL 5 (2022) 24 June 2022 3 5:00 Atlanta, Georgia, United States Originally a Decision (unanimous) win for Abreu; overturned after he tested positive for banned substances.
Win 9–2 (1) Jamelle Jones KO (front kick and punches) PFL 2 (2022) April 28, 2022 1 0:25 Arlington, Texas, United States
Win 8–2 (1) Stuart Austin KO (punch) PFL 8 (2021) August 19, 2021 1 0:31 Hollywood, Florida, United States
Win 7–2 (1) Carl Seumanutafa Decision (unanimous) PFL 6 (2021) June 25, 2021 3 5:00 Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States
NC 6–2 (1) Fabrício Werdum NC (overturned) PFL 3 (2021) 6 May 2021 1 2:32 Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States Originally 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.
Win 6–2 Jared Vanderaa Submission (triangle choke) LFA 74 August 30, 2019 2 2:37 Riverside, California, United States
Loss 5–2 Brett Martin DQ (illegal strikes) LFA 70 June 28, 2019 1 3:14 Madison, Wisconsin, United States LFA Heavyweight Tournament Semifinal.
Win 5–1 Fabrício Almeida TKO (punches) Future FC 3 March 22, 2019 2 3:57 Indaiatuba, Brazil
Win 4–1 Tiago Cardoso KO (punches) NCE 30 September 15, 2018 1 1:39 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Win 3–1 Carlos Ruan KO (punches) FLC 6 December 14, 2017 1 3:30 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Loss 2–1 Vinicius Moreira Submission (armbar) FAM Fight Night 1 September 3, 2016 1 3:37 Goiânia, Brazil For the vacant FAMMA Heavyweight Championship.
Win 2–0 Alexandre Sabara TKO (retirement) Acai do Japa Fight 2 December 13, 2014 2 N/A Paranoá, Brazil
Win 1–0 Marcio Marques TKO (punches) MMA Fest: Porangatu December 14, 2013 1 0:43 Porangatu, Brazil

Pay-per-view bouts

No Event Fight Date Venue City PPV buys
1. PFL vs. Bellator Ferreira vs. Bader February 24, 2024 Kingdom Arena Riyadh, Saudi Arabia Not Disclosed[39]
2. PFL Super Fights: Battle of the Giants Ngannou vs. Ferreira October 19, 2024 The Mayadeen Riyadh, Saudi Arabia Not Disclosed[40]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Renan Ferreira ("Problema") | MMA Fighter Page". Tapology. Retrieved 2024-09-21.
  2. ^ a b 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.
  3. ^ Cruz, Guilherme (2021-05-04). "Renan Ferreira played Fabricio Werdum in Fernando 'Terere' biopic before knowing he'd fight him at PFL". MMA Fighting. Retrieved 2024-02-19.
  4. ^ "PFL: adversário de Werdum, Renan Problema já o interpretou em filme". ge (in Brazilian Portuguese). 2021-05-05. Retrieved 2024-02-19.
  5. ^ Sherdog.com. "Renan Ferreira". Sherdog. Retrieved 2019-06-29.
  6. ^ DNA, MMA (16 February 2019). "Blessuregeval zorgt voor rematch tussen Jeff Hughes en Maurice Greene tijdens UFC Wichita". Retrieved 2019-06-29.
  7. ^ Fortune, Ryan (June 28, 2019). "LFA 70: Ferreira vs. Martin Live Results". Cageside Press.
  8. ^ "LFA 70: Ferreira vs. Martin". tapology.com. 2019-06-16. Retrieved 2019-06-16.
  9. ^ "LFA 74 Results: Ferreira Batters and Submits Vanderaa". Combat Press. Retrieved 2021-10-06.
  10. ^ Brett Okamoto (March 9, 2021). "Former UFC champion Fabricio Werdum to make PFL debut against Renan Ferreira". Retrieved March 10, 2021.
  11. ^ Anderson, Jay (2021-05-06). "PFL 3 Result: Renan Ferreira Spoils Debut of Fabricio Werdum". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2021-05-07.
  12. ^ Raimondi, Marc (2021-05-10). "Renan Ferreira's PFL victory over Fabricio Werdum overturned". ESPN. Retrieved 2021-05-10.
  13. ^ PFL (2021-05-10). "PFL on Twitter: OFFICIAL: The New Jersey State Athletic Control Board has overturned the result of Werdum vs Ferreira to a No Decision. Per the PFL rules, both fighters receive 1 point in the heavyweight standings". Twitter.
  14. ^ Newswire, MMA Fighting (2021-06-01). "Kayla Harrison vs. Cindy Dandois headlines PFL 6 card on June 25, Fabricio Werdum also returns". MMA Fighting. Retrieved 2021-06-01.
  15. ^ Lee, Alexander K. (2021-06-17). "PFL 6 lineup revised, defending heavyweight champion Ali Isaev out". MMA Fighting. Retrieved 2021-06-18.
  16. ^ @BigMarcel24 (June 23, 2021). "Austin out, Carl Seumanutafa in" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  17. ^ "PFL 6: Kayla Harrison playoff-bound after submission win; Anthony Pettis, Lance Palmer fall short". ESPN.com. 2021-06-26. Retrieved 2021-06-26.
  18. ^ Sherdog.com. "PFL 6 2021 Play-by-Play, Results & Round Scoring". Sherdog. Retrieved 2021-06-26.
  19. ^ "Brendan Loughnane, Lance Palmer among fighters set for 2022 PFL 2 card on April 28". sports.yahoo.com. Retrieved 2022-03-29.
  20. ^ Sherdog.com. "PFL 2 2022 Regular Season Play-by-Play, Results & Round Scoring". Sherdog. Retrieved 2022-04-29.
  21. ^ "Cappelozza to fight Scheffel in PFL 5 main event". ESPN.com. 2022-05-26. Retrieved 2022-05-26.
  22. ^ Gonzaga, VH (2022-06-24). "Klidson Abreu surpreende Renan Problema e vence 'gigante' por pontos na PFL 5 2022". SUPER LUTAS (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 2022-06-25.
  23. ^ Cruz, Guilherme (2022-09-23). "Klidson Abreu fails drug test, blames leg injury for now-overturned PFL 5 win over Renan Ferreira". MMA Fighting. Retrieved 2022-09-24.
  24. ^ Meshew, Jed (2022-08-13). "PFL Playoffs 2 results: Rory MacDonald fails to advance to welterweight finals, falls in first round to Dilano Taylor". MMA Fighting. Retrieved 2023-04-27.
  25. ^ Dwornik, Ardi (2023-02-27). "Professional Fighters League Announces Full Card For PFL 2: Heavyweights And Women's Featherweights". ESPN Press Room U.S. Retrieved 2023-02-28.
  26. ^ Sherdog.com. "PLive Now! 2023 PFL 2 Play-by-Play, Results & Round Scoring". Sherdog. Retrieved 2023-04-07.
  27. ^ "7 PFL fighters punished for drug tests; multiple bout results overturned". MMA Junkie. 2023-06-20. Retrieved 2023-06-21.
  28. ^ Lee, Alexander K. (2023-05-12). "PFL announces second-half event lineups following 9 fighters receiving drug test suspensions". MMA Fighting. Retrieved 2023-05-14.
  29. ^ Calhoun, Curtis (2023-06-17). "2023 PFL 5 Results & Highlights: Ante Delija Outpoints Maurice Greene". MMA News | UFC News, Results & Interviews. Retrieved 2023-06-17.
  30. ^ "2023 PFL 5 results: Larissa Pacheco steamrolls, victorious Ante Delija eliminated from playoffs". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. 2023-06-17. Retrieved 2023-06-17.
  31. ^ "Ferreira-Greene leads pair of PFL cards in N.Y." ESPN.com. 2023-07-12. Retrieved 2023-08-17.
  32. ^ "2023 PFL Playoffs 2 results: Renan Ferreira sparks Maurice Greene to claim finals spot". Yahoo Finance. 2023-08-19. Retrieved 2023-09-14.
  33. ^ Heck, Mike (2023-09-20). "PFL announces full 2023 World Championship pay-per-view card". MMA Fighting. Retrieved 2023-10-23.
  34. ^ Erickson, Matt (November 24, 2023). "Renan Ferreira rallies, pounds out Denis Goltsov to win heavyweight crown". MMA Junkie.
  35. ^ Iskenderov, Parviz (16 January 2024). "Renan Ferreira vs Ryan Bader tops PFL vs Bellator on Feb 24". FIGHTMAG.
  36. ^ "Ferreira KOs Bader, paves way for Ngannou bout". ESPN.com. 2024-02-24. Retrieved 2024-02-25.
  37. ^ Damon Martin (2024-08-07). "Francis Ngannou vs. Renan Ferreira, Cris Cyborg vs. Larissa Pacheco headline PFL PPV in October". mmafighting.com. Retrieved 2024-08-07.
  38. ^ Jay Anderson (2024-10-19). "Francis Ngannou Pounds Out Renan Ferreira in Return to MMA, PFL Debut". cagesidepress.com. Retrieved 2024-10-19.
  39. ^ "PFL vs. Bellator: CHAMPS | MMA Event". Tapology.
  40. ^ "PFL Super Fights: Battle of the Giants | MMA Event". Tapology.