Rahmani Vows to Dominate Ngannou in Cage
Undefeated heavyweight Pouya Rahmani says he would beat former UFC champion Francis Ngannou in a fight.
Updated on Nov. 6, 2026 in Mixed Martial Arts
Pouya Rahmani, an undefeated 6-0 heavyweight and Iranian national wrestling champion, claimed he would dominate former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou if they met in the cage. Rahmani made the remarks in an interview with Home of Fight.
Why it matters
The comments add a high-profile name to the heavyweight conversation as Rahmani prepares for his seventh professional MMA appearance. Ngannou's next fight has not been confirmed, leaving any matchup speculative.
Rahmani holds a 6-0 professional record with four submission and two knockout finishes, while Ngannou lost to Stipe Miocic by decision at UFC 220 in 2018. No matchup between the two has been booked, and Ngannou's next opponent remains unconfirmed.
The players
Pouya Rahmani
Iranian national wrestling champion and undefeated heavyweight mixed martial artist competing in the PFL.
Francis Ngannou
Cameroonian former UFC heavyweight champion known for his knockout power and wrestling-based wins.
The details
Rahmani, who fights at heavyweight in the PFL, said he was a national team freestyle wrestler and world champion and predicted a one-sided result against Ngannou. Ngannou, a former UFC champion, last won in May by finishing Philipe Lins on Netflix and defeated Ciryl Gane in 2022 using wrestling.
Timeline
2018: Ngannou lost to Stipe Miocic at UFC 220.
2022: Ngannou defeated Ciryl Gane.
May: Ngannou finished Philipe Lins on Netflix.
November 14: Rahmani fights at PFL Dubai in his seventh pro MMA appearance.
Season Trajectory
Rahmani's challenge places him in the orbit of Ngannou's career, which was defined by his 2022 win over Ciryl Gane using wrestling. The PFL heavyweight division now features a fighter claiming a direct path to a former UFC champion, reshaping the competitive picture in the weight class.
Fantasy and pick'em players tracking the PFL heavyweight division should note Rahmani's November 14 bout at PFL Dubai as his seventh pro appearance. Any Rahmani-Ngannou matchup remains unbooked, so it carries no scheduling consequence yet.
The takeaway
Undefeated records and bold claims are easy to make before a fight is booked, so readers should weigh Rahmani's prediction against an actual scheduled bout.
What happens next
Rahmani's seventh professional MMA appearance is scheduled for November 14 at PFL Dubai.
Further reading
For more on the sport, see the Mixed Martial Arts section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Bloody Elbow.
