Renan Ferreira is known as “Problema”, a 260-pound “problem” for his opponents in MMA cages, and he’s not surprised that opponents don’t want to stand and trade punches with him after some vicious knockouts.
The 2023 PFL season winner stopped opponents in all but one of his PFL wins but saw both Francis Ngannou and Vadim Nemkov shoot for takedowns to secure victories in his past couple of bouts. His next foe is Sergey Bilostenniy, a Russian heavyweight with nine of 14 MMA wins coming by way of knockout, and Ferreira believes it’s “a style that matches up well.”
That doesn’t mean, however, that “Problema” is expecting a pure striking contest Saturday night at PFL Sioux Falls.
“He’s a fast guy, he moves well,” Ferreira told MMA Fighting. “He’s not that big, he’s more of a lighter guy too, so it’s a good fight. But it is what it is. Everyone who fights me wants to grapple, wants to wrestle, so I’m already aware of that. From now on I’m gonna turn into a wrestler in this sh*t [laughs].”
“People know my strengths,” he continued. “I have good distance, good movement, and I can counter very well. They don’t want to take risks. They want to get into a grappling game, close the distance — where they have a bit more advantage —, and reduce my power.”
Ferreira has used takedowns in past fights, too, and he knows it works when you’re talented enough to use it to your advantage.
“We always train grappling, wrestling, everything, and we’re ready for all areas,” Ferreira said. “Heavyweight is no joke, man. Once someone ends up on top, if they’ve got heavy hips and know how to position and strike from the top, it’s hard for the opponent to get back up. Every time I’ve been on top, nobody gets up. It’s complicated, but I’m ready, man.”
The 36-year-old heavyweight said he feels no pressure being back to the cage after consecutive defeats. Instead, he chooses to stay “focused on what’s ahead” in PFL.
“I had those setbacks, but they were against elite guys, the very top of the top,” Ferreira said. “Just having the opportunity to be there and fight those guys already puts me in a different position because not everyone gets there. I’m good, no pressure at all. I really want to get back on the winning track.”
Ferreira respects Bilostenniy as “a tough opponent who wants to beat a champion” and make a name for himself in PFL, and that’s why he worked very hard at American Top Team in Florida to be “ready for a war.” If everything goes right Saturday night, “Problema” feels he could get a rematch with Nemkov for heavyweight gold.
“You know I’m a big name in the PFL,” Ferreira said. “I’ve delivered great performances here, helped the promotion grow a lot. People like watching me fight, my aggressive style sells. Everything is there for me to get back on track and earn another title shot. It’s a big opportunity.”
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