PFL Chairman Favors Ryan Bader & Renan Ferreira Over 'Not Particularly Interesting' UFC Heavyweights: 'Outside Of Jon Jones...'

Donn Davis, the founder and chairman of the Professional Fighters League, is extremely high on his promotion's heavyweight division, even believing it surpasses that of the UFC.

The PFL will kick off its first year with the Bellator brand under its umbrella this weekend in Saudi Arabia, where Riyadh plays host to an event pitting both promotions' best against one another.

And the main event spotlight will be on the big men, as 2023 PFL Heavyweight Champion Renan Ferreira gets set to battle his Bellator counterpart, Ryan Bader, in the Middle East.

PFL higher-ups have been promising fireworks in the lead-up to Saturday's card, with particular focus on the two behemoths set to throw down in the headliner. 

While promoting the matchup, the organization's founder even suggested that both men sit as the best heavyweights aside from Jon Jones and Francis Ngannou on the planet.

Davis: Ferreira/Bader Winner Will Be Top Heavyweight Contender Across All Organizations

While previewing the upcoming PFL vs. Bellator event during an interview with The Independent, Davis proclaimed that whoever wins the main event between Ferreira and Bader will establish themselves as the top contender in heavyweight MMA, regardless of the promotion.

"I believe the winner of 'La Problema' and Bader will interest Francis Ngannou,” Davis said. "I think whoever comes out of this (victorious) has proven themselves to truly be the number one contender in heavyweight MMA – not just in our organization."

Davis doubled down on his claim by dismissing other rosters, even suggesting that Jon Jones sits as the only UFC heavyweight above "La Problema" and "Darth" Bader.

"Bader has ruled the roost in Bellator for five years; 'La Problema' is the toughest, most athletic opponent in the world," Davis stated. "I don’t know who’s gonna win that, but I think whoever wins that can lay claim to challenge Francis – and I’m interested to see if Francis accepts that.

"I think outside of Francis Ngannou and Jon Jones, these are the two best heavyweights in the world," Davis continued. "People don’t think that, because of the UFC brand, but the rest of the heavyweights in the UFC are not particularly interesting. Stipe (Miocic) was, but he’s 41, he’s got one fight left. Then there’s nobody else on the rise there that’s any better or any more interesting than this matchup of 'La Problema' and Bader."

Tom Aspinall, Ciryl Gane, Jailton Almeida, and Curtis Blaydes — to name a few — may like a word. And that's without considering the offerings elsewhere, such as ONE double champion Anatoly Malykhin.

But on Saturday night, Ferreira and Bader have the chance to prove their boss' assessment correct by emerging victorious as the PFL and Bellator's leading active heavyweight fighter.

And perhaps the result will pave the way for the victor to welcome Ngannou to the SmartCage when the Cameroonian directs his focus back to MMA following his stint in the ring.