Oleg Popov open to fight Ngannou, but wants Goltsov rematch
Oleg Popov speaks to MMA Junkie and other media following his decision won over Alexandr Romanov at Thursday’s 2025 PFL World Tournament 10.
HOLLYWOOD, Fla. – Oleg Popov is down to tussle with the big man Francis Ngannou, but he first has an order of business as PFL champion.
Popov won the 2025 PFL heavyweight tournament, defeating former UFC fighter Alexandr Romanov in the co-main event of 2025 PFL World Tournament 10 this past Thursday. It was the first major belt for Popov’s 24-fight career as a professional MMA fighter.
Now with a belt in hand, many wonder if Popov is the right man to take on PFL’s biggest star, Ngannou. Popov is keen on the matchup, but ideally he’d like to avenge his loss to Denis Goltsov, the man that beat him in the final of the 2024 PFL heavyweight tournament.
“I want Goltsov, but if PFL suggest to me Ngannou, let’s do it,” Popov said in Russian through a translator at the 2025 PFL World Tournament 10 post-fight press conference.
Goltsov is coming off a loss to Corey Anderson last month at PFL Champions Series 2 in South Africa. It’s unknown how likely PFL would match up Popov, their new champion, against a rival coming off a loss. Should they go the Ngannou route, Popov feels confident in his skill set to take on the former UFC champion.
“(I’m) faster, better pace and better in the wrestling,” Popov said. “He just has heavy shots. That’s it.”
As far as the tournament, Popov very much enjoyed this new format for the PFL. There’s no longer the season and point system to qualify to the tournament, and that is a positive change for Popov.
“This year is much better,” Popov said. “Last year, they had a points system, and now you can just win and move forward.”
