​Former PFL heavyweight champion Renan Ferreira has trouvé a fresh landing spot. Ferreira, who has a 13-6 record, is set to clash with Khusein Adamov (14-3) in the co-main event of UAE Warriors 72, scheduled for July 23 at Space 42 Arena in Abu Dhabi. The bout will stream on UFC Fight Pass. A person familiar with the situation told MMA Junkie on Tuesday, requesting anonymity as UAE Warriors has yet to make an official announcement.
Ferreira is the 2023 PFL heavyweight season champion and will attempt to halt a three-fight losing streak. His skid began with a knockout defeat to Francis Ngannou in October 2024 and continued with losses to Vadim Nemkov and, most recently, Sergey Bilostenniy at PFL Sioux Falls in May. At 36 years old, the Brazilian hasn’t secured a win since he finished Ryan Bader in a rapid 21 seconds back in February 2024.
Adamov brings a robust resume, having finished 12 of his 14 professional victories. The Russian has been undefeated in four of his last five bouts and has not fought since a split draw with Yerlan Shakhishev for the Naiza FC heavyweight title in May 2025.
The current UAE Warriors 72 card includes a mix of title fights and feature matchups, and Ferreira-Adamov is positioned as a standout co-main event. The lineup also features Asaf Chopurov versus Reece McLaren for the UAE Warriors bantamweight title, along with several other notable Filipino, Russian, and regional competitors across a range of divisions.
Other bouts announced for UAE Warriors 72 include Peter Danesoe vs. Ali Taleb, Shamidkhan Magomedov vs. Evgeny Morozov, Pavel Andrusca vs. Ge Xipengchu, Tumelo Manyamala vs. Victor Nunes, Imamshafi Aliev vs. Gian Siqueira, Maysara Mohamed vs. Kun Zhou, Roman Gusev vs. Mohammed Saleh, Ruslan Nazhmudinov vs. Murad Ramazanov, Ata Atdayev vs. Paulo Victor, Yazid Chouchane vs. Ramazan Ragimov, Elene Loladze vs. Oceane Samson, and Salih Muradov vs. Sahil Shakirov.
This report initially appeared on MMA Junkie, noting that Ex-PFL champion Renan Ferreira has signed with UAE Warriors and will debut on the July 23 event lineup, a move that positions him for another chapter in his ongoing professional journey.