Renan Ferreira lands in UAE Warriors 72, set to face Khusein Adamov on July 23

Renan Ferreira is making a new start outside the PFL. According to reports first shared by MMA Junkie and later carried by Yahoo Sports, the former PFL heavyweight champion has signed with UAE Warriors and will debut at UAE Warriors 72 on July 23 at Space 42 Arena in Abu Dhabi.

The fight booking pairs Ferreira with Khusein Adamov in what is expected to be one of the event’s key matchups. UAE Warriors 72 is set for streaming on UFC Fight Pass, giving the matchup a direct path to an international audience rather than being confined to a local broadcast footprint.

Ferreira enters the matchup with a record of 13-6, and the context around his move is as important as the matchup itself. MMA Junkie reported that Ferreira is trying to snap a three-fight losing streak. That run, as described in the report, began with a knockout loss to Francis Ngannou in October 2024 and continued with stoppage defeats to Vadim Nemkov and, most recently, Sergey Bilostenniy at PFL Sioux Falls in May.

The Brazilian’s recent results have also sharpened the stakes of his UAE Warriors debut. MMA Junkie noted he has not won since finishing Ryan Bader in February 2024, when the stoppage came in an extremely fast 21 seconds. Against Adamov, Ferreira is not only looking for a return to the win column, but also for a performance that can reset how matchmakers view him as he switches promotions.

Adamov, the scheduled opponent, brings strong finishing tendencies into the co-main setting. MMA Junkie reported that the Russian has finished 12 of his 14 professional wins and is unbeaten in four of his past five fights. The report also said he has not fought since competing for the Naiza FC heavyweight title, where he fought Yerlan Shakishev to a split draw in May 2025.

For UAE Warriors, the addition of a former PFL champion carries immediate credibility. Ferreira is a recognizable name in modern heavyweight MMA, and the promotion’s willingness to place him in the co-main slot suggests a plan to strengthen its top of the card with a credible, high-ceiling opponent in Adamov. It also creates a contrast-style matchup, with Ferreira’s championship résumé from PFL-era competition meeting a Russian contender described as frequently finishing.

What to watch next is the same question facing both fighters: can Ferreira’s downward trajectory be reversed quickly, and can Adamov keep turning his momentum into stoppages on the sport’s larger stages? Because the reports referenced an expectation of official confirmation only after UAE Warriors announced it publicly, the most important immediate follow-up is whether the promotion publishes final bout details and official fighter billing for UAE Warriors 72.