Renan Ferreira: Potential PFL Championship the ‘Culmination of a Dream’

Renan Ferreira stands just two victories away from a life-changing moment.

The Brazilian known as “Problema” will square off against Maurice Greene in the heavyweight semifinals at PFL 8 on Friday night at The Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York. The evening’s main card airs on ESPN and ESPN+ at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT, with Ferreira vs. Greene serving as the featured attraction. Ferreira is well aware of the magnitude of what lies ahead.

“I’ve gone through phases in my life where I didn’t have something to eat, I didn’t have a place to sleep. This for me is a culmination of a dream already,” Ferreira said through a translator during a press conference on Monday. “To be out here fighting in the semifinals, to have an opportunity to hold the belt, to be fighting in a major promotion, this is already the culmination of my dream. Going out there and winning $1 million, changing the financial status of my family, this is what matters to me.”

Ferreira was originally supposed to face Marcelo Nunes in the bracket, but Greene stepped in as a replacement after Nunes suffered an injury. Ferreira is confident that he will perform well despite the change.

“Once you’re in this tournament, you know you’re gonna fight tough guys regardless of who it is…it doesn’t really matter,” he said. “Obviously you have to change and adjust training just from a perspective of the opponent’s fortes. I just feel extremely well prepared mentally and physically.”

There was some back-and-forth banter between the two heavyweights on Monday during the media event, as Greene questioned Ferreira’s ability to engage on the canvas.

“You go back and look at his fights, as a Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt, there’s no jiu-jitsu,” Greene said. “I’m curious who gave him that s—t, or if he went and bought it at Macy’s or something.”

According to Ferreira, Greene is simply trying to avoid exchanging against an opponent who is known for quick finishes on the feet.

“He just wants to provoke me, really,” Ferreira said. “He wants to try to change my game plan. He’s just scared of my hands. He knows once these hands touch him, he’s gonna feel it.”

With that being said, Ferreira is also aware that Greene presents a formidable challenge with his size and skills.

“He knows how to scrap, he knows how to move. He’s a tall guy. He’s got good reach on him, he’s got really good boxing,” Ferreira said. “He knows how to make his opponents make mistakes and capitalize on it.”

Ultimately, Ferreira plans on imposing his will against the UFC veteran.

“If you watch my fights, you see I only know one way — that’s to move forward,” Ferreira said. “Just look at the results. He’s just trying to find a way to destabilize me and put me off my game. He’s the scared one here.”