He was sent to the canvas three times in Saudi Arabia as Joshua earned a knockout victory in two rounds.

Ngannou had raised expectations after sensationally knocking down WBC heavyweight world champion Tyson Fury before losing via a split decision verdict last October.

The Cameroonian is now expected to return to action in September or October, but is due to make his return in MMA.

Francis Ngannou is due to return in September or October after his loss to Anthony Joshua

The ex-UFC heavyweight champion suffered a second round knockout in Riyadh last month

Ngannou signed an ‘exclusive global MMA strategic partnership’ with the Professional Fighters League last May, but has yet to make his debut in promotion.

PFL boss Donn Davis has revealed Ngannou is due to fight Brazilian fighter Renan Ferreira in his debut later this year.

‘We talked to Francis and he said before the fight in Saudi Arabia that he planned to come in MMA this year,’ Davis told the Mirror.

‘It just depended on the outcome of that fight, he said if he lost that it’ll be sooner and if he won it would have been later, so it will be sooner.

‘He says he is recharging, he went home to Cameroon after the [Joshua] fight. We think it will be autumn, it could be as early as September or as later as October.

‘I think it will be one of those two but he will be ready.

‘It’ll be a little over two years since we’ve seen Francis in MMA and we are excited to see him in the SmartCage against Renan Ferreira.’

Ferreira set up the fight after beating Ryan Bader’s on the PFL Champions vs Bellator Champions card in February.

Ngannou is due to make his PFL debut after signing a contract with the promotion last year

His debut with the promotion is expected to come against Brazilian star Renan Ferreira

PFL champion Ferreira comes into the bout with a record of 13 wins and three losses.

Ngannou will take part in PFL’s Super-fight division, which allows fighters to earn at least 50 per cent of the pay-per-view revenue.

He had left the UFC last January despite reportedly turning down an offer that would have made him the highest-paid heavyweight of all time.

The fighter was released by the organisation and stripped of his heavyweight belt after taking the decision not to renew his contract with the promotion.

Despite his loss to Joshua and his upcoming mixed martial arts return, Ngannou has previously stressed he is not finished with boxing.