Issue 208
August 2024
Kyle Dimond explores Francis Ngannou's fierce return as he fights not just for victory but to solidify his legacy and honor his lost son.
It's been said that boxing is only as good as the state of the heavyweight division, and Francis Ngannou undoubtedly added to its current revival. He’s the star power who made boxing more exciting during his brief tenure against the ropes. That said, on October 19, he returns to his MMA root, where he makes his long-awaited debut with the PFL.
Ngannou’s story is a well-known tale of unimaginable adversity, and his ability to set his mind on unachievable goals seems to have a way of turning them into reality. His return to MMA is no different as he looks to put a heart-breaking year behind him by reminding everyone who the heavyweight king is.
THROUGH THE RINGER
When Francis Ngannou’s signing to the PFL happened in May last year, no one could have predicted what would be in store. His debut in the SmartCage was pushed back so the big picture could come into view. On October 28, Ngannou would defy expectations after going ten rounds with the consensus best heavyweight boxer in the world, Tyson Fury. Despite making his pro boxing debut, the former UFC heavyweight champion was able to drop Fury and, much to a lot of people’s surprise, trade with him without getting reckless or banking on his power to land punches. He lost a controversial split decision that night, and from the moment the final bell sounded, it was evident that this foray into the boxing world wouldn’t end there. The PFL were happy to wait for his eventual debut and backed their partner, leading Ngannou to another gigantic boxing clash against British superstar Anthony Joshua. At Knockout Chaos on March 8, Ngannou would only make it two rounds with ‘AJ.’ At least for now, the prospect of the MMA star becoming a significant player in the heavyweight boxing division was halted. Fortunately, Ngannou would later reveal during the press conference for his return that he had already signed on the dotted line for his PFL debut.
FIGHTING FOR HIS FAMILY
Just under two months removed from his toughest loss to date, Francis and his family received the worst news imaginable. His 15-month-old son Kobe had passed away, which sent shockwaves around the combat sports world. Tributes flooded in as Ngannou contemplated whether he could compete again. He spoke in front of the media in Washington, DC, about how he made this decision after grieving with his family.
“My goal right now is not just about being back in MMA, it’s about being back in activity in general,” said Ngannou. “It’s being back in what I love, and then I think I always have a purpose. I always look forward for my purpose, the reason why I’m doing and lately, things have been a little tough. I have to question if I have to continue or if I should just hang up the gloves and stuff. Then I realized that it should be a purpose for me. I didn’t have a chance to fight for my son, man, so I think this is it.”
That final sentence, in particular, saw raw emotion replace the excitement in Ngannou’s voice. This will be a psychologically taxing process for him, but at the same time, returning to the gym has been a cathartic experience for Ngannou. The heavyweight knockout artist was clearly happy to be back in familiar territory.
“Going to be honest, it’s nice to be here, and I’m very excited about this and also a little bit nervous,” he said. “I was just behind the stage, and I’m like, okay, it’s been a long time that I haven’t been here, but I remember when I get back to the gym like two months ago, I was also nervous, like maybe I have forgotten how to fight. But, as soon as I get on the mat, I realize he was always there. I feel like I never left. It’s quite exciting, and I’m looking forward to this.”
A PROBLEM OF THE TALLEST ORDER
Finding his feet again in MMA isn’t something that Francis Ngannou can afford to do at The Mayadeen in Riyadh. PFL heavyweight champion Renan Ferreira is one of the only athletes who can match ‘The Predator’ when it comes to freak athletic ability. Standing 6’8 tall, ‘Problema’ is a fighter whose nickname does him justice. He’s had his difficult moments in the PFL. Still, he has won his last four fights via knockout, beating the likes of Denis Goltsov to win a million dollars and then stopping Bellator champion Ryan Bader in just 21 seconds to close out the PFL vs. Bellator event. Despite Ferreira’s highlight-reel of knockouts, he will be facing an opponent who will likely be happy to engage in a test of might, providing that he can put the Joshua defeat behind him. Ngannou might be one of the few people in MMA who could take Ferreira’s knockouts and raise them with his own.
“Well, I mean, everyone is a problem to some extent, and then he’s definitely a problem for some people, and as long as I’m concerned, he’s not a problem against ‘The Predator,’” explained Ngannou. “I don’t think the nickname speaks for itself.”
Even with the narratives heading into this fight, seeing the two men face off for the first time was all the marketing that this bout needs. Battle of the Giants couldn’t be a more fitting name, and despite Ngannou coming in as the favorite, Ferreira is still somewhat of an unknown quantity to many combat sports fans. Jake Paul standing between them served as an excellent visual. At 6’1, ‘The Problem Child’ was dwarfed by the flanking heavyweights.
Ngannou, who has always been respectful to his opponents, showed that same level of appreciation for Ferreira even if their stare-down was a tense affair. Given the power that he also possesses, his opponent’s ability to end fights isn’t something that worries him.
“I’m going to say this, I wasn’t impressed by his knockouts, not because it wasn’t good, because I knew he was capable of doing that,” Ngannou revealed. “I’ve been watching Renan Ferreira before a lot of people knew who he was because I was so impressed by his skills, by his ability, and I saw him enter the PFL season, and I’m like, I put my money on this guy, this is the winner. He’s going to smash everybody. So, I’ve been watching it, and every time, of course, he did. He had a great performance and I wasn’t impressed because I knew that was what he was going to do. I wasn’t expecting any less out of him.”
FINDING STRENGTH FROM HIS SON
The press conference for his return said a lot about Ngannou’s character. Despite having one of the most remarkable stories of anyone in sport, he never fails to resonate with people. Even with the knowledge that he is stepping back into his preferred proving ground, he admitted that there were some doubts in his mind, and yet he intends to face all of this head-on with excitement about what challenges it may bring.
“I [don’t] think the challenge is rewriting myself into mixed martial arts,” said Ngannou. “The challenge is about going out there and delivering and being me again and having that aggression, have that determination so that’s where my challenge is located right now. I don’t have any challenge going back into mixed martial arts. As I said before, I just felt like I was riding the bike, and I used to do, so that’s my challenge.”
Ngannou already had a strong source of motivation for this fight. He's debuting in the PFL and proving that even if he’s not the UFC heavyweight champion anymore, he’s still the baddest man on the planet. Even after the difficult Joshua loss, this would have been a massive moment in his career. To see whether he can come back and be the same fighter but at the end of the day, a loss in the ring is only that. Ngannou has lost much more outside of it.
“As I said earlier, fighting for me is a lifestyle,” he said. “Again, I get to the point that I question myself, if I should continue or if I should just retire, but I didn’t want my son to be the reason for me to do that, so I decided that I will keep doing it, fighting for him. It’s just become my new purpose. My son was 15 months old, but he was very active, and I had a lot of plans in the future for him, and life decide otherwise, so I decide not to make a negative out of his 15 months of living. To find a strength out of him, to find him as a motivation to keep going instead of like to quit, so I think it’s the best way of honoring him.”
Francis Ngannou fought so that he and his loved ones could live a better life. Now, he fights to remember and honor life. 'The Predator' is back, and this time, he's fighting for more than just victory—he’s fighting for legacy. With renewed purpose and unmatched resolve, Ngannou returns to claim what might be rightfully his, and you can bet everyone will be watching.
