After the tragic loss of his son, Kobe, former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou considered retirement.
However, he ultimately decided that continuing his MMA career was the best way to honor his son’s memory.
Ngannou, who briefly ventured into boxing, plans to return to mixed martial arts on October 19. He will make his debut in the Professional Fighters League (PFL) against Brazil’s Renan Ferreira in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
At a recent press conference promoting the event, the Cameroonian fighter revealed that he seriously thought about ending his career after announcing in April that his 15-month-old son had passed away.
Francis Ngannou shed tears at the #PFL press-conference 😞
Advertisement“I didn’t have a chance to fight for my son, man. So I think this is it.”
🎥 @pfl #MMA pic.twitter.com/JEWpQS9tW6
— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) August 22, 2024
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“I wondered if I should retire or keep going, but I didn’t want my son’s passing to be the reason I stopped fighting,” Ngannou shared. “Instead, I decided to fight on in his honor. This has given me a new purpose. My son was very active for his 15 months, and I had many dreams for his future, but life had other plans. I’ve chosen to turn his short life into something positive by continuing my journey. It’s the best way I can honor him.”
In January 2023, Ngannou lost his UFC heavyweight title after contract negotiations fell through. He then signed with the PFL, which allowed him to pursue boxing as well. He faced Tyson Fury in a controversial points decision last October and was knocked out by Anthony Joshua in March. Despite these setbacks, the 37-year-old hasn’t ruled out a return to boxing.
“I still have some boxing matches left in me,” Ngannou admitted. “But for now, my focus is on this upcoming fight. After that, I’ll see what’s possible and make a decision.”
Ngannou expressed a mix of excitement and nerves as he prepares for his first MMA fight since his unanimous decision victory over Ciryl Gane in January 2022, his only UFC title defense. He’ll face Renan Ferreira, who has 13 wins in 19 fights with only three losses. Ferreira, the reigning PFL heavyweight champion, earned his shot against Ngannou by knocking out Bellator heavyweight champion Ryan Bader in February.
During their face-off, moderated by YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul, Ferreira issued a stern warning to Ngannou.
“He’s a great athlete, but the cage brings its own set of challenges,” Ferreira said. “He’s got a big problem on his hands. I have knockout power, I can wrestle, I can take him to the ground, and I can submit him. Francis has had a tough year, but the toughest challenge he’ll face is me.”
