Francis Ngannou lost an 15-month-old son. Photo: Reproduction/Twitter/@francisngannou
The former UFC heavyweight champion (up to 120,2kg), Francis Ngannou, is back in MMA. After a hiatus of more than two years and a foray into boxing, the Cameroonian will make his PFL debut on October 19th, in a duel against the Brazilian Renan Problem, champion of the 2023 season in the under-120kg category.
However, Ngannou's return to the octagons is marked by deep pain. In April this year, the fighter lost his son Kobe, just one and a half years old. In an interview with Sky Sports, the former UFC fighter revealed that the loss made him consider retirement, but the decision to continue fighting came as a way of honoring his son's memory and finding a purpose in the midst of pain.
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“It’s not a good time for me. I need some activity. I need to stay active to be in the zone where I belong. I also need to continue, fight for my boy, for Kobe. The last few months have not been the easiest. I think it has been my hardest moment in life by far”, said the heavyweight.
Ngannou highlighted that the fight will not just be a competition, but a way of finding the strength to move forward.
“I lost my son. For a while, I felt like I didn't even have to do this or questioning whether I should do this or fight again. But I want to do something good for his memory. Not to be the reason for me to give up, but to be the motivation and also fight for him”, he concluded.
Ngannou's return to the octagons is eagerly awaited by MMA fans. The Cameroonian, who has a record of six consecutive victories in mixed martial arts, promises to put on a show in his PFL debut.
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