Francis Ngannou appears next to Kamaru Usman No. UFC Atlanta. Photo: Reproduction/X
Former heavyweight champion (up to 120,2 kg), Francis Ngannou surprised by appearing at the ceremonial weigh-in of UFC Atlanta, held on Friday night (13). The Cameroonian is in Georgia (USA) to support his friend and former training partner, Kamaru Usman, in the main fight in front of Joaquin buckley.
After disagreements with UFC President Dana White and his controversial departure from the organization in 2023, Francis Ngannou reappeared in Ultimate territory. His presence at the weigh-in ceremony of UFC Atlanta, event that had Kamaru Usman as the main attraction against Joaquin buckley, generated immediate reactions.
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The Cameroonian, dressed discreetly, stood next to Usman during the official ritual, exchanged greetings with fighters and members of the athletic commission, and avoided making public statements. The scene contrasted with his absence in the last two years.
The appearance came at a strategic time for Ngannou. After making his PFL debut in October 2024 with a knockout victory over Renan Problem, the fighter maintains an active contract with the UFC's rival organization. Donn Davis, the company's president, has already revealed intentions that the fighter should hold a boxing match and an MMA match later this year, although the order remains undefined.
Ngannou is friends with Usman
The Ngannou-Usman duo symbolizes an era of African dominance in the UFC, alongside the Nigerian Israel adesanya. Between 2021 and 2022, the three held belts simultaneously — an unprecedented feat for the continent.
Ngannou clashed with Dana White, dropped the belt, became a villain, made a fortune abroad and fought once in the PFL. Today, he showed up at the weigh-in with Usman.
The man wants to come back. And the UFC, which treated him as persona non grata… will let him? That's fine with me!
— Igor Ribeiro (@igorribeiromma) June 13, 2025
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