Francis Ngannou‘s PFL debut couldn’t have been better than how it went. The Cameroonian fighter continued his dominance inside the cage by defeating opponent Renan Ferreira in order to win the championship. However, Ngannou was overshadowed by a sense of grief instead of the joy of accomplishment.
Earlier this year, Francis Ngannou tragically lost his 15-month-old son, Kobe. The devastating event nearly pushed him to retire from fighting. Despite the immense grief, the former UFC champion found the strength to continue his training for the bout. After winning in such dominant fashion, Ngannou delivered an emotional speech, opening up about his ultimate loss.
They’ve been telling me I’m tough…I recently just found out that I wasn’t tough. You kind of ask yourself ‘is this ever gonna be over’. You think it might never be over, you just may as well learn how to live with it… I don’t think a lifetime would be enough to grieve.
Francis Ngannou via PFL post-fight presser
After his son’s death, Ngannou was depressed, and all he wanted to do was mourn his son’s death. However, he decided to continue fighting it for his late son and his memories. Right after the win, Ngannou burst into tears and thanked his son for giving him the strength to win against Ferreira.
Francis Ngannou opens up on his emotional win over Renan Ferreira on the #PFLSuperFights card:
“They’ve been telling me I’m tough and then I just recently found out I’m not tough. … I don’t think a lifetime will be enough to grieve.” pic.twitter.com/Fl4G0tBdDD
— MMA Fighting (@MMAFighting) October 20, 2024
Francis Ngannou: “I can’t think of anything but my son Kobe. I took this fight because of him, I wanted to fight for him.”
“Without Kobe, we wouldn’t be here tonight. I hope they can remember his name.” #PFLSuperFights
❤️
— ACD MMA (@acdmma_) October 19, 2024
Before this, Ngannou had participated in two major boxing matches against Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua. Although he earned significantly from both fights, he ultimately fell short, losing both bouts. However, the ‘Predator’ has returned to his true habitat, and his performance has impressed fans and experts alike.
Francis Ngannou receives praise from UFC rival for PFL win
Francis Ngannou‘s departure from the UFC faced various criticism from fans and experts. UFC CEO Dana White accused the former heavyweight champion of ducking Jon Jones despite being offered a huge sum of money.
Ngannou, as expected, refuted the claims and accused White of controlling the narrative against him. Since then, Jon Jones and the ‘Predator’ have been in a quiet rivalry on who would win a fight. In the latest tweet, ‘Bones’ complimented Ngannou on his flawless performance.
What an amazing job Francis did tonight, displayed a complete MMA game. Great kicks, great takedowns. It feels good to see him shine. Wow congratulations Champ, I see you.
Jon Jones via X
What an amazing job Francis did tonight, displayed a complete MMA game. Great kicks, great takedowns. It feels good to see him shine. Wow congratulations Champ, I see you.
— BONY (@JonnyBones) October 20, 2024
Dana White has already dismissed any talks of a cross-promotion fight with the PFL. After the recent comments from the PFL co-founder regarding the UFC, the chances seem virtually nonexistent. Nevertheless, for fight fans, a heavyweight showdown between Jon Jones and Francis Ngannou remains a dream match. It will be fascinating to see how Ngannou builds on his latest victory.
