Francis Ngannou has disclosed that he considered retiring after the death of his 15-month-old son, Kobe.
The former UFC Heavyweight Champion hasn’t fought in MMA since leaving the UFC last year. His last fight was a victory over Ciryl Gane at UFC 270 in 2022. Contract negotiations with the UFC fell through, leading Ngannou to sign with the PFL, but he opted for two boxing matches instead. He debuted against Tyson Fury in boxing, narrowly missing out on a decision win.
Ngannou suffered a split decision loss to Fury and was later knocked out by Anthony Joshua in March. His son passed away shortly after. This tragic event raised doubts about Ngannou’s future in fighting. Despite securing his financial future with the Fury and Joshua fights, Ngannou is set to fight Renan Ferreira on his PFL debut on October 19, ruling out retirement.
Reflecting on Retirement
“I lost my son. For a while, I questioned whether I should continue or fight again… But I want to honor his memory. Not to quit because of him but to be motivated and fight for him. It’s not that I came close to retiring.
“In such circumstances, you have different thoughts. You see how fragile life is. You feel hurt, powerless, and useless. You question your existence and the importance of everything… It’s not that I seriously considered retiring. It’s just that you have to deal with unexpected challenges,” Ngannou explained.
Ngannou is now focused on other endeavors. He is the Chairman of PFL Africa, which will launch its play-off season next year, showcasing Africa’s top talent in search of the next Ngannou. However, he must first overcome Ferreira, who recently defeated Ryan Bader at the PFL vs. Bellator: Champs card.
Ngannou’s Comeback
The crossover event marked the first since the PFL acquired Bellator last year. Bader also won the 2023 PFL Heavyweight Championship by knocking out Denis Goltsov. A win over Ferreira would establish Ngannou as the top fighter in the PFL. Although fans still hope for a Ngannou vs. Jon Jones fight, this is the next best thing. Both fighters are prepared for the challenge ahead.
