About our Francis Ngannou news
Latest news on Francis Ngannou, a professional mixed martial artist and boxer who was born in Cameroon and now lives in the United States.
Ngannou was born on 5 September 1986 in Batié, a village in Cameroon. He grew up in a poor family and had little formal education. His parents divorced when he was six years old, and he was sent to live with his aunt. He started working in a sand quarry at the age of 10 to help his family survive.
Ngannou dreamed of becoming a boxer like his idol Mike Tyson, but he had no access to proper training or facilities. He joined Fatah, a local gang, to protect himself from other gangs, but he never got involved in any criminal activities. He decided to pursue boxing at the age of 22, but he faced many obstacles and challenges. He contracted malaria and had to stop training for a year. He also had no money or support from his family or friends.
Ngannou decided to leave Cameroon and go to Paris, France, to chase his boxing dream. He embarked on a dangerous journey across the Sahara desert and the Mediterranean sea, risking his life and facing hunger, thirst, violence, and imprisonment. He spent two months in a Spanish jail for illegally crossing the border. He finally reached Paris in 2013, but he had no place to stay or anyone to help him. He slept on the streets and in homeless shelters for several months.
Ngannou met Francis Carmont, a fellow Cameroonian and a mixed martial artist, who introduced him to Fernand Lopez and the MMA Factory gym. Lopez saw Ngannou's potential and offered him free training and accommodation at the gym. Ngannou agreed to try MMA instead of boxing, and he quickly learned the basics of wrestling, grappling, and striking. He made his professional MMA debut in 2013, winning by knockout in the second round.
Ngannou won his first five MMA fights by knockout or submission, attracting the attention of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), the largest MMA promotion in the world. He signed with the UFC in 2015 and made his debut in December of that year, winning by knockout in the second round. He continued to impress with his performances, earning six consecutive wins by knockout or submission, including four Performance of the Night bonuses. He became one of the most feared and popular fighters in the heavyweight division.
Ngannou challenged Stipe Miocic for the UFC heavyweight title in January 2018, but he lost by unanimous decision after five rounds. It was his first loss in the UFC and his first loss since 2013. He admitted that he underestimated Miocic and overestimated himself, and that he learned a lot from the defeat. He also revealed that he suffered from health issues before the fight, such as fatigue, stress, and depression.
Ngannou bounced back from his loss with two spectacular knockouts over Curtis Blaydes and Cain Velasquez in 2018 and 2019 respectively. However, he also suffered another setback when he lost by unanimous decision to Derrick Lewis in July 2018, in what was considered one of the worst fights in UFC history. Ngannou admitted that he was afraid to lose again and that he lacked confidence and motivation. He apologized to his fans and vowed to improve his mental game.
Ngannou regained his momentum with four more stunning knockouts over Junior dos Santos, Jairzinho Rozenstruik, Alistair Overeem, and Jarod Cannonier between 2019 and 2021. He earned three more Performance of the Night bonuses and broke the record for the most knockouts in UFC heavyweight history with 12. He also improved his skills in wrestling, grappling, cardio, and defense. He earned another shot at the UFC heavyweight title against Miocic in March 2021.
Ngannou decided to leave the UFC and sign with the Professional Fighters League (PFL) in 2021, citing his dissatisfaction with the UFC's pay, treatment, and matchmaking. He also wanted to pursue his boxing dream and challenge Tyson Fury, the WBC heavyweight champion and one of the best boxers in the world. He received the support and training of Mike Tyson, his childhood idol, who agreed to be his coach and mentor. He also received the approval of Dana White, the president of the UFC, who wished him well and said that he would always be welcome back in the UFC.
Ngannou faced Fury in a boxing match on October 28th 2023 in Saudi Arabia. The fight was under the official rules of professional boxing, with three judges and 10 rounds. Ngannou's MMA titles was not be on the line, but Fury's WBC title was. Fury won the bout via a 10-round split decision.