RIYADH, Saudi Arabia – Francis Ngannou did indeed bring the fury when he made his return to MMA on Saturday night.
The word ‘purpose’ was a common one during fight week, with Ngannou frequently reiterating that the passing of his 15-month-old son Kobe earlier this year was the reason why he wanted to continue fighting on.
Drake’s God’s Plan was Ngannou’s walkout tune, and it felt appropriate with Ngannou making the return to the sport which made him the sporting superstar he is today, it felt inevitable that the cage would become his home once more.
Labelled Battle of the Giants, a 6’ 8” giant in the opposite corner of the cage in the form of Renan Ferreira, a knockout machine who was looking to prove himself against the very best.
As the two stared each other down before the opening bell, anticipation filled the air and straightaway they wasted no time in showcasing their power.
Exchanging leg kicks, both fighters were briefly off balance and immediately there was a sense that this fight could be set for an early finish.
The contest then went to the ground with Ngannou slamming Ferreira down to the floor, and every seat in the arena felt the huge thump as the Brazilian’s body hit the canvas.
For a period, it looked like it was Ferreira who was going to use grappling to his advantage after locking in a triangle choke, but Ngannou used his superhuman strength to escape.
“The Predator” was then back on top of his prey, and unleashed a brutal ground and pound. The force of every punch could be felt cageside, and the fight was stopped by the referee with just under 90 seconds remaining and Ngannou was now the new PFL Super Fights heavyweight champion.
Ngannou’s emotion poured out once the fight was brought to a close. When asked how he felt after the win, there was only one thing on his mind.
“I don’t know,” Ngannou said as he tried to hold back the tears.
“I can’t think about anything, except Kobe.”
After spending a brief amount of time with Ngannou during fight week, you would not think that he is a human who can knockout opponents with such ease.
He is someone who cares for those closest to him and his community, and this was even on show after he landed multiple blows to Ferreira’s head, caring for his beaten rival after a short, but violent battle.
What comes next? Only Ngannou knows.
It’s clear that he wants to continue giving back to the community he came from in Batie, Cameroon, and inspire those looking to make a name for themselves in the modern world.
PFL Africa, which begins in 2025, is a prime example of that, giving African fighters the platform to elevate themselves in the world of MMA, something which Ngannou had to fight tooth and nail for.
But, if he does decide to call time on his combat sports career, he can do so with the peace of mind that he will have made his son Kobe proud.