| Francis Ngannou | |
|---|---|
.png) Ngannou in 2023 | |
| Born | Francis Zavier Ngannou (1986-09-05)5 September 1986 (age 39) Batié, Cameroon |
| Nickname | The Predator |
| Residence | Paris, France |
| Nationality | Cameroonian French[1][2] |
| Height | 6 ft 4 in (193 cm) |
| Weight | 257 lb (117 kg; 18 st 5 lb) |
| Division | Heavyweight |
| Reach | 83 in (211 cm)[3] |
| Fighting out of | Las Vegas,Nevada, U.S.[5] |
| Team | MMA Factory (2013–2018)[6][7] UFC Performance Institute[8] Xtreme Couture (2018–present)[7] |
| Trainer | Eric Nicksick (Head coach)[9] Dewey Cooper (Striking coach, 2017–present)[10][11] Fernand Lopez (formerly) |
| Years active | 2013–present |
| Professional boxing record | |
| Total | 2 |
| Losses | 2 |
| By knockout | 1 |
| Kickboxing record | |
| Total | 1 |
| Wins | 1 |
| Mixed martial arts record | |
| Total | 21 |
| Wins | 18 |
| By knockout | 13 |
| By submission | 4 |
| By decision | 1 |
| Losses | 3 |
| By decision | 3 |
| Other information | |
| Mixed martial arts record fromSherdog | |
Francis Zavier Ngannou[12][13] (born 5 September 1986)[14] is a Cameroonian and French[15] professionalmixed martial artist andprofessional boxer who currently competes in theHeavyweight division of theProfessional Fighters League (PFL), where he is the inauguralPFL Super Fights Heavyweight Champion.[16] He previously competed in theheavyweight division in theUltimate Fighting Championship (UFC) from 2015 to 2022, where he was the reigningUFC Heavyweight Champion at the time of his departure from the promotion. Known for his punching power, Ngannou was widely viewed as the most destructive pure puncher in the UFC's heavyweight division;[17] he ended seven of his fourteen UFC fights by knockout before the two-minute mark in the first round. He is considered the lineal heavyweight champion in mixed martial arts.[18]
Ngannou was born and raised in the village ofBatié,Cameroon.[19] He lived in poverty and had little formal education growing up.[20] Ngannou's parents divorced when he was six years old, and he was sent to live with his aunt. At 10 years old, Ngannou started working in a sand quarry in Batié because of a lack of funds.[21][22] As a youngster, he was approached by several gangs in his village to join them.[23] However, Ngannou refused and instead decided to use his father's negative reputation as astreet fighter as motivation to do something positive and pursue boxing.[23]
At age 22, Ngannou began training inboxing, despite the initial reluctance of his family.[23] After training for a year, Ngannou stopped training due to an illness.[24] He did various odd jobs to make ends meet, until age 26 when he decided to head toParis,France, to pursueprofessional boxing.[25] However upon reaching Europe, he was jailed for two months in Spain for illegally crossing the border.[26] After he reached Paris, he had no money, no friends, and no place to live.[20] After living homeless on the streets of Paris, Ngannou found his way to a boxing club where he met coach Didier Carmont (cousin ofFrancis Carmont) who was understanding toward his situation. Carmont convinced the gym to let him train at no cost and introduced Ngannou to the sport of MMA. Additionally, Ngannou became a volunteer at Lo Chorba, a non-profit organization in Paris.[27] When his boxing gym closed for the summer, Lo Chorba's director, Khater Yenbou, introduced Ngannou toFernand Lopez and theMMA factory.[28] Being a fan ofMike Tyson, Ngannou was originally interested in learning how to box but Lopez saw his potential in MMA and convinced him to try MMA instead.[25] Lopez gave Ngannou some MMA gear and allowed him to train and sleep at the gym for no cost thus starting Ngannou's MMA career.[25]
Reflecting on his journey across continents and his decision to become an MMA fighter, Ngannou said:[20][25]
When I started, I had nothing. Nothing. I needed everything. But when you start [to earn money], you starting collecting things: I want this, I want this, I want that. The purpose is not collecting things, though. The purpose is to do something great. Finish the dream you started.I want to help my family, first, of course, but then I want to give opportunity to children in my country like me who have a dream to become a doctor or something. If I reach my dream, it will give me the opportunity to help those in my country who have their own dreams and nothing else to fulfill them.[excessive quote]
Ngannou started his MMA career in November 2013 and fought mostly in the French promotion100% Fight, as well as other regional promotions in Europe.[29] He compiled a record of 5–1 before signing with theUFC.[30]
Ngannou made his UFC debut against fellow newcomerLuis Henrique on 19 December 2015, atUFC on Fox 17.[31] He won the fight via knockout in the second round.[32]
Ngannou next faced UFC newcomerCurtis Blaydes on 10 April 2016, atUFC Fight Night 86.[33] He won the fight via TKO, due to doctor stoppage at the end of the second round.[34]
In his next bout, Ngannou faced another newcomer in Bojan Mihajlović on 23 July 2016, atUFC on Fox 20.[35] He won the fight via TKO in the first round.[36] Ngannou then facedAnthony Hamilton on 9 December 2016, atUFC Fight Night 102.[37] He won the fight by submission in the first round, and earned his first UFCPerformance of the Night bonus.[38][39]
Ngannou facedAndrei Arlovski on 28 January 2017, atUFC on Fox 23.[40] He won the fight via TKO in the first round. The win also earned Ngannou his secondPerformance of the Night bonus.[41]
Ngannou was expected to faceJunior dos Santos on 9 September 2017, atUFC 215.[42] However, on 18 August, Dos Santos was pulled from the match after being notified of a potentialUSADA violation.[43] In turn, Ngannou was removed from the card after promotion officials deemed that a suitable opponent could not be arranged.[44][45]
In 2017, he set the world record for the hardest punch ever recorded on the PowerKube, at 129,161 franklin (a unit used by the PowerKube that combines power and energy).[46][17][47]
In the highest profile fight of his career, Ngannou faced veteranAlistair Overeem on 2 December 2017, atUFC 218.[48] He won the fight via knockout in the first round.[49] This knockout has been labeled as one of the greatest and most brutal knockouts of all time.[50][51][52] Following the bout, Ngannou signed a new, eight-fight contract with the UFC.[53]
Ngannou facedStipe Miocic for theUFC Heavyweight Championship on 20 January 2018, atUFC 220.[54] He lost the fight via unanimous decision.[55]
Ngannou facedDerrick Lewis on 7 July 2018, atUFC 226.[56] He lost the fight via unanimous decision. The fight was heavily criticized by the media and the fans for the lack of offence from both competitors[57][58][59][60] and was labeled as a "snoozefest".[61]
Ngannou facedCurtis Blaydes in a rematch on 24 November 2018, in the main event atUFC Fight Night 141[62] He won the fight via TKO early into the first round.[63] The win also earned him aPerformance of the Night bonus.[64]
Ngannou headlined the UFC's inaugural event on ESPN,UFC on ESPN 1 againstCain Velasquez on 17 February 2019.[65] He won via knockout in the first round.[66]
Ngannou facedJunior dos Santos on 29 June 2019, atUFC on ESPN 3.[67] He won the fight via technical knockout in the first round.[68] This fight earned him thePerformance of the Night award.[69]
Ngannou was scheduled to faceJairzinho Rozenstruik on 28 March 2020, atUFC on ESPN: Ngannou vs. Rozenstruik.[70] Due to theCOVID-19 pandemic, the event was eventually postponed .[71] The pair was rescheduled to meet at 18 April 2020, atUFC 249.[72] However, on 9 April,Dana White, the president of the UFC announced that the event was postponed[73] and the bout eventually took place on 9 May 2020.[74] Ngannou won via knockout just 20 seconds into the first round.[75] This win earned him thePerformance of the Nightaward.[76]
A rematch of the bout between Miocic and Ngannou for theUFC Heavyweight Championship took place on 27 March 2021, atUFC 260.[77] Ngannou won via knockout in the second round.[78] This win earned him thePerformance of the Night award.[79]
Ngannou faced theInterim UFC Heavyweight ChampionCiryl Gane for his first title defense on 22 January 2022, atUFC 270.[80] He injured knee ligaments three and a half weeks before the fight.[81] Ngannou won the fight by unanimous decision, the first decision win of his career.[82]
On 14 January 2023, the UFC Heavyweight Championship was stripped from Ngannou after he and the UFC could not come to terms on a new contract. Ngannou's contract expired in mid-December, and after the two parties couldn't reach an agreement, the UFC waived its one-year matching rights clause, making Ngannou an unrestrictedfree agent.[83] In an interview withAriel Helwani, Ngannou stated that he had requested health insurance, the ability to have sponsorships for all UFC fighters, and to have a fighter advocate present during all fighter contract negotiations. When his requests were denied, Ngannou chose not to re-sign with the UFC,[84] making him the first reigning champion to leave the UFC sinceB.J. Penn in 2004.[85]
After Ngannou's departure from the UFC, he openly admitted to wanting to start aboxing career and targeted boxing matches with bothDeontay Wilder andTyson Fury.[86]
On 16 May 2023, it was announced that Ngannou had signed a multi-fight deal with theProfessional Fighters League (PFL).[16][87] He will be competing in theirpay-per-view "super fight" division, while still being free to compete in other sports such as boxing.[88] Ngannou also negotiated on behalf of his opponents, guaranteeing them to be paid at least $2 million.[89][90] He will also be a part of PFL's global advisory board, meant to advocate for fighters' interests, and an equity owner and chairman of the upcoming PFL Africa league.[90][91] Ngannou's PFL contract has been called a historic moment for the sport,[92] withDaniel Cormier saying it sets "a new standard for what is out there in the [MMA] free-agent market."[93] John S. Nash ofBloody Elbow and Alex Pattle ofThe Independent each referred to a different aspect of the deal as "unprecedented".[88][89]
On 22 February 2024, it was announced that Ngannou would make his MMA return against the winner ofRenan Ferreira vsRyan Bader heavyweight bout atPFL vs. Bellator on 24 February 2024 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.[94][95]
Ngannou faced2023 PFL Heavyweight Champion andPFL Champions vs. Bellator Champions title holderRenan Ferreira for thePFL Super Fights Heavyweight Championship on 19 October 2024 atPFL Super Fights: Battle of the Giants.[96] He won the fight by knockout via ground punches in the first round.[97]
Ngannou took on the undefeated WBC andLineal heavyweight championTyson Fury in a professional boxing match billed as "Battle of the Baddest" on 28 October 2023, inRiyadh, Saudi Arabia.[98] Ngannou was able to knock down Fury in the third round, taking the fight all the way to the scorecards, in which the judges awarded Fury the victory in a controversial split decision (95–94, 96–93, 94–95).[99][100] According toCompuBox, Fury outlanded Ngannou 71 to 59 in total punches, while Ngannou outlanded Fury 37 to 32 in power punches.[101][102]
As a result of his strong performance against Fury, Ngannou was ranked #10 by theWBC.[103]Mauricio Sulaiman, President of the WBC, said "the ranking of Ngannou was perfectly supported by the WBC rules which is clear in the criteria from rankings that we consider the activity of the fighter in other contact sports."[104]
Ngannou facedAnthony Joshua on 8 March 2024 inRiyadh, Saudi Arabia,[105] and lost by second-round knockout.[106]
Ngannou speaksGhomala', French, and English.[107][22][108][109] He learned English after joining the UFC.[110]
On April 29, 2024, Ngannou announced that his 15-month-old son Kobe had died.[111][112][113][114] The cause of death was a brain malformation.[115]
In April 2025, Ngannou was reportedly involved in a motorcycle accident in Yaoundé, Cameroon, that resulted in the death of a 17-year-old girl, Ntsama Brigitte Manuella. The incident occurred over Easter weekend in the Omnisports neighborhood. Ngannou allegedly transported the girl to Yaoundé General Hospital and covered her medical expenses. Despite undergoing emergency surgery, she died from her injuries.[116]
The Francis Ngannou Foundation, initially run solely on Ngannou's personal funds and later combining that with donations, runs the first MMA gym in Cameroon, aiming to offer facilities for young people to have a place to train. It also donates educational materials to Cameroonian children and schools, including setting up computer labs in underserved villages.[117][118] In January 2024 the foundation claimed to have 26,000 beneficiaries.[119]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | F9[120] | Ferocious Professional | Cameo |
| 2022 | Jackass Forever[121] | Himself | Guest appearance |
| 2023 | Rebel Moon: Part One | Male Gladiator | Cameo |
| 21 matches | 18 wins | 3 losses |
| By knockout | 13 | 0 |
| By submission | 4 | 0 |
| By decision | 1 | 3 |
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Win | 18–3 | Renan Ferreira | KO (punches) | PFL Super Fights: Battle of the Giants | 19 October 2024 | 1 | 3:32 | Riyadh, Saudi Arabia | Won the symbolic PFL Super Fights Heavyweight Championship. |
| Win | 17–3 | Ciryl Gane | Decision (unanimous) | UFC 270 | 22 January 2022 | 5 | 5:00 | Anaheim, California, United States | Defended and unified theUFC Heavyweight Championship. Title later vacated when Ngannou's contract expired. |
| Win | 16–3 | Stipe Miocic | KO (punch) | UFC 260 | 27 March 2021 | 2 | 0:52 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | Won theUFC Heavyweight Championship. Performance of the Night. |
| Win | 15–3 | Jairzinho Rozenstruik | KO (punches) | UFC 249 | 9 May 2020 | 1 | 0:20 | Jacksonville, Florida, United States | Performance of the Night. |
| Win | 14–3 | Junior dos Santos | TKO (punches) | UFC on ESPN: Ngannou vs. dos Santos | 29 June 2019 | 1 | 1:11 | Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States | Performance of the Night. |
| Win | 13–3 | Cain Velasquez | KO (punches) | UFC on ESPN: Ngannou vs. Velasquez | 17 February 2019 | 1 | 0:26 | Phoenix, Arizona, United States | |
| Win | 12–3 | Curtis Blaydes | TKO (punches) | UFC Fight Night: Blaydes vs. Ngannou 2 | 24 November 2018 | 1 | 0:45 | Beijing, China | Performance of the Night. |
| Loss | 11–3 | Derrick Lewis | Decision (unanimous) | UFC 226 | 7 July 2018 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Loss | 11–2 | Stipe Miocic | Decision (unanimous) | UFC 220 | 20 January 2018 | 5 | 5:00 | Boston, Massachusetts, United States | For theUFC Heavyweight Championship. |
| Win | 11–1 | Alistair Overeem | KO (punch) | UFC 218 | 2 December 2017 | 1 | 1:42 | Detroit, Michigan, United States | UFC Heavyweight title eliminator. Knockout of the Year. |
| Win | 10–1 | Andrei Arlovski | TKO (punches) | UFC on Fox: Shevchenko vs. Peña | 28 January 2017 | 1 | 1:32 | Denver, Colorado, United States | Performance of the Night. |
| Win | 9–1 | Anthony Hamilton | Submission (kimura) | UFC Fight Night: Lewis vs. Abdurakhimov | 9 December 2016 | 1 | 1:57 | Albany, New York, United States | Performance of the Night. |
| Win | 8–1 | Bojan Mihajlović | TKO (punches) | UFC on Fox: Holm vs. Shevchenko | 23 July 2016 | 1 | 1:34 | Chicago, Illinois, United States | |
| Win | 7–1 | Curtis Blaydes | TKO (doctor stoppage) | UFC Fight Night: Rothwell vs. dos Santos | 10 April 2016 | 2 | 5:00 | Zagreb, Croatia | |
| Win | 6–1 | Luis Henrique | KO (punch) | UFC on Fox: dos Anjos vs. Cowboy 2 | 19 December 2015 | 2 | 2:53 | Orlando, Florida, United States | |
| Win | 5–1 | William Baldutti | TKO (punches) | KHK MMA National Tryouts: Finale 2015 | 28 May 2015 | 2 | 1:22 | Madinat Isa, Bahrain | |
| Win | 4–1 | Luc Ngeleka | Submission (guillotine choke) | SHC 10: Carvalho vs. Belo | 20 September 2014 | 1 | 0:44 | Geneva, Switzerland | |
| Win | 3–1 | Nicolas Specq | Submission (arm-triangle choke) | 100% Fight 20: Comeback | 5 April 2014 | 2 | 2:10 | Levallois, France | |
| Win | 2–1 | Bilal Tahtahi | KO (punch) | 1 | 3:58 | ||||
| Loss | 1–1 | Zoumana Cisse | Decision (unanimous) | 100% Fight: Contenders 21 | 14 December 2013 | 2 | 5:00 | Paris, France | |
| Win | 1–0 | Rachid Benzina | Submission (armbar) | 100% Fight: Contenders 20 | 30 November 2013 | 1 | 1:44 | Paris, France | Heavyweight debut. |
| 2 fights | 0 wins | 2 losses |
|---|---|---|
| By knockout | 0 | 1 |
| By decision | 0 | 1 |
| No. | Result | Record | Opponent | Type | Round, time | Date | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | Loss | 0–2 | Anthony Joshua | KO | 2 (10),2:38 | 8 Mar 2024 | Kingdom Arena, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia | |
| 1 | Loss | 0–1 | Tyson Fury | SD | 10 | 28 Oct 2023 | Kingdom Arena,Riyadh, Saudi Arabia |
| 1 Win,0 Losses | ||||||||
| Date | Result | Opponent | Event | Location | Method | Round | Time | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015-06-19 | Win | Farid Nair | Carcharias | Perpignan, France | Decision | 3 | 3:00 | 1–0 |
| Legend: Win Loss Draw/No contest Notes | ||||||||
| No. | Event | Fight | Date | Venue | City | PPV Buys |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | UFC 220 | Miocic vs.Ngannou | 20 January 2018 | TD Garden | Boston, Massachusetts United States | 350,000[141] |
| 2. | UFC 260 | Miocic vs.Ngannou 2 | 27 March 2021 | UFC Apex | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | 500,000[142] |
| 3. | UFC 270 | Ngannou vs.Gane | 22 January 2022 | Honda Center | Anaheim, California, United States | 300,000[143] |
| 4. | PFL SF: Battle of the Giants | Ngannou vs.Ferreira | 19 October 2024 | The Mayadeen | Riyadh, Saudi Arabia | Not Disclosed |
| No. | Billing | Fight | Date | Venue | Buys | Network | Revenue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Battle of the Baddest | Fury vs.Ngannou | 28 October 2023 | Kingdom Arena | N/A | DAZN /ESPN+ | Not Disclosed |
| 2 | Knockout Chaos | Joshua vs.Ngannou | 8 March 2024 | Kingdom Arena | N/A | DAZN /Sky Sports Box Office | Not Disclosed |
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)| Achievements | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | 22ndUFC Heavyweight Champion 27 March 2021 – 14 January 2023 Stripped | Vacant Title next held by Jon Jones |
| New title | 1stPFL Super Fights Heavyweight Champion October 19, 2024 – present | Incumbent |
