Former UFC champion Francis Ngannou will make his return to MMA on Saturday at Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, after the dying of his 15-month-old son earlier this yr.
Ngannou is about to tackle heavyweight champion Renan Ferreira (13-3) for the Tremendous Struggle title within the Skilled Fighters League and can use his return to MMA as a tribute to his late son Kobe.
“A courageous man,” Ngannou mentioned of his younger son to CNN Sport. “He got here as a king and he left as a king. He was simply one thing particular. For some purpose, he could not dwell longer. I had to take a look at him so many occasions and was impressed. I could not imagine he was from me.”
A explanation for dying was not revealed after Ngannou posted the information to social media in April.
The native of the Cameroon had 17 wins in 20 MMA bouts, with 12 of these victories by knockout. However the former UFC heavyweight champion departed in 2022 to start a boxing profession, shedding on factors to Tyson Fury in his first bout in October 2023 and getting knocked out by Anthony Joshua throughout his second in March.
“I am trying to get again into MMA as a result of, no matter how I get pleasure from boxing, I do miss MMA,” Ngannou mentioned. “It is time to get again.”
–Subject Stage Media
