Francis Ngannou has been out of the cage since 2022. His journey has led him on side quests many fighters could only dream of. Now “The Predator” is ready to compete in MMA again.
In his way is a feared knockout artist in Renan Ferreira, and he did not back down during the “Battle of the Giants” press conference. He has proven to be a real threat to “The Predator” in the cage, the first in quite some time. They are set to face off on Oct. 19 in Saudi Arabia, competing in the Super Fight division.
It is a moment Ngannou has been waiting for since signing with the PFL in 2023 with the promise of massive fight and equal fighter pay.
Ngannou (17-3) beat Stipe Miocic at UFC 260 to win the UFC heavyweight title. He exited the UFC in 2023 following contract disputes. The 37-year-old got brought into the PFL to build up the Super Fight PPV division and became an ambassador for PFL Africa.
WATCH: Francis Ngannou's PFL debut, exclusively on ESPN+
But he entered the boxing world first, per a clause in his contract. Ngannou knocked down Tyson Fury in a losing effort and recently got knocked out by Anthony Joshua.
When he enters the SmartCage in October, it will mark 1,001 days since his last MMA fight. One would assume he is tentative to compete, but Ngannou is not sweating anything.
“I’m very excited, also a bit nervous. It’s been a long time since I haven’t been here. I remember when I went back to the gym two months ago, I got nervous like I'd forgotten how to fight. Once I got back to the mat, it was like I never left,” Ngannou said at a press conference featuring Ferreira.
The Cameroonian, who worked in sand mines as a child, has had an inspiring career. Now he returns to a sport where he sparked fear in his opponent's eyes as he entered the cage.
Ngannou's comeback follows the death of his 15-month-old son in April as the result of an undiagnosed brain malformation. He decided to continue his career as the best way to remember Kobe.
"It's not just being back in MMA. It's about being back in activity. In combat sports in general. Being back in what I love. I always have a purpose, the reason why I'm doing," Ngannou said. "Lately, things been a little tough. I haven't questioned if I have to continue or if I should just hang up the gloves. But then I realize that should be a purpose for me. I didn't have a chance to fight for my son. I think this is it.
“My relationship with fighting hasn’t changed yet,” Ngannou said. “Fighting for me is not a job. It’s a part of me, who I am. I don’t fight as I’m working. I fight as I’m living. Time to time, you have some ups and downs in life. Sometimes, you have some doubt... I have the same relationship, and I will prove it on Oct. 19."
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Ngannou faces a fighter in Ferreira (13-3, 3 NC) who has eleven wins via knockout. The Brazilian has not lost a fight for the PFL since 2022. He beat Denis Goltsov via TKO to win the 2023 heavyweight tournament. “Problema" secured the lone PFL win against a Bellator fighter in February and a shot at Ngannou when it took less than a minute to take out Ryan Bader.
Ferreira thinks his knockout power and ability to wrestle can be enough to take Ngannou down. While Ngannou isn't interested in labels, Ferreira believes the fight will seal the deal over who is the best heavyweight in the world. Even with ring rust, Ngannou is not as worried as one might expect against someone like “Problema.”
“Everyone is a problem, to some extent. He's definitely been a problem for some people, but, for me, he's not a problem," Ngannou said.
The time for talking has ended. Now we wait to see if “The Predator” of old has returned.
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