Tearful Francis Ngannou pays tribute to late son after KO win over Renan Ferreira
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Francis Ngannou honored his late son Kobe by dedicating his victory in the heavyweight title fight at the Professional Fighters League (PFL) to him. He achieved this during the ‘Battle of the Giants’ event, where he secured a knockout in the first round against Renan Ferreria.
Ngannou, the former UFC heavyweight champion, stepped back into the world of mixed martial arts for the first time after transitioning to boxing and losing to Anthony Joshua in March.
The fighter from Cameroon dominated right from the beginning, landing powerful kicks before taking his Brazilian rival down to the ground. Ngannou then delivered a flurry of crushing punches, finishing the match with just 88 seconds left in the first round.
In his post-fight interview, the 38-year-old was visibly upset and emotional as he honored his son, Kobe, who tragically passed away at only 15 months earlier this year.
"The last couple of days have been really hard and emotionally overwhelming. I found it difficult to focus on anything without thoughts of Kobe's death crossing my mind," he shared.
I made an effort to stay resilient and urged myself to keep pushing forward, but it's not easy. It's really tough. I took on this battle for his sake.
"I felt a strong desire to advocate for him... I wish his name stays in their memories, because if it weren't for Kobe, we wouldn't be gathered here tonight, and I wouldn't have put up this struggle. I appreciate everyone for being here."
The event was labeled a 'super fight' and was set up differently from the typical PFL structure, which includes a regular season and playoffs. This change was made to ensure that championship belts would be on the line for Ngannou's comeback.
He is a well-known champion who overcame a childhood spent in poverty in Cameroon to reach the pinnacle of mixed martial arts. His greatest accomplishment came in March 2021 when he won the UFC heavyweight title.
After his UFC contract ended, he went on to face Joshua and Tyson Fury in high-paying heavyweight boxing bouts. This was followed by his first appearance in the PFL, significantly enhancing the organization's challenge to the UFC.
In the co-main event of the PFL Super Fights that took place in the evening, Brazilian fighters Cris Cyborg and Larissa Pacheco faced off for the women’s featherweight title. The two engaged in a fierce battle that lasted five rounds, with the highly experienced Cyborg securing the win by unanimous decision.
Further information provided by Reuters.
