Francis Ngannou

Francis Zavier Ngannou (born 5 September 1986) is a Cameroonian and French professional mixed martial artist and professional boxer who is currently signed to the Professional Fighters League (PFL).

He also competed in the Heavyweight division in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), where he was the reigning UFC 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; He ended seven of his fourteen UFC fights by knockout before the two-minute mark in the first round.

Ngannou was born and raised in the village of Batié, Cameroon.

He lived in poverty and had little formal education growing up.

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.

As a youngster, he was approached by several gangs in his village to join them.

However, Ngannou refused and instead decided to use his father's negative reputation as a street fighter as motivation to do something positive and pursue boxing.

At age 22, Ngannou began training in boxing, despite the initial reluctance of his family.

After training for a year, Ngannou stopped training due to an illness.

He did various odd jobs to make ends meet, until age 26 when he decided to head to Paris, France, to pursue professional boxing.

However upon reaching Europe, he was jailed for two months in Spain for illegally crossing the border.

After he reached Paris, he had no money, no friends, and no place to live.

After living homeless on the streets of Paris, Ngannou found his way to a boxing club where he met coach Didier Carmont (cousin of Francis Carmont) who was understanding towards 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.

When his boxing gym closed for the summer, Lo Chorba's director Khater Yenbou introduced Ngannou to Fernand Lopez and the MMA factory.

Being a fan of Mike Tyson, Ngannou was originally interested in learning how to box but Lopez saw his potential in MMA and convinced him to try MMA instead.

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.

Reflecting on his journey across continents and his decision to become an MMA fighter, Ngannou said: "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.

I want to give some opportunity for children like me who dream of this sport and don't have an opportunity like me.

The last time I was in Cameroon, I brought a lot of materials for boxing and MMA to open a gym.

Now I just bought a big space to start the gym, as well.

A lot of children now in Cameroon, because of me, they have a dream.

They say, 'I will be a champion in MMA.

I will do boxing like Francis,' because they saw me when I was young.

I didn't have anything.

I didn't have any opportunity.

And today, they see me, and they are dreaming.

They are thinking that something is possible.

Even when they are so poor, something is possible in life.

... It's not easy.

It's so hard, but it's possible."

Ngannou started his MMA career in November 2013 and fought mostly in the French promotion 100% Fight, as well as other regional promotions in Europe.

He compiled a record of 5–1 before signing with the UFC.

Ngannou made his UFC debut against fellow newcomer Luis Henrique on 19 December 2015, at UFC on Fox 17.

He won the fight via knockout in the second round.

Ngannou next faced UFC newcomer Curtis Blaydes on 10 April 2016, at UFC Fight Night 86.

He won the fight via TKO, due to doctor stoppage at the end of the second round.