Francis Ngannou facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

Quick facts for kids Francis Ngannou
Ngannou in 2023
Born	Francis Zavier Ngannou (1986-09-05) 5 September 1986 (age 38) Batié, Cameroon
Nickname(s)	The Predator
Residence	Paris, France
Nationality	Cameroonian French
Height	6 ft 4 in (193 cm)
Weight	257 lb (117 kg; 18 st 5 lb)
Division	Heavyweight
Reach	83 in (211 cm)
Stance	Orthodox
Fighting out of	Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.
Team	MMA Factory (2013–2018) UFC Performance Institute Xtreme Couture (2018–present)
Trainer	Eric Nicksick (Head coach) Dewey Cooper (Striking coach, 2017–present) 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

Francis Zavier Ngannou (born 5 September 1986) is a famous Cameroonian and French athlete. He is a professional mixed martial artist and professional boxer. He currently competes in the Heavyweight division of the Professional Fighters League (PFL). He is the first ever PFL Super Fights Heavyweight Champion.

Before joining the PFL, Francis was the UFC Heavyweight Champion. He was known for his incredibly strong punches. Many people thought he was the most powerful puncher in the UFC's heavyweight division. He won many of his fights by knockout very quickly.

Early Life and His Big Dream

Francis Ngannou grew up in a village called Batié in Cameroon. His family was very poor, and he didn't get much schooling. When he was six, his parents separated, and he went to live with his aunt.

At just 10 years old, Francis started working in a sand quarry to help his family. He was asked to join gangs in his village, but he always said no. Instead, he decided to use his father's reputation as a street fighter to inspire him to do something positive. He wanted to become a boxer.

Starting His Journey

When Francis was 22, he began training in boxing. His family wasn't sure about it at first. After a year, he had to stop training because he got sick. He worked many different jobs to earn money.

At 26, he decided to go to Paris, France, to become a professional boxer. But his journey was tough. He was held in jail for two months in Spain for crossing the border without permission. When he finally reached Paris, he had no money, no friends, and no home.

Finding Help and a New Path

Francis lived on the streets of Paris for a while. Then, he found a boxing club. There, he met a coach named Didier Carmont. Coach Carmont understood Francis's difficult situation. He convinced the gym to let Francis train for free. He also introduced Francis to mixed martial arts (MMA).

Francis also volunteered at a charity called Lo Chorba. When his boxing gym closed for the summer, the director of Lo Chorba introduced Francis to Fernand Lopez and the MMA Factory. Francis loved Mike Tyson and wanted to box. But Lopez saw his potential in MMA and convinced him to try it. Lopez gave Francis some MMA gear and let him train and even sleep at the gym for free. This was the start of Francis's amazing MMA career.

Francis once said that when he started, he had nothing. He wanted to do something great and finish the dream he began. He also wanted to help children in his home country. He wanted to give them chances to follow their dreams, whether it was to be a doctor or an athlete. He has since opened an MMA gym in Cameroon to help young people.

Professional Mixed Martial Arts Career

Early Fights

Francis started his MMA career in November 2013. He fought mostly in French and other European events. He won five fights and lost one before he joined the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC).

Ultimate Fighting Championship

Francis Ngannou in 2017

Francis made his UFC debut on 19 December 2015. He won that fight by knockout in the second round. He then won several more fights, often by knockout or TKO (technical knockout).

In 2016, he won against Curtis Blaydes and Bojan Mihajlović. In December 2016, he won against Anthony Hamilton by submission. This win earned him his first "Performance of the Night" bonus. He also won a "Performance of the Night" bonus after beating Andrei Arlovski in January 2017.

In 2017, Francis set a world record for the hardest punch ever recorded! It was measured on a special machine called the PowerKube.

Big Fights and Championship

On 2 December 2017, Francis faced the experienced fighter Alistair Overeem. Francis won by knockout in the first round. This knockout was so powerful that many people called it one of the greatest knockouts ever. After this fight, Francis signed a new contract with the UFC.

Francis then fought Stipe Miocic for the UFC Heavyweight Championship on 20 January 2018. He lost this fight by decision. He also lost his next fight against Derrick Lewis.

But Francis didn't give up! He fought Curtis Blaydes again in November 2018 and won by TKO very quickly. He also won against Cain Velasquez and Junior dos Santos in 2019, both by knockout. These wins earned him more "Performance of the Night" awards.

In May 2020, Francis fought Jairzinho Rozenstruik. He won by knockout in just 20 seconds! This was another "Performance of the Night" award for him.

Becoming UFC Heavyweight Champion

Francis had a rematch with Stipe Miocic for the UFC Heavyweight Championship on 27 March 2021. This time, Francis won by knockout in the second round! He became the new UFC Heavyweight Champion. This win also earned him another "Performance of the Night" award.

Defending His Title

Francis defended his title against Ciryl Gane on 22 January 2022. He had injured his knee before the fight, but he still won by decision. This was his first win that went all five rounds.

Leaving the UFC

On 14 January 2023, Francis left the UFC. He and the UFC could not agree on a new contract. Francis had asked for health insurance for all UFC fighters and for fighters to have an advocate (someone to speak for them) during contract talks. When his requests were not met, he decided not to re-sign. He was the first reigning champion to leave the UFC since 2004.

After leaving the UFC, Francis said he wanted to start a boxing career. He wanted to fight famous boxers like Deontay Wilder and Tyson Fury.

Professional Fighters League

On 16 May 2023, Francis signed a big deal with the Professional Fighters League (PFL). This deal allows him to compete in special "super fight" events in MMA, and also lets him box. Francis also made sure that his opponents in the PFL would be paid at least $2 million. He also joined the PFL's advisory board to help other fighters and became a chairman for the new PFL Africa league. Many people in the sport called his contract a historic moment.

On 19 October 2024, Francis fought Renan Ferreira for the PFL Heavyweight Superfight Championship. He won the fight by knockout in the first round, becoming the first PFL Super Fights Heavyweight Champion.

Professional Boxing Career

Ngannou vs. Fury

Francis Ngannou fought the undefeated boxing champion Tyson Fury on 28 October 2023, in Saudi Arabia. Even though it was Francis's first professional boxing match, he surprised everyone! He even knocked Fury down in the third round. The fight went all 10 rounds, and the judges gave the win to Tyson Fury by a close decision.

Because of his strong performance, Francis was ranked among the top heavyweight boxers by the World Boxing Council (WBC).

Ngannou vs. Joshua

Francis then faced another top boxer, Anthony Joshua, on 8 March 2024, in Saudi Arabia. Francis lost this fight by knockout in the second round.

Personal Life

Francis Ngannou speaks several languages, including Ngemba, French, and English. He learned English after he joined the UFC.

Sadly, on April 29, 2024, Francis announced that his 15-month-old son, Kobe, had passed away.

In April 2025, Francis was involved in a motorcycle accident in Cameroon. He helped transport a young person to the hospital and covered their medical expenses.

Helping Others

Francis Ngannou started the Francis Ngannou Foundation. At first, he used his own money to run it, and later it also received donations. This foundation runs the first MMA gym in Cameroon. It helps young people have a place to train and follow their dreams. The foundation also gives school supplies to children and schools in Cameroon. It has even set up computer labs in villages that don't have many resources. In January 2024, the foundation had helped 26,000 people.

Film Appearances

Francis Ngannou has appeared in a few movies:

2021: F9 as a Ferocious Professional
2022: Jackass Forever as Himself
2023: Rebel Moon: Part One as a Male Gladiator

Achievements and Awards

Francis Ngannou has achieved many great things in his career:

Ultimate Fighting Championship
- UFC Heavyweight Championship (one time)
  - He successfully defended his title once.
- He was the first UFC champion born in Cameroon.
- "Performance of the Night" award six times.
- He is tied for third place for the most finishes (wins by knockout or submission) in UFC Heavyweight history (11).
- He is tied for second place for the most knockouts in UFC Heavyweight history (10).
- He is tied for fourth place for the most consecutive knockouts in UFC history (5).
- He has the sixth highest win percentage in UFC history (85.71%).
- He holds the world record for the hardest punch.
- UFC.com Awards
  - 2017: Knockout of the Year (for his fight against Alistair Overeem)

Professional Fighters League
- PFL Super Fights Heavyweight Championship (one time, he was the first to win it, and he is the current champion)

Other Awards
- Many sports news outlets like Bleacher Report, ESPN, Pundit Arena, MMA Fighting, and MMAjunkie.com named his knockout against Alistair Overeem in 2017 as the "Knockout of the Year."
- MMA Fighting also named him "Breakthrough Fighter of the Year" in 2017.
- He was named "Comeback Fighter of the Year" in 2024 by Fight Matrix.

Images for kids

Francis Ngannou in 2017