Francis Ngannou has revealed that he considered retirement following the tragic loss of his son earlier this year but ultimately decided to continue fighting as a tribute to him.
The former UFC heavyweight champion, who will make his Professional Fighters League (PFL) debut against Renan Ferreira on October 19th, shared the heartbreaking news of his 15-month-old son Kobe’s passing on social media in April.
Ngannou’s upcoming fight in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia marks his return to mixed martial arts and his first bout since a defeat to Anthony Joshua in March.
Speaking at a press conference, Ngannou explained that fighting has become a new purpose for him.
He questioned whether he should continue his career but ultimately chose to honor his son’s memory by persevering.
“I decided to make a positive out of his 15 months of living,” Ngannou said. “To find the strength out of him, as a motivation, to keep going instead of to quit.”
The Cameroonian fighter believes that continuing to fight is the best way to honor his son’s memory and carry on his legacy.
