The life of Francis Ngannou looks like a success story. “It’s the story of a young man who didn’t have much luck in life but who didn’t give up, who allowed himself to dream. I fight against a fate that was destined for me, a situation to which I was condemned summarizes the sportsman with the build of a colossus (1.93 m, 113 kg) which earned him his nickname.
Born in 1986 and from a poor family, Francis Ngannou spent his childhood in Batié, in the northwest of Cameroon. He quickly abandoned college there and did odd jobs to survive, working in a salt quarry or as a motorbike taxi driver.
In 2 years, a ticket for the equivalent of the NBA
Young but already physical, he quickly discovered combat sports although he only trained sporadically. However, he is sure that he will make his life out of it and, in the absence of prospects in his country, will go into exile at the age of 22. In 2013, he arrived in France illegally. Homeless and without papers, he slept in the streets of Paris for a while before meeting people who allowed him to pursue his career in the martial arts.
Fernand Lopez, holder of the MMA Factory, a benchmark club in the discipline in France, in the 12th arrondissement of Paris, is the pioneer of this combat sport which only became legal in France in 2018. When he sees Francis Ngannou walk through the doors of his gym, he knows he will make a champion out of it. ” Within 3 weeks, I couldn’t train with him anymore. Physically he crushed me. » assures the trainer in a documentary d’RMC Sport.
It’s one of the most important fights of the year and arguably even in UFC history.
Lawrence Epstein, UFC General Manager
2 years later, mission successful. The prodigy wins a ticket to access the UFC championship, the NBA’s equivalent for MMA. During his first match, Francis Ngannou stood out with a knockout from his opponent in the first round. Dana White, the boss of the UFC is at the edge of the cage. He films the scene, stunned, and publishes Ngannou’s performance on his social networks, announcing the promising arrival of the new Cameroonian talent in the championship.
The power of a family car type Ford Escort »
In March 2018, the Cameroonian played the most important match of his (short) career, the one that will bring him to the heavyweight title of the American Mixed Martial Arts League. Stipe Miocic, the American defending champion, fights fiercely.
Ngannou inflicts a right-left sequence on him full face, whereupon he strikes him a series of blows from close range, before finishing him against with a big left jab. The referee inflicts a heavy penalty on the American and designates Ngannou as the winner. He then became the first African to obtain this worldwide consecration in the most prestigious of leagues, the UFC.
Ngannou: “We will go to war on Saturday but I respect you.”
Ciryl Gane and Francis Ngannou face to face for the first time before the fight. Nice moment in the end, right? pic.twitter.com/kSYhrPbhv8
— RMC Sport (@RMCsport) January 21, 2022
The superpower of the Cameroonian fighter seems to make him invincible (only 3 defeats on his counter). According to UFC scientists, its force is equivalent to the impact of a “classic family car launched at full speed, type Ford Escort”. Hard to answer that, indeed.
However, the ascent of Ngannou was not without mayhem. After his second defeat, he decides to separate from Fernand Lopez, the one who nevertheless brought him to discipline. Accusing him of wanting to take the light in his place, Ngannou found another coach and Lopez, another colt … who is none other than Ciryl Gane against whom he will fight on Sunday. The Frenchman is the champion”acting(an alternate title) since August 7, and one of the most prominent figures in the field.
“It’s one of the most important fights of the year and arguably even in UFC history.“, summarized Lawrence Epstein, general manager of the UFC. For Ngannou, however, it is “no more important than others“. He nevertheless assures that hewill end in a knockout in the 2nd round».