Francis Ngannou made his return to MMA for the primary time since 2022. Ngannou made his PFL debut towards Renan Ferreira for the heavyweight championship. Ngannou appeared like he didn’t skip a beat as he made simple work of Ferreira defeating him within the first spherical by way of TKO.
Francis Ngannou took down Ferreira and displayed his floor sport. Many individuals questioned Nganoou’s sharpness coming into the struggle contemplating his layoff from MMA and spending time within the boxing scene having fought two fights. Ngannou simply took Ferreira’s again and was in a position to end him with viscous floor and pound 3:32 into spherical one.
Francis Ngannou had critical Doubts coming into struggle
Coming into this struggle, Francis Ngannou confronted numerous adversity having to beat many bodily and emotional battles coming into this struggle. Ngannou had talked about considering pulling out of the struggle resulting from a rib harm that sophisticated his struggle camp.
Not solely did Francis Ngannou have that weight on his shoulders however he got here into the struggle after his 15-month-old son Kobe tragically handed away earlier this yr. He wished to struggle and dedicate a successful and dominant efficiency for his son during which he rightfully did.
Ngannou’s coach talks about doubts
Francis Ngannou’s coach, Eric Nicksick, stated there was a lot concern coming into the struggle particularly on how the struggle would play out situationally. Nicksick in an interview talked about that:
“He was apprehensive if he was on his again, how he would have the ability to transfer and attempt to grapple with an injured rib. As soon as he went to the docs they usually cleared him with an MRI and every thing else, I feel he realized, ‘I’m going to be OK. I’m going to get by this nonetheless.”
Ngannou and his coach had been in a position to embrace the victory as feelings had been working very excessive after. Regardless of Ngannou’s self-doubt, Nicksick had religion in him and expressed his assist for the Cameroon native. “I by no means questioned him, however I do know he was questioning himself all the way in which, even up till the day of the struggle. I do know that he carried a special sort of weight to him and all I informed him was, ‘There’s no different individual on the planet that I’ve met that has the braveness and resiliency that you’ve. And if there’s anyone that may get by some type of adversity, it’s going to be you,’” stated Nicksick.
It’ll be fascinating to see what’s subsequent for Francis Ngannou as he can have time to make his determination after claiming the PFL heavyweight belt.