Francis Ngannou’s story of overcoming extraordinary odds began long before he stepped into the ring with Tyson Fury. Growing up in Batié, Cameroon, Ngannou lived amid poverty and had little access to education. At 10 years old, he began working in a sand quarry to help support himself and his family. The work was grueling and paid little, but he returned day after day.
Years later, Ngannou set out to pursue a professional boxing career. After crossing borders into Europe, he spent two months in a Spanish detention center before reaching Paris. He had no friends, home, money or food. He was homeless on the streets of France until he found his way into a boxing gym and began what would become an unbelievable combat sports career.
Ngannou overcame an extraordinary amount of adversity before he ever entered the UFC. His rise from those circumstances speaks to his resilience. Then, he began defying the odds in combat sports.
UFC Career
Francis Ngannou started his mixed martial arts career in November 2013. Just two years later, he made his UFC debut in December 2015. I cannot put into words how remarkable that is.
I have interviewed fighters with more than 20 amateur fights and 20 professional fights across major promotions and the regional scene who have never reached the UFC. Ngannou made his debut there roughly 25 months after starting the sport. I am not sure I will see another fighter make that climb so quickly in my lifetime. He is a once-in-a-generation athlete.
Adversity struck again on January 20, 2018. Ngannou challenged Stipe Miocic for the UFC heavyweight title and lost. UFC president Dana White later made negative comments about Ngannou’s ego. Another difficult loss followed against Derrick Lewis, in a fight where Ngannou looked hesitant after his defeat to Miocic. It was a rough stretch for the Cameroon native.
Ngannou bounced back with one of the most impressive runs in UFC heavyweight history. He beat Curtis Blaydes, Cain Velasquez, Junior dos Santos, Jairzinho Rozenstruik, Miocic and Ciryl Gane. That list includes top contenders and former champions. The quality of the opposition makes his comeback even more remarkable.
UFC Departure
After years of negotiations, Ngannou and the UFC could not agree on a new contract. The former champion left the promotion seeking better pay and the freedom to pursue boxing. Fans, fighters and others questioned his decision. Many believed he should have stayed with the UFC.
Ngannou answered those doubts by securing a fight with Tyson Fury. Before stepping into the boxing ring, he also signed with the PFL. The deal allowed him to box, made him chairman and a minority equity owner of PFL Africa, and guaranteed his PFL opponents at least $2 million to fight him.
Tyson Fury vs. Francis Ngannou
When Fury vs. Ngannou was announced, many were happy to see Francis get his big payday. Few gave him a serious chance against one of boxing’s best heavyweights.
Ngannou made his professional boxing debut against Fury and did far more than compete. He knocked Fury down in the third round and lost a split decision that many viewers disputed. A fighter making his boxing debut had taken one of the sport’s biggest names to the final bell. It was one of the most surprising moments in recent combat sports history.
Fury called it one of his toughest fights in years. Regardless of how anyone scored the decision, Ngannou had once again exceeded expectations. At the time, it felt like we were watching a once-in-a-generation fighter make another impossible leap.
What Happened After the Fury Fight?
The Fury fight was not the end of Ngannou’s story. In March 2024, he faced Anthony Joshua in his second professional boxing match and suffered a second-round knockout loss. It was a difficult setback after the performance that had made his boxing debut so memorable.
Ngannou returned to MMA that October and stopped Renan Ferreira in the first round to win the PFL Super Fight heavyweight title. He dedicated the victory to his son Kobe, who had died earlier that year.
Ngannou and the PFL parted ways in March 2026. Two months later, he returned to MMA again and knocked out Philipe Lins in the first round.
His career since Fury has brought both painful losses and emphatic wins. The story that began in Batié has never followed a predictable path, and Ngannou continues to find a way forward.
He really is a once-in-a-generation fighter. UFC really fumbled the bag letting him go, but I’m glad he gets to go and be great.