Contents
Francis Ngannou
Winning the UFC heavyweight championship after a journey from Cameroon to professional fighting.
UFC heavyweight title · Successful defence
- Born
- 5 September 1986
- Birthplace
- Batié, Cameroon
More people
Francis Ngannou
Francis Ngannou is a Cameroonian mixed martial artist and boxer. He became UFC heavyweight champion in 2021 and later competed in major boxing bouts and the PFL.
Early life
Quarry work
Worked in a sand quarry while growing up in Cameroon.
Paris training
Reached France in 2013 and began training in mixed martial arts after initially pursuing boxing.
Career
- 2013–2015
Professional beginnings
Built an MMA career in France before making his UFC debut.
- 2021–2022
UFC champion
Won the heavyweight title and defended it against Ciryl Gane.
- 2023–2024
Boxing and MMA
Fought Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua in boxing before returning to MMA against Renan Ferreira.
Achievements
UFC heavyweight title
Knocked out Stipe Miocic to become champion.
Successful defence
Beat Ciryl Gane by unanimous decision.
PFL victory
Stopped Renan Ferreira in the first round.
Beyond sport
Youth facilities
His foundation has supported a combat-sports gym in Cameroon.
Fighter conditions
Has publicly advocated better protections and opportunities for professional fighters.
Sources & photo credit
Life, career and references ↗Institutional source ↗Photo: Mike Tyson. CC BY 3.0 · Original image. Cropped and displayed in monochrome.
.png){kind=link}