The Indomitable Predator

He left the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) to the Professional Fighter’s League (PFL) when the managers of UFC proposed to increase his salary. He believed everyone in the organization deserved a better treatment and not him alone. He’s not so keen on organizing a big fight like Muhammad Ali vs George Foreman in Africa but prefers to devote that budget to the development of infrastructures in his continent.

“Initially, my project was boxing. Then, I had more opportunities in MMA, especially with the UFC contract. Given my situation at the time, it wasn’t possible for me to give up this opportunity”.

He is an extraordinary man. Sulky or capricious for some, big personality and revolutionary for others. Whatever, he doesn’t care about the external points of view, as his “ Predator ” mindset seems to be adjusted to face the biggest challenges. Francis Ngannou has no complexes, confidence rains down on him like drops of sweat on the floor of his gyms in Las Vegas and Nkolfoulou (suburb in Yaounde, Cameroon). If some sport fans perceive him as the little African who dares to challenge the entire Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) institution headed by Dana White, for others, he is like an elder brother, who wants to protect his own. “Many UFC fighters are not happy, but have no choice because they are bound by contracts and that does not give them the opportunity to choose better. UFC detects talents and locks them into long term contracts, which are renewed with an added value on the remuneration. This extends the contract indefinitely, until they don’t need you anymore ” says Ngannou.

Francis Ngannou has many challenges, but his long-held dream of becoming a professional boxer has always come first. “Initially, my project was boxing. I had more opportunities in MMA, especially with the UFC contract. Given my situation at the time, it wasn’t possible to give up this opportunity. I took it, knowing that one day I would go back to boxing “ reveals the MMA world heavyweight champion.

Francis Ngannou’s passion for boxing is so great that he wants to pass it on to the next generation. He recently inaugurated a gym dedicated to training young Cameroonians in combat sports in Douala, the country’s economic capital. ”This is the second, after the first one in Batié, West region of Cameroon, which has been operational for four years“ says Francis Ngannou. This project is of great importance to him. To Francis the realization of a dream without appropriate infrastructure is an obstacle. He intends to make life easier for the followers of that art in Cameroon and eventually the continent.

“UFC detects talents and locks them into long term contracts, which are renewed with an added value on the remuneration. This extends the contract indefinitely, until they don’t need you anymore ”.