Francis Ngannou

Francis Ngannou

Francis Zavier Ngannou (born September 5, 1986) is a Cameroonian-French professional boxer and former mixed martial artist. He is the current WBC heavyweight champion. As of June 2023, he is ranked as the second-best heavyweight in the world by BoxRec and third by The Ring, The Transnational Boxing Rankings Board, and ESPN.

Early life

Ngannou was born in Batié, Cameroon. He grew up in poverty, and often had to fight for his food. He started training in boxing at the age of 22, and quickly showed promise.

MMA career

Ngannou made his professional MMA debut in 2013. He quickly amassed a record of 6-1, with all of his wins coming by knockout. In 2015, he signed with the UFC.

Ngannou made his UFC debut in December 2015, and quickly became one of the most popular fighters in the promotion. He won his first four fights in the UFC, all by knockout, and earned a title shot against Stipe Miocic in January 2018. Ngannou lost the fight by unanimous decision, but he remained one of the most feared fighters in the UFC.

Ngannou won his next four fights, all by knockout, and earned a rematch against Miocic in March 2021. This time, Ngannou won the fight by knockout in the second round, becoming the UFC heavyweight champion.

Ngannou defended his title once, against Ciryl Gane in January 2022. He won the fight by unanimous decision.

In December 2022, Ngannou announced that he was leaving the UFC.

Boxing career

Ngannou signed with boxing promoter Eddie Hearn in January 2023. He is expected to make his boxing debut in the summer of 2023.

Personal life

Ngannou is married to Deana Bennett, a Jamaican-born model. They have one child together. Ngannou is a devout Christian.

Fighting style

Ngannou is a powerful striker with devastating knockout power. He is also a skilled wrestler and grappler.

Legacy

Ngannou is one of the most popular and feared fighters in the world. He is known for his incredible power and his ability to knock out opponents with a single punch. Ngannou is also a pioneer for African fighters in the UFC. He is the first African-born fighter to win a UFC heavyweight championship.