Francis Ngannou, the former UFC heavyweight champion, is preparing for his highly anticipated return to MMA in the Professional Fighters League (PFL) on October 19, 2024. Following the tragic loss of his son Kobe, Ngannou’s return to the sport has been supported by his head coach Eric Nicksick of Xtreme Couture.
Nicksick, who has been instrumental in Ngannou’s recovery, emphasized the emotional and psychological challenges the fighter has had to face.
“I wasn’t sure if he was ever going to fight again,” Nicksick admitted, reflecting on the dark days following the tragedy. “With a tragedy like that, with a loss like that, you just never know how someone recovers from it. But getting him back in the room and in the gym reignited his MMA juices and he wanted to fight, so I’m happy for him, man. It seems like he’s in a good place right now.”
Ngannou’s return to the gym has not only reignited his passion for MMA, but also provided an important distraction from his personal grief. Nicksick’s focus has been on helping Ngannou heal. “For us, it was really more about his mental health and getting our friend back and taking care of him,” Nicksick said, emphasizing the deep bond between trainer and fighter.
During his MMA hiatus, Ngannou ventured into the boxing ring, where he faced Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua. Although he lost both fights, his performance against Fury, in which he scored a knockdown via split decision loss, turned heads. However, the fight against Joshua ended in a second-round knockout, which, coupled with the death of his son shortly after, caused Ngannou to question his future in combat sports.
Despite these challenges, Ngannou has never stopped working on his MMA skills, especially his wrestling, which Nicksick says will be crucial for his upcoming fight.
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“It’s an honor to be by his side,” Nicksick said. “He’s my friend first and foremost. I know I’m his coach at the end of the day, but we’re brothers in arms. I know what he’s fighting for and I know his goal right now. I’m here to help him achieve that goal.”
In Ngannou’s PFL debut, he will face Renan Ferreira, the current PFL heavyweight champion, in Saudi Arabia. Ferreira, known for his speed and athleticism, poses a formidable challenge for Ngannou, who hasn’t competed in MMA since his last UFC fight against Ciryl Gane in January 2022. Ngannou is determined to remind the world why he was once the UFC’s most feared heavyweight.
In addition to Ngannou’s fight, the PFL event on October 19 will also feature a featherweight title fight between Cris Cyborg and Larissa Pacheco, promising a night of exciting action.
For more information on Francis Ngannou’s journey, visit MMAnytt.se.
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