Cameroonian mixed martial artist Francis Ngannou stunned fans with a first-round knockout of Brazil’s Renan Ferreira at the PFL Super Fights event in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, last night.
In his first MMA bout in nearly three years, the 38-year-old heavyweight secured the win with powerful ground strikes, marking a dramatic return to the sport.
Emotional after the victory, Ngannou dedicated the win to his late 15-month-old son, Kobe, who tragically passed away earlier this year.
“I can only think of my son Kobe. I took this fight for him,” Ngannou said. “I hope his name will be remembered because without Kobe, none of this would have happened. I wouldn’t have fought.”
Former UFC heavyweight champion Ngannou returned to the cage after a 22-month hiatus, during which he competed in high-profile boxing matches against stars like Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua.
Despite contemplating retirement earlier in the year, Ngannou decided to continue fighting in honor of his son Kobe.
