Francis Ngannou made a triumphant return to mixed martial arts, stopping Renan Ferreira in the first round at the PFL Super Fights event in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The emotional victory was dedicated to his late son Kobe, who passed away earlier this year.
Ngannou, overcome with emotion, shed tears as he honored his 15-month-old son’s memory. “I couldn’t think about anything else but Kobe. I only took this fight because of him,” he said. “I went to fight for him. I hope they remember his name because without Kobe, we wouldn’t be here tonight.”
The 38-year-old Cameroonian returned to the cage after a nearly three-year hiatus, following blockbuster boxing bouts against Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua. Despite considering retirement, Ngannou chose to fight on in memory of Kobe.
Ngannou’s PFL debut saw him secure a takedown against Ferreira, the PFL’s 2023 global league heavyweight champion. After defending a triangle choke attempt, Ngannou unleashed a series of ground strikes, forcing the referee to stop the contest.
“I knew I didn’t miss a step,” Ngannou said. “My next move in combat sports depends on me, how I feel. I always think I have a lot to give.”
The card featured a star-studded audience, including Cristiano Ronaldo, and a lavish opening ceremony. However, Saudi Arabia’s use of sports to divert attention from its human rights record remains a contentious issue.