Fighting on 'best way of honouring my son' - Ngannou

Francis Ngannou says he considered retiring pursuing nan decease of his boy earlier this year, but has chosen to conflict connected arsenic it is "the champion measurement of honouring him".

Cameroon's Ngannou, who was speaking astatine a news convention to beforehand his PFL heavyweight debut against Renan Ferreira connected 19 October, posted connected X in April that his 15-month-old boy Kobe had passed away.

The 37-year-old's bout pinch Brazil's Ferreira successful Riyadh, Saudi Arabia marks his return to MMA and first conflict since conclusion by British boxer Anthony Joshua successful March.

"Fighting for maine is simply a lifestyle. I questioned myself if I should proceed aliases retire, but I didn’t want my boy to beryllium nan logic for maine to do that," said Ngannou.

"It’s go a caller intent for me. I decided to make a affirmative retired of his 15 months of living. To find nan spot retired of him, arsenic a motivation, to support going alternatively of to quit.

"I deliberation this is nan champion measurement of honouring him.”

Following nan news convention Ngannou and Ferreira, some sporting sunglasses, faced disconnected either broadside of YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul, who was a compere astatine nan event.

Ngannou told Ferreira "you’re going to look a existent champion now”, prompting laughter betwixt nan brace earlier they sized each different up.

Their conflict is billed arsenic nan 'Battle of nan Giants', pinch nan victor receiving PFL's recently established "super-fights title belt".

The co-main arena pits long-time Bellator featherweight title-holder Cris Cyborg against PFL two-weight champion Larissa Pacheco.

The conflict paper successful Saudi Arabia will beryllium nan latest successful a drawstring of high-profile sporting events to return spot successful nan Kingdom.

But nan state continues to look criticisms for utilizing athletics to divert attraction distant from its mediocre quality authorities grounds - a process known arsenic sportswashing.

Ngannou has won 17 of his 20 MMA bouts, pinch 12 of his victories coming via knockout, but he has not competed successful nan athletics since defending his UFC heavyweight title against Ciryl Gane successful January 2022.

He was stripped of nan title a twelvemonth later aft failing to work together a caller contract, earlier joining nan PFL.

He is yet to debut successful nan promotion aft turning his attraction to boxing, losing to Britons Tyson Fury and Joshua successful 2 high-profile bouts.

Ngannou says it was "always nan plan" to return to MMA pursuing his conclusion by Joshua, but has not ruled retired returning to boxing aft nan conflict pinch Ferreira.

"I’m still looking for boxing matches. I don’t person 1 yet, I deliberation I moreover person a fewer near successful me. Right now I’m focusing connected [Ferreira]. I don’t cognize what’s next, but I’ll get this 1 first and spot nan possibilities,” said Ngannou.

Ferreira won nan PFL's 2023 heavyweight tourney earlier defeating Bellator's heavyweight champion Ryan Bader successful February.

He has won 13 of his 19 fights, delivering 11 knockouts, and paid tribute to Ngannou erstwhile questioned by nan media.

"It's a awesome honour to beryllium here. I’m ecstatic pinch this opportunity and it’s an honour to look personification for illustration Francis Ngannou," said Ferreira.

“Francis has had a reliable twelvemonth successful his life, but nan toughest situation successful his life and successful his twelvemonth is going to beryllium maine correct here.

“He has a large problem successful beforehand of him. I tin wrestle him, sound him out, return him down to nan crushed and taxable him.”