Francis Ngannou achieved a remarkable victory by knocking out Brazilian fighter Renan Ferreira in the first round during the PFL Super Fights event in Saudi Arabia. However, amid his success, Ngannou’s thoughts were consumed by his late son, Kobe, who passed away at just 15 months old in April.
“I hope people remember his name, because without Kobe, we wouldn’t be here tonight,” Ngannou said, visibly emotional. “I wouldn’t have fought.”
This match was significant for Ngannou, marking his return to the octagon after a lengthy hiatus since January 2022, when he parted ways with the UFC due to a contract dispute. Yet, this fight held deeper personal meaning for him as it was his first since losing his son. Just months earlier, he struggled to cope with the loss after the tragic failure of doctors to identify a brain malformation that led to Kobe’s passing. Ngannou reflected on his attempt to relate to other grieving parents, admitting, “But I never get anywhere close to how it feels exactly.”
Despite his overwhelming grief, Ngannou chose to step back into the ring. He acknowledged that he could have taken more time off but felt that “I don’t think a lifetime will be enough to grieve.”
Facing off against a formidable opponent, Ngannou entered the arena weighing 255 pounds and standing at 6 feet 4 inches, battling uncertainty in addition to the physical challenge. “This fight for me was also a way to find out if I could still fight, if I still have it,” he explained. “If I can deal with this, with the pressure, with the fight week, with the media and everything.”
In the bout, Ngannou quickly established his dominance by securing a takedown and delivering a knockout to Ferreira. He remained on his knees momentarily as medical staff attended to Ferreira, feeling the weight of reality return. “It’s like, ‘OK, it’s over. I did what I came here to do,’” he noted. “I have to go back into my reality. You know, to face it.”
Emotions surged as he shed tears during the postfight interview, taking the opportunity to honor his son’s memory once more by saying the name that he wants everyone to remember: Kobe.