July 23, 2024 • 2hr 18min

JRE MMA Show #160 with Francis Ngannou

The Joe Rogan Experience

Francis Ngannou is a professional mixed martial artist and boxer from Cameroon. He is a former UFC Heavyweight Champion who recently transitioned to professional boxing, facing top heavyweights Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua. Ngannou is now signed with the Professional Fighters League (PFL) and is set to return to MMA competition. In this wide-ranging conversation with Joe Rogan, Ngannou discusses his recent boxing matches, future plans in MMA and boxing, his work expanding MMA in Africa, and opens up about personal tragedy and loss.

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Key Takeaways

Francis Ngannou recently fought Tyson Fury in a high-profile boxing match, surprising many by going the full 10 rounds and even knocking Fury down. He views this as a win despite the official loss.
Ngannou faced Anthony Joshua in his next boxing match but felt something was off, possibly due to fatigue from waiting hours before the fight. He believes the organizers may have intentionally tried to tire him out.
Ngannou plans to return to MMA and fight for the PFL, likely against Renan Ferreira in October in Saudi Arabia. He sees himself fighting for about 3 more years until age 41.
The PFL is expanding into Africa, with Ngannou as chairman of PFL Africa. He's passionate about creating opportunities for fighters in Africa.
Ngannou tragically lost his 15-month-old son Kobe in April 2023 due to an undiagnosed brain malformation. He speaks candidly about the immense grief and pain of this loss.
Despite the hardships he's faced, Ngannou remains determined to keep fighting and honor his son's memory by staying active and pursuing his goals.

Introduction

Francis Ngannou is a professional mixed martial artist and boxer from Cameroon. He is a former UFC Heavyweight Champion who recently transitioned to professional boxing, facing top heavyweights Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua. Ngannou is now signed with the Professional Fighters League (PFL) and is set to return to MMA competition. In this wide-ranging conversation with Joe Rogan, Ngannou discusses his recent boxing matches, future plans in MMA and boxing, his work expanding MMA in Africa, and opens up about personal tragedy and loss.

Topics Discussed

Boxing Match vs Tyson Fury (00:02)

Ngannou reflects on his professional boxing debut against heavyweight champion Tyson Fury:

Many doubted Ngannou could compete, but he surprised by going the full 10 rounds
Knocked Fury down in the 2nd round, shocking many viewers
Ngannou views it as a win despite the official loss, saying "For me, knowing what I was going through, what was in my mind, like, what's gonna happen into this fight? First round, second round. Then I get in the 10th round good. And I pretty. I feel like I wasn't doing bad. So for me, that was a win."
Believes he was underestimated, which allowed the fight to happen

Boxing Match vs Anthony Joshua (15:44)

Ngannou discusses his second professional boxing match against Anthony Joshua:

Felt more confident after the Fury fight, but things played out differently
Believes organizers may have intentionally tried to tire him out by having him arrive hours early and wait
Felt off during the fight, getting knocked down by punches that didn't seem that hard
Wonders if extreme fatigue from waiting affected his performance

Future MMA and Boxing Plans (54:59)

Ngannou outlines his plans for upcoming fights:

Plans to fight MMA for PFL next, likely against Renan Ferreira in October in Saudi Arabia
Expects to fight for about 3 more years until age 41
Open to more boxing matches after the PFL fight
Wants to "leave the sport before the sport leaves me"

PFL Africa and Expanding MMA Opportunities (52:00)

Ngannou discusses his role with PFL Africa:

Will serve as chairman of PFL Africa, launching in 2025
Passionate about creating opportunities for African fighters
Plans to build gyms and develop coaching to support talent
Sees it as a way to give back and provide opportunities he didn't have

Reflections on Talent vs Hard Work (1:35:47)

Ngannou shares his thoughts on talent versus hard work in fighting:

Believes discipline is more important than raw talent
Champions are often not the most talented, but the hardest workers
Agrees with the saying "hard work beats talent when talent doesn't work hard"
Discusses how talented people can become complacent

Personal Tragedy and Loss of Son (1:51:42)

Ngannou opens up about the tragic loss of his 15-month-old son Kobe in April 2023:

Son passed away suddenly due to undiagnosed brain malformation
Describes the immense grief and pain of the loss
Reflects on feeling powerless despite his success and resources
Named his son after Kobe Bryant after a memorable interaction with the basketball star
Trying to find purpose and honor his son's memory by continuing to pursue his goals

Overcoming Adversity and Finding Motivation (2:09:12)

Ngannou reflects on overcoming hardships and finding motivation to continue:

Has faced many challenges throughout his life
Loss of his son made him question his toughness and purpose
Wants to honor his son's memory by staying active and pursuing goals
Says "I think if there's one thing that he. He would have been doing, he would have been doing, he would have been doing something. Not staying there, not being a reason of giving up or whatever. And I think that that's the only way to honor him, his memory, keep him alive, get a purpose, make him a motivation."

Conclusion

Francis Ngannou's conversation with Joe Rogan provides deep insights into his recent boxing matches, future plans in MMA, and work expanding opportunities for fighters in Africa. He displays remarkable resilience in the face of professional challenges and personal tragedy. Despite the immense grief of losing his young son, Ngannou remains determined to continue pursuing his goals in combat sports and creating positive change. His journey from poverty in Cameroon to global fighting stardom, and now to a leadership role developing MMA in Africa, is a testament to his work ethic and perseverance. As he enters the next phase of his career, Ngannou seems poised to make an impact both in and out of the cage.