Photo : X2o, CC BY-SA 4.0
Francis Ngannou
From the sand quarry of Batié to the UFC belt
Born in 1986
Who are they?
A mixed martial artist and boxer born in 1986 in Batié, in western Cameroon, where he worked in a sand quarry from childhood. After leaving for Europe, he lived on the streets of Paris before being taken in at Fernand Lopez’s MMA Factory, where he took up MMA.
What made them famous
In March 2021 he knocked out Stipe Miocic to become UFC heavyweight champion, in the world’s largest MMA organisation. He defended the title against Ciryl Gane in January 2022, then left the UFC in January 2023 after failing to agree a new contract: among other things, he had asked for health insurance and better terms for fighters.
Key facts
- In his first professional boxing match, on 28 October 2023 in Riyadh, he knocked down WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury before losing on a split decision.
- In October 2024 he won the PFL Super Fights heavyweight title, stopping Brazil’s Renan Ferreira in the first round.
- On 16 May 2026 he knocked out Philipe Lins in the first round, at the first MMA event staged by Most Valuable Promotions.
- His foundation, which supports children in Cameroon, has opened training gyms in Batié and Douala.