Francis Ngannou: UFC Exit, Boxing, and Personal Tragedy

Francis Ngannou has never been one to follow a predictable path. After working in a sand mine, he rose to become the UFC heavyweight champion known for the hardest punch ever measured, but left the UFC in January 2023 over contract disputes, seeking freedom not just a bigger paycheck (BBC Sport). Later, he faced the devastating loss of his 15-month-old son. Here’s what we know about his career crossroads and what lies ahead.

Professional MMA record: 19-3-0 ·
UFC record: 17-3-0 ·
Height: 6 ft 4 in ·
Reach: 83 in

Five key facts from Ngannou’s career, one pattern: each stage marked by a major transition.

How did Francis Ngannou’s child pass away?

Details of the incident

• Ngannou’s son Kobe died at age 15 months in April 2024 (Reuters). The exact cause has not been publicly disclosed by the family.
• BBC Sport reported the death but also withheld the cause, citing family privacy (BBC Sport).

Public statements from Ngannou

• Ngannou posted a heartfelt tribute on social media, thanking fans for support but not providing further details.
• His team requested privacy during the grieving period, as reported by multiple outlets.

The implication: This personal tragedy overshadowed Ngannou’s professional comeback plans, delaying his scheduled PFL debut.

Why is Francis Ngannou no longer in the UFC?

Contract issues

• Ngannou’s UFC contract expired in early December 2022, making him a free agent (ESPN).
• He said the UFC rejected requests for fighter health insurance and permission to pursue his own sponsorship deals (BBC Sport).
• A major sticking point was the promotion’s one-year matching rights clause and exclusive negotiating window (ESPN).

Free agency decision

• Ngannou signed with the PFL in May 2023, a deal that allows him to pursue professional boxing simultaneously (ESPN).
• The UFC vacated his heavyweight title immediately after parting ways in January 2023 (ESPN).

The catch: While Ngannou got the freedom to box and control his own brand, he had to vacate the heavyweight championship and start over in a new promotion.

How many fights has Ngannou lost?

Complete professional MMA record

• Ngannou has 19 wins and 3 losses in MMA (ESPN). His three losses were all by decision or submission – he has never been knocked out in MMA.
• Losses to Derrick Lewis, Stipe Miocic, and Ciryl Gane (twice? No, only one loss to each – Gane loss was a decision, not a knockout).

Losses in boxing

• Ngannou lost a close split decision to Tyson Fury in October 2023, but knocked Fury down once (Sportsnet).
• He lost by knockout to Anthony Joshua in March 2024 (Sportsnet).

The pattern: Ngannou’s losses have come against elite competition in both sports, but his punching power remains a constant – he’s never been stopped in MMA and stunned Fury on boxing’s biggest stage.

Is Francis Ngannou the hardest puncher ever?

Scientific measurement of punch force

• At the UFC Performance Institute, Ngannou registered a punch force of 129,161 units, a record for the facility.
• However, the measurement method is not a standardized boxing metric, so direct comparisons with other heavyweights are difficult.

Comparisons with other heavyweights

• His knockdown of Tyson Fury in their boxing match offers real-world evidence: Fury had never been knocked down in his professional career before (Sportsnet).
• Many analysts and fellow fighters consider Ngannou the hardest hitter in UFC history, though historical comparisons remain subjective.

What this means: While the punch machine record is disputed, the Fury knockdown proves that Ngannou’s power translates from MMA to boxing at the highest level.

Will Ngannou ever fight again?

Next confirmed fight plans

• Ngannou was scheduled to make his PFL heavyweight debut against Renan Ferreira on October 19, 2024 (USA Today). That date passed, and no new date has been confirmed.
• As of early 2025, his next fight has not been officially announced. PFL sources indicate a 2025 return is likely.

Boxing or MMA return

• Under his PFL contract, Ngannou is free to pursue boxing matches. He has expressed interest in a rematch with Joshua or a fight against other top heavyweights.
• His PFL MMA debut is expected in 2025, but no opponent or date has been set.

The trade-off: Ngannou could return to MMA as soon as 2025, but his heart may be in boxing after the Fury fight proved he can compete. The decision will shape the next phase of his legacy.

Timeline signal

• 1986 – Born in Batié, Cameroon
• 2013 – Started MMA training in France
• 2015 – Joined UFC (Sportsnet)
• January 2021 – Won UFC Heavyweight Championship vs Stipe Miocic
• January 2023 – UFC released Ngannou; title vacated (ESPN)
• May 2023 – Signed with PFL (Sportsnet)
• October 2023 – Boxed Tyson Fury (Reuters)
• March 2024 – Lost to Anthony Joshua by KO (Sportsnet)
• April 2024 – Son Kobe passed away (Reuters)

“I wanted freedom, not just money.”

— Francis Ngannou, as told to BBC Sport

“We have parted ways with Francis Ngannou. He is a free agent now.”

— Dana White, quoted in ESPN

For Ngannou, the choice is clear: return to MMA under PFL in 2025, or continue chasing big boxing paydays. Either way, his legacy as the hardest hitter in combat sports is secure. The coming months will determine whether he can bounce back from two career firsts — a knockout loss and a personal tragedy that no fighter should have to endure.

For a deeper look at the personal and professional challenges he faced, Francis Ngannous tragic story is explored in detail.

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