The Cameroon fighter was making his comeback in MMA after a two-bout flirtation with boxing saw him beaten by Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua
Francis Ngannou broke down following his knockout win over Renan Ferreira as he thought of his late son.
The 38-year-old took the fight to the floor in the early stages and soon had complete control. He bludgeoned the Brazilian with a barrage of blows, eventually forcing the referee to step in. Ngannou's celebrations were muted as he crouched down in his corner before the official result was announced. He then struggled to keep his composure when he was interviewed.
"It has been tough. Not only the training camp but the past few days have been full of emotion. I couldn’t do anything without thinking about it. I tried to be strong and give everything to keep moving but it’s hard." Asked about how he felt ahead of his return, Ngannou added: "I knew I hadn't missed a step. As soon as I walked into the gym for MMA I knew everything was still there. It was just about managing my emotions and dealing with life.
Tyson Fury Anthony Joshua Boxing MMA
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