Five Fun Facts About Former UFC Heavyweight Champion Francis Ngannou

News that Cameroonian mixed martial artist (MMA) Francis Ngannou was released from the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) on January 14 has enveloped the sports world. The former UFC Heavyweight Champion–who was stripped of said title following his release by UFC president Dana White–was apparently unable to reach a business agreement with the promotion.

In an interview with the MMA fighting YouTube channel “The MMA Hour with Ariel Helwani,” Ngannou said that the UFC had failed to meet many of his requests while negotiating a new contract. His requests included “a three-fight deal, the promotion waiving extension clauses and even health insurance for all fighters,” as reported by ESPN writer Marc Raimondi. A March fight between Jon Jones and Ciryl Gane has been scheduled for the vacant heavyweight title at UFC 285.

As speculation mounts over what the future holds for Ngannou (some experts believe he may enter the world of professional boxing), now is a good time to look back at the 36-year-old’s impressive life and career. 

Here are five fascinating things to know about Francis Ngannou:

#1.) Grew up in poverty

Ngannou was born in Bati, Cameroon, a small town of about 11,000 people. By the age of 9, he was working in sand quarries with his brother instead of attending school. He was tasked with shoveling sand onto loading trucks. ”We couldn’t really enjoy our meals because we would be wondering where the next one would come from,” Ngannou said in an interview with New York Times reporter Emmanuel Morgan.

#2.) Lived in Paris

Intent on traveling to Europe to pursue a boxing career, Ngannou first went to Morocco, before attempting to enter Spain illegally by traversing through the Strait of Gibralter on an inflatable boat with other immigrants. He was arrested and thrown in jail for two months. However, by June of 2013, he finally made his way to Paris, France. Ngannou spent time homeless and sleeping in a parking lot. Working out at a local gym, his talent for fighting became apparent and he switched from boxing to MMA, as the latter appeared to be more lucrative. 

#3.) Spoke out against Trump

Never one to mince words, Ngannou showed that he didn’t leave his big talk solely to the UFC. In 2018, he took exception to former US president Donald Trump’s use of a profane term to describe African countries. “All those people that he was talking about are people like us,” he told The Independent’s Dan Gelston. “This guy is like a shame for America. America was built from immigration.”

#4.) Started his own foundation

In 2019, Ngannou launched the Francis Ngannou Foundation in his hometown of Bati. The non-governmental organization (NGO) provides Cameroonian youth with access to MMA training. Ngannou’s foundation is responsible for building the first fully equipped gym in Cameroonian history. In November 2022, he announced the construction of a new two-story gym facility in the city of Douala.

#5.) Holds record for punching power

As a commanding figure in both height and weight–standing at 6’4 and 250 pounds–Ngannou isn’t nicknamed “The Predator” for no reason. He holds the world record for the hardest punch ever recorded at 129,161 units. “His punches are equivalent to 96 horsepower,” said UFC president Dana White, as reported by the Mirror’s Harry Davies. “That’s equal to getting hit by a Ford Escort going as fast as it can and it’s more powerful than a 12-pound sledgehammer from full force overhead.”