Francis Ngannou‘s head coach Eric Nicksick always believed Ngannou would return to MMA despite lucrative boxing opportunities, with Ngannou set to make his PFL debut against Renan Ferreira on Oct. 19, following a challenging period marked by personal loss and high-profile boxing matches.
Francis Ngannou’s head coach, Eric Nicksick, always believed the former UFC heavyweight champion would return to MMA. Despite the tempting opportunities in boxing, he knew Ngannou’s heart was still in the cage.
PFL recently announced Ngannou’s promotional debut. His first MMA fight since defending the UFC heavyweight title against Ciryl Gane in January 2022 is set for Oct. 19. He’ll face Renan Ferreira in a five-round main event at PFL’s superfight pay-per-view event.
Following high-profile boxing matches against Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua, and the tragic loss of his son Kobe, Nicksick felt it was the right time for Ngannou to return. The stars seemed to align for the MMA’s lineal heavyweight champion.
“I’m excited for him,” Nicksick told MMA Fighting. “Honestly, getting him through the loss of his son was my main focus as a coach. Bringing him back to the gym and training with the team helped him find comfort again.
“So first and foremost, man, it was about getting through that tough period. While he’s not completely over it, MMA has been a welcome distraction. Thankfully, he’s ready and willing to fight again.”
Ngannou returns to MMA after leaving UFC as heavyweight champion at the start of 2023. He signed a significant free-agent deal with PFL. After switching promotions, he had a split decision loss to Fury in boxing and was later knocked out by Joshua.
Though there are still lucrative fights available in boxing, returning to MMA meant a lot to Ngannou. Keeping his word as a PFL fighter was crucial for him.
“I didn’t think his MMA career was done,” Nicksick said. “Our conversations always hinted at a comeback. His competitive nature and legacy in MMA were too strong to ignore.
“PFL offers freedoms he enjoys, and he wants to help build this promotion. He fell in love with MMA again before his knee injury against Ciryl Gane. Knowing his drive, I always felt he’d return.”
Ferreira gets the biggest fight of his career after a quick knockout of former two-division Bellator champion Ryan Bader in February. “Problema” enters the bout with four straight finishes, totaling just over 10 minutes of combined action.
While Ferreira has size and stature, he lacks high-level competition compared to Ngannou. Nicksick acknowledges this advantage but warns against underestimating Ferreira’s danger.
“Confidence can sometimes trump skill,” Nicksick said of Ferreira. “Winning consistently builds belief. Heading into a fight with Francis Ngannou, Renan has confidence that he can beat anyone — and he should have that mindset.
“We need to keep Francis focused on the task at hand. Ferreira is dangerous everywhere, but we believe we can neutralize his strengths and aim for a short night.”
If Ngannou continues his path of destruction in MMA, options will be plentiful for “The Predator.” Boxing? MMA? Or maybe something unexpected from rising combat sports promoter Turki Alalshikh?
“Because of his freedoms, he can revisit boxing if an opportunity arises,” Nicksick said. “He’s a contractor who goes to the highest bidder. He decides what he wants to do whenever he wants.
“For now, our sights are set on Oct. 19. Whatever happens after that — who knows? Maybe Turki will get UFC to arrange a fight with Jon Jones. You never know with this sport; all options are on the table. We’ll figure it out after handling business on Oct. 19.”