Cristiano Ronaldo was thrilled for Francis Ngannou after the fighter achieved a spectacular knockout victory in his long-awaited return to MMA. Ngannou had been out of the sport since January 2022, when he defended his UFC heavyweight title against Ciryl Gane.
In a commanding performance, Ngannou overwhelmed Renan Ferreira, eventually finishing him with powerful ground strikes to secure the inaugural PFL Super Fights heavyweight title. Ronaldo, who plays for Al Nassr, was present at the event in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and was seen celebrating enthusiastically from cageside as the referee called off the fight.
Prior to the match, the two shared an emotional moment backstage. Ngannou experienced profound loss when his son Kobe passed away at just 15 months old due to a brain malformation. Ronaldo, who faced a similar tragedy in 2022 when he lost a son during childbirth, connected with Ngannou over their shared grief.
Ngannou’s coach, Erick Nicksick, mentioned that as Francis prepared for the fight, Ronaldo sensed his emotional state and decided to offer encouragement. Nicksick noted the importance of this personal exchange, which helped Ngannou feel supported and part of a team, especially with Ronaldo’s son, Cristiano Jr., present.
After the fight, Ngannou was visibly emotional, breaking down in tears and sobbing into Nicksick’s arms. He dedicated his victory to Kobe, expressing, “I can’t think about anything other than my son. I did this fight for him.” He hoped that people would remember Kobe’s name, acknowledging that without him, he wouldn’t have been able to compete that night. Ngannou admitted the lead-up to the fight had been particularly challenging, filled with emotional turmoil. He emphasized that while he felt physically prepared, managing his emotions was a significant hurdle.
In the end, Ngannou’s victory was not just a personal triumph in the octagon but also a heartfelt tribute to his late son.