← The Herd with Colin Cowherd
The Herd with Colin Cowherd
The Daniel Cormier Show - Francis Ngannou on Philipe Lins, leaving UFC, Anthony Joshua fight, losing his son
01:08:27
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- [00:00]
A
This is an iHeart podcast. Guaranteed Human. This podcast is sponsored by Total Wireless, the official wireless partner of ufc. Power doesn't wait in the octagon or outside of it. You either make the move or you miss the moment. That's why you need a network that's just as powerful as you are. With Total Wireless, you get unlimited 5G data keeping you in the action from the walkouts to the knockouts. Now that's a total power move. Make your total power move today. Visit total wireless.com or stop by your neighborhood Total Wireless store. Additional terms apply. See total wireless.com for details. The volume. What's up, guys? Welcome to a brand new episode of the Daniel Cormier show, brought to you by Total Wireless, the official wireless provider of UFC. They are in your corner with unlimited 5G data that will not slow you down. Now that is a total power move. Today, I'm joined by one of the most powerful and inspiring figures in all of combat sports, Francis Ngannou. He was a former UFC heavyweight champion, a global superstar, and a man whose journey goes far beyond anything that that happens inside of a cage. Guys, when you talk about Francis, you can't just talk about his knockouts, which were insanely scary. You got to talk about where he came from. He grew up in Cameroon, worked sand mines as a kid, making dangerous journeys across countries just to try to get a chance, to chase an opportunity. And then he rose all the way to the top of the sport. Francis didn't just fight opponents. He fought his circumstances, he fought doubt. He. He fought life. He turned that all into becoming a world champion. But Francis story doesn't stop there, because he left the UFC as a champion, stepped into the boxing ring, fighting some of the best fighters in the world. To everything that he's faced outside of competition, this man continues to evolve. He continues to push forward no matter what is in front of him. But today, I'm not trying to just talk about Francis and inside the fight. I want to go deeper than just the fights. I want to talk the journey. I want to talk the set packs. I want to talk the victories. And I want to get you to know the man that's behind all of this. Right? Francis Ngannou. The guy that I get to talk to on the phone at times, the guy that I get to share in some of the toughest moments with. Ladies and gentlemen, welcome my friend, Big Frank. Francis Ngannou.
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B
That was the introduction.
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A
That was the introduction, my brother. How you like that?
- [02:41]
B
Good. That's awesome.
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A
You're the man Francis, thank you for joining me, bro. I appreciate this.
- [02:46]
B
Thank you.
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A
Before we can go and get deep into this, we got to kind of start where the journey began. Back in Cameroon.
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B
Yeah.
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A
Back to Africa, the motherland. What do you remember about growing up in Cameroon?
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B
Everything.
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A
You remember a lot of it.
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B
Of course I remember everything, basically, since I'm there all the time, you know, and then every. Every places is a. Is like a page of a story. Every place that I go is like a page of a story. Some place can bring me back 15 years, 20 years, 30 years, and then everything come in place. You know, when I go out there, it's like reading a book. Everything. Tell me one story, bring me back from some moment to another one, I think. And I think that's the most enjoyable part of it. And then, you know, the thing is that, like, back then when I was there, I was so upset of our situation. I'm like. Because that was the only place that I could. I could have been, and I didn't have option. And now, after all the option that I have in hand today, all the places that I have been, I found it to be the best place on earth, you know? You know, because that's where I get. I. I'm like, connect to my root. Speak to me. You know, sometime I just go by some trees, by some road, and then he just tell me a story, like, from maybe 20 years ago, 25 years ago. And that's awesome.
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A
It's. It's always amazing when you go home and you start seeing, like, just places you spit because you're like, man, I forgot that this happened.
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B
Yeah. Places and faces and stories. Yeah.
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A
You said that you hated that, right? You didn't want to be there because of the situation you were in.
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B
Yeah.
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A
You know, when I was growing up in Lafayette, Louisiana, my birth father and my mother, they separated very early. Right. So I had to watch my dad with another family. You had something similar like that? Do your parents separated early? Like, how did you.
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B
Separated when I was six years old. But my. My dad didn't get married, so we were kind of like living places, moving places to place.
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A
Like you and your mother or you and your dad?
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B
No, we were given to family.
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A
So you were in the foster, like, foster or with your family?
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B
Foster with family.
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A
Yeah.
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B
And somebody would take us for like one year, two years, and someone would take us for like, six months.
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A
Why though? Why. Why do you ever.
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B
My parents were still. I mean. I mean, my mom was the one that was in charge, but she. They were still like, in court, figured out divorce and then didn't have the stability, the financial situation or anything. So he was kind of like it was four of us and then we were spread all over the place. So trying to move. So like my primary school I went like just my first six years at school. I went to like maybe six different schools.
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A
Really?
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B
Yeah.
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A
Do you remember how hard that was as a kid? Like trying to adjust to all these families and situations.
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B
Trying to adjust with the family, trying to adjust with the friend with the school. You know, trying to have a friend try to be part of, of the, of the school. And then always a stranger everywhere that you go. And then maybe by the time you try to, you, you, you're getting that connection. You know, you start to like get this connection with people and then you get separated again, go to other place and then. And that's why like at time, my best, the best something that I developed at time that was my kind of like my safe boat was like a virtual world. I have an imaginary world in my mind, a virtual world that was like I created a perfect family, a perfect environment for me that I have my parents home, I have my siblings, and then I just go to school, come back. I have no problem with pens or with scholar fee. I have everything, eat three times a day. And that was perfect. It was just in my mind, but that was perfect. It was enough for me to escape from time to time, go there, chill with myself, you know, just like, you
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A
know, like just being make believe and be happy.
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B
Exactly. And then that was my source of energy.
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A
Francis, that's, that's, that's crazy that you're able to do that though, right? Like you're able to separate yourself because obviously when we get into your career, at times you got to separate yourself from reality because things get hard, especially in wins and losses. Things can get hard. Right, but you're going to this make believe place. Right. But at nine years old you're living in a mud house and working.
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B
No, at time I was like six to seven.
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A
Six to seven.
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B
My parents divorced when I was six years old.
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A
Yeah.
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B
So nine years old was when I went from my aunt to the village.
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A
And you're working at that point?
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B
Yeah, when I went to, to the village, to my grandma, like the adoptive, my mom. Then we started to. It was a village and the village was a low economy, low income, like basically no income, very poor. Even like to have food or something was really hard. So everybody has to contribute, everybody has to do something to work. Farming wasn't enough because we still need cash, we still need money. And that's when we start. Go to the sun. Sun Mine.
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A
Jesus. So what does a normal day look like for a kid like that? Do you remember?
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B
Yeah, you go to the sun Mine. I mean then they give you those direction. You, you cannot, obviously you cannot work at those adult. I was to be big, bigger than a nine years old kid.
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A
Yeah, they probably worked you like a. You probably work you like a man because you're probably so big.
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B
No, at time, that was at the beginning. I mean I was too small. It's like, you know, you have this big shelf and shovel sand and all these things and dig sand from the mountain. I couldn't, I couldn't done it. At time I was just hoping and then learning. Then over time, then I evolved and then I think by maybe 11, 12, I was able to handle everything.
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A
When you said your childhood was one of the hardest times of your life, can you look back and think back to those moments and think like, I mean God, man, you were like creating a false environment for yourself. Like, did you ever think like, my God, this is going to be my life going forward or did it ever like set you back or did you know, like I'm going to create something greater. Some of the greatest stories of success is the kid that can see down the line and God, I'm not gonna be this. My life is going to change and I'm gonna change the way my parents live and everything else. Could you see that, that those ages.
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B
No, like I could have said it, but I, I could have seen it, but I wanted it. I, I remember I have a lot of trouble trying to do something. Like even me thinking differently was a problem, you know?
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A
Like a problem for who though?
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B
For everybody, for my family, for everybody around, you know, because like they are programmed to just grow up, okay? Become a farmer or a builder or something or the best thing you can do. Go learn. So go to learn some work to become a mechanic and all those stuff. That was all what we were programmed for. And then I was like thinking of something above that. And it looks like you are looking down to people like you on the. You're like looking down to them like they are not good enough. And then if it's very disrespectful. So I have a lot of problem with that. And then I'm like, I want to do this. I'm like, no, you cannot. We cannot from here we cannot do that. I'm like, why? I want to try. I want to give it A shot. And then I'm like, oh, you're too stubborn. You have to listen. You don't listen like your brother like this. And I have to get into a lot of trouble. Like, I was just a bad among kids like them. Like, this kid's no good. He's not listening, you know?
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A
And I was talking to you.
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B
My. My older brother, he was a nice kid because he was listening, obey, like, go to the farm. Go learn his mechanic. Settle with that. Happy with being a mechanic. A mechanic and everything. I'm like, I don't think this. This is enough. I want more. Like. And they'll be like, these. You're too much ambitious. We think really, you're gonna turn out bad. You're gonna get into something you like, easy life. And then they were so scared of what I gonna turn out.
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A
Francis. I was talking to Michael Irvin, the football player, and he said to me, when we are from where we're from, right? Because I'm from a place where there wasn't much either. And everybody in my family, we did Brickland, you know, how they build the houses with the bricks. And everybody would. You, you, you. You would get old enough to become a laborer, where you pour the martyr, and then you put the martyr on the boards while the other guys put the bricks on the house. And then eventually you get good enough to lay the bricks. And that was the highest earning potential of all the people. And I was like, man, I worked the summer when I was in high school, and I said, I can't do this.
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B
I did that too.
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A
Yeah. I was like, I can't do this. It was hot. It was uncomfortable. And you're right. Everybody goes, you're crazy. You're crazy. But to think outside of what's normal in those situations, a lot of times is perceived as crazy.
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B
Very crazy. Basically, from where I was.
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A
Yes.
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B
You know, from your small village that maybe they barely see TVs. You're thinking of this thing that doesn't even happen in your country. I'm like, what the hell is that?
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A
Isn't it sad, though? But it's sad for the people that. It's sad for the people that are there because now you're a guiding light of what can be. But now you have changed that because they saw I can work.
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B
It's sad, but in the meantime, it's also realistic. You have to understand he needs a crazy one to believe. To believe in something like that. From there, you know, now when I think about it, I don't blame those people. I Understand them, you know, I just think that I was just crazy enough I didn't care about anything. I. I wasn't like worry about if I fail or something. I was just like, you know, like taking a board decision, like I gonna do it might not work, but at least I have to try and find out. He doesn't work, you know, so he, he wasn't like, I was sure that I was going to make it. No, I was just giving it a shot.
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A
I'm gonna take a chance.
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B
I'm gonna take a chance and give everything I got and see what come out of it.
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A
Yeah.
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B
So I remember like at some point in my life, I was even, I'll even go to the sun mine, like walking there, I will see this guy, maybe this man, like 50, 55 or 60 years old, chevron sand. And I'm there, I'm 15 or 20, I'm looking at this guy, I'm like, damn, if I don't do something in my life, I'm gonna end up here. Like I'm not even 20 and the guy is like 60. So like 40 more years to doing the same thing, going through the same, no, this can't happen. Then I will freak out. I'm like, you better do something because I can live this life, you know? And then I have so much. I was thinking high of myself. I mean, I always have a high expectation of myself. I think I'm better than this. But now if you tell these people that, oh, I'm better, I can do this. Then it's like you are looking down to us. You think we are not good enough. And this then, you know, after years of thinking of facing that struggle, that argument, I stopped talking. I just thinking, I process, you know, because when I, I know that when I talk, it's gonna turn out to a trouble or to argument or to something. I don't talk, but I see, I. I keep seeing things. I'm like, no, man, I can't stand it. I. I can just take it like, yeah, suck it and shut up now and just.
- [15:29]
A
It'll happen. So where did the change happen? Like what, what was the.
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B
I think that was already the change. I think the change. Start from your, your mindset. The change start from your mindset. Because if, if you don't have that mindset, you will not take a chance of anything else. You just get, you just settle for what you get, you know, Then from the mindset, then you start thinking of like, okay, what can I do? What should be the next step? What? And then you start to try things to figure it out, does it work? Then you find yourself, you know, I'm like, oh, this is. This is a failure. But. But you, you stay in need and then, you know, you keep involved and someday you find yourself into something. Because I thought like that for so many years. But not until like I was what this was back in 2012, so I was like 25, not 26 yet that I left the country. You know, because he takes kind of take time. I didn't know where I was going,
- [16:28]
A
where you were going to go.
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B
I have no idea of how to start to go. So I was stuck there for years thinking like, man, is it right? And then you heard of some people that went out there and never came back. They never heard from them after 10, 15 years. And this. They are probably death or something.
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A
Jesus Christ.
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B
Damn. Shit. So I cannot do this. So what if I don't come back? Maybe I should just stay. Yeah, I should just stay.
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A
The same mind. This is the better thing.
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B
Maybe they are right.
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A
It's better here than dead.
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B
Exactly.
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A
Ah, damn, Francis, that's crazy, man. But you, how do you find fighting? How do you find fighting? And how do you decide that fighting is something that you're going to take a chance on? Because ultimately you do take that jump, you do leave Africa. What introduces you to fighting?
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B
Fighting was my passion since I was kid. As long as I can remember, my thing was fighting. You know, the first thing that I remember was like movies and stuff. And when I see like anything, if I pass by something place like see a tv. Back then we still have like a black and white tv, those little TV in some people's house. Not even our. In our house. But if they commission me to go somewhere and then I pass by and I see a little action on tv, forget about whatever, you're waiting, you're watching. I just stay there and watch and get back home. They whip my ass. Like, oh, you go all day long, I don't care. I watch this movie or this fight I enjoy.
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A
Were you watching someone's window? You'd watch through the window?
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B
We used to watch the window a lot. Yes. Really making the window or something. And then maybe go to some people in the neighborhood house watch. Or maybe stop in the bar, just stand in the street and like look inside and watch stuff like that.
- [18:27]
A
But getting ultimately to Paris wasn't direct, right? You went through multiple countries to get there. Walk me through, like how you went from Cameroon to Paris, like, because there are a lot of stories, right? Like when you would fight. We'd constantly go in. Francis slept in the desert and he's this, and he's this, and he's this. But like walk me through the journey from Cameroon to. To ultimately Paris.
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B
From Cameroon to Paris. That was a journey of 14 months. Exactly.
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A
You took 14 months to get there.
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B
Yeah.
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A
Yo, it's like a two hour flight, bro. I mean, it's like a two hour Flight, Francis.
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B
Seven hour flight. Still was 14 months.
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A
Jesus Christ. What happened? You got arrested. Was that when you got arrested?
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B
Oh, a lot of time. That was our life.
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A
Really?
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B
Yeah.
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A
As you were trying to get to a different country.
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B
To a different country. And then you get to this country, they know that you're illegal there. And then they are just keep chasing you all day, all the time. Like they recognize you from that. You're different from your accent. Even where you're going, they'll know that people usually pass by that place to go from different country, usually pass there like clandestine. So.
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A
So how did you get there, Francis? Like how did you go from Cameroon to Cameroon?
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B
We went all the way north Cameroon and then enter Nigeria.
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A
Like a car. You had a car?
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B
No transport.
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A
Also on the bus and stuff?
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B
Yeah, train and bus and stuff. And then we get in Nigeria. In Nigeria we are still free to circulate because with our. As a Cameroonian, we are free in Nigeria. We are still free to circulate. We went, we crossed Nigeria in one day. That was okay. Then we get to Nigeria and then we start having trouble with authorities. And you have to sneak to wait someplace for days, sleep in the bus station, you know, with the right boss, with the right driver that know how to bribe the police, the authority, these. Or know how to escape them. Where are they control the police station, the police control. So then they will. You guys will stop here and go all the way around. And then he will meet you in the front or you will get there and he will trying to, you know, this police guy were trying to get money of you. And sometimes they bring you to the police station trying to get the, the most that they have out of you. You know, it was just like hustle. They were hustling.
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A
I think, I think the, the. The. The story of the desert comes from Morocco to Spain. Was it. What was that?
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B
It was from Niger.
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A
Niger, Niger.
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B
When you get to know Niger, to cross Daisy Sahara Desert between Niger and Algeria. So to go to. From Alit, which is north Niger to Tamara Said, which is south Algeria, we have to cross this desert. And then he has to. He's a very clandestine organization. And then you guys have to wait because they are these people living in the desert. They have this pickup truck to transport you. They have to control their. The security, the board. They have to escape the border control. And the desert is big, you know, it's. It's. It's a long ride. It's like almost 20, 20 plus hours to cross the desert. And they are going like full speed really. And then you guys, like 25 of you, you are behind of a Toyota pickup truck, 25 with all your belongings trying to sit like this. The truck is going full speed and bouncing everywhere. Bouncing. You better don't fall because they are.
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A
They'll leave you friends stopping.
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B
So then when you pass by some place, you see those, how they call bones of people, like bone skeletons.
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A
Skeleton of people that died in there.
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B
See the skeleton of people, you know, I'm like, damn, I better hang on this shit. Yeah.
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A
Francis
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B
and the desert, bro, it's so hot at night. It's freezing. It's like winter and daytime is a.
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A
I don't want to laugh.
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B
And then you guys have, have a scarf, scarf, scarf, scarf, scarf. Rub your face because sometime you're gonna face this.
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A
So it's so hot.
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B
Sandstorm, standstill and then coming all the way. And this driver, they are not stopping. They collect their money. They don't give a. You better hang on there. They are not stopping. Their mission is to go from point A to point B. And then you have a limited amount of belongings because everything have to fit behind that pickup truck.
- [23:51]
A
Was that the hardest part of the journey or. Or was Morocco to Spain the hardest part of the journey? Because I read you say somewhere it's
- [23:57]
B
really hard to explain plan which one is the hardest. Because every step, like you feel like you get in the pinnacle of the challenge and then you get in the other step. The challenge is different, difficult, more difficult. Yeah, you know, you, you cross. Then after a day, you guys barely have a water. You don't even have water anymore. Like you're dehydrated, you're tasty, all those stuff. And. But we were lucky because we finally our car didn't. Broke down. Yeah, down. Everything went perfectly. They keep hiding from helicopter because like they have all these chalky walkie they can con. They have like control station that will tell them if like surveillance helicopter is coming by or something. They are equate. So they have like some intelligence to go through stuff.
- [24:57]
A
You ever think of giving up?
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B
Huh?
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A
You ever think of giving up, like when you're on that journey, like, yo, I'm not doing this. I rather just go home.
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B
Okay? So you have to understand, like, yeah, there's a way to give up. But you, what are you giving up to? To go back to what you were running?
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A
Yeah.
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B
I mean, how are you going to look yourself at that moment? So some people give up, but I think it's the hardest thing. Give, to give up. You're like, I better die here, man. Like, yeah, it's hard to get to, to, to, to give up. You give up, you're gonna live, have to live with it your entire life. And then sometime maybe your friend gonna make fun of it of you. They're gonna be like, hey bro, take a beer, chill. You know, you think you were better than us? You?
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A
Yeah, for sure, for sure.
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B
Then those things just gonna piss you off. You're gonna start fight somebody.
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A
Yeah, exactly.
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B
You know, I'm like, nah,
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A
Francis, you to the debt, to the death. You, you had made this idea in your mind of what it would be, right? I could imagine that little six year old boy that could put himself in that place to find comfort. When you're 25 and you're heading off to Paris, you're like, I, I have to get to Paris. There's got to be this idea. Where were you going? I don't know, you just, you had no idea.
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B
But I was going out.
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A
You were just going out of Africa?
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B
I was going to. Yeah, out in Africa.
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A
To France, to some. No, you just ended up in France.
- [26:30]
B
I ended up in France, but France wasn't my. I've never.
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A
Not your destination? Okay.
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B
Like even along the way, since I know exactly what I was going to do, I was going to do boxing and France wasn't the best place for good, for boxing. So the better place that the place that I was aiming was the uk, you know?
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A
Yeah, yeah. That's where they box.
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B
It was the uk.
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A
Yeah.
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B
But since the UK at time wasn't in the Schengen, so even when you get in Europe, it's not easy to get in the uk. It's another mission again. And then over the time you're like, you know what if I get in Europe, I think I'm just gonna find some place in Europe I don't have to go anyway to the next mission. You're not gonna take some post.
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A
What was life like when you got to France? Like, how was, was it, was it like, was it what you thought when you're, when you're in the middle of the desert?
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B
I was going to Germany you were
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A
going to go to Germany?
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B
Yeah, because at time, boxing was basically heavyweight boxing. There was a Klitschko brother.
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A
Yep, yep, yep.
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B
And then, you know, in Germany, he was better. So I was going to Germany and then for some reason I was in the group. And then we were a group of people that move from Spain. We get free from the jet from jail in Spain. And then a lot of them were going to France. And then I'm like, let's stop there and see those famous. That famous friends and before continue, you know. Yeah, I stopped there and then the next day I was already looking for the gym. And very quick I kind of like, you know, find my place, nowhere to go. And then. So when you're after another, I stayed.
- [28:16]
A
When you find the gym, right, it's a boxing gym first.
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B
Yes. At first was a boxing.
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A
Yeah. And then you start to find mma, right?
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B
No, no, I didn't know what MMA was.
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A
It wasn't legal in France at the time.
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B
I didn't even know what MMA was. At time.
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A
When you got to France, there would. You had no idea what it was?
- [28:34]
B
No, I have no idea.
- [28:36]
A
So when you walk into that boxing gym, is there. Is there a pressure that comes with knowing that, man, I've made this whole journey, this has to be my career. I have got to make this boxing work.
- [28:46]
B
Excitement, because I'm there. And finally where I have more opportunity, you know, I mean, from where I came from. What do you think are going to have a pressure for? That was already.
- [29:00]
A
Because now you're there, right? You have to make it work.
- [29:02]
B
Yeah, but that was already better than what you had, than what I have. And that what could be my higher expectation from where I was, right. And then basically coming off this journal journey that really shipped me out, all the challenge or the difficulty that I faced out there, I mean, it was basically like a celebration. Like, I made. I made it. I went through think all the trip in the desert, all this many, many attempt in the ocean, all this failure, all this risk, everything that happened, you. I'm like, I didn't give up. I finally made it. I'm here, I'm in Europe.
- [29:46]
A
Yeah.
- [29:47]
B
I'm in the land that I have more opportunity. And then we're gonna figure it out.
- [29:52]
A
How did you find mixed martial arts in.
- [29:55]
B
I went to the gym. The first gym that I went to was a boxing gym named. I mean, it was a combat sport gym, but they also have mma. But I was just looking for a boxing for boxing. And then they introduced me to a guy Named. And then he was very kind. He helped me and then introduced me to the coach over time, even helped me. He was a big guy to give me. Give. Gave me clothes and stuff. Even close. And then after a few. Few weeks of training, he was like, you have a good boxing. I think senior. Senior situation. I think MMA will be the better thing for you because he will be the better outcome and is booming right now. I'm like, what's MMA? I'm like, Ms. Marshall. Ah. I'm like, okay, that's cool. But what's that? I'm like, yes. You know, like boxing. Boxing, but with wrestling and jutsu. I'm like, what juu. I'm like, like grappling. What's grappling? I have no idea what that is. Then I started to explain. I'm like, it's too long. It's annoying. I'm like, leave me alone. Like, let's just. In boxing, you know, like Mike Tyson. Yes. Let's just stick in that one.
- [31:18]
A
Oh, my God. But they ultimately.
- [31:20]
B
This is back in 2013, like maybe end of June or something. Yeah, yeah.
- [31:26]
A
But they ultimately convinced you to fight MMA and you started knocking.
- [31:30]
B
I mean, he was always around, like, persistent. Yeah. But very smoothly. Yo, I'm like, but I'm telling you, you should just try. I think you will do great at this. I'm like, you know, like, ah. Until someday, like, I think because the gym was. Were closed and then I find another gym which was the crossfight at time. And then that's how. Which was next to the foundation to the association that I was hanging around at. And that's how I start. I'm like, oh, this is cool. You have to kick somebody, fight, entertain. Oh, why not? But I wasn't going to do mma. I just keep doing it because it was fun. I love fighting, I love action. I love that. The fact that you can try everything, all this. I mean, I couldn't do like those spinning back kick and everything, but I will still do some dumb. It was fun.
- [32:26]
A
This podcast is sponsored by Total Wireless, the official wireless partner of ufc. All UFC fighters know power doesn't wait in the octagon or outside of it. You either make the move or you miss the moment. That's why you need a network that's as powerful as you are. With Total Wireless, you get unlimited 5G data keeping you in on all the action, from the walkouts to the knockouts. You'll never miss a moment. That's coverage that you can count on for every single round. So when the moment happens, you're not catching up. You're already there. Now that. That's a total power move. In the ufc, power isn't given, it's taken. So make your total power move today. Visit totalwireless.com or stop by your neighborhood Total Wireless store. 5G access requires a 5G capable device in a 5G service area. Monthly rates on the Total Base 5G Unlimited plan for subscribers applies only to the monthly rate for your plan. Additional terms apply. See website for details. Did it surprise you how quickly success came to you in mixed martial arts? Because even when you get to the ufc, you just start knocking people out. I mean, you had those little dreads.
- [33:29]
B
Yeah.
- [33:29]
A
I remember the first time I saw you, I was like, yo, who is this guy? I was like, this dude's my favorite fighter in the world. Remember the first time?
- [33:36]
B
Yeah. That was December. December. December 2015, right?
- [33:39]
A
Yeah.
- [33:39]
B
I fought in Orlando.
- [33:40]
A
I say, who is this dude? Were you surprised, though, how quickly success came, and then even success in the ufc, because it was knockout after knockout, but not only just, like, knocking people out. You're knocking out Curtis Blades and Andre Arlovski and Alistair Overeem. Like, you're knocking out guys that had fought for the belt or had been champion. When you're on that run early in your career, do you remember a moment where you went, how about, I could be a. I could be a world champion in this thing.
- [34:11]
B
Oh, oh. Even before I get there, that. That was the ultimate goal here. I've always been a goal. I. Okay, so even when I was in Morocco, like, trying to make it, like, there was a moment. You know how I was telling you about, like, my vision, my visual world?
- [34:29]
A
Yep, yep.
- [34:30]
B
Yeah. Like, I always have this moment that I retrieve, regardless of what is going on. I can be in the. In the middle of a biggest mess of his thumb or everything. I have this moment that I come, and then I. I hang out with my mind, and then I'm cool. I'm like, everything gonna be okay. Gonna be a world champion. And everything seems, like, clear, obvious. It's not a doubt. It's not a dream. It's, like, clear. Then I'm like, damn, how this gonna happen? I don't have a damn. I don't have an idea, but it's gonna happen. Yeah. It's just that it's gonna happen. So I never doubt the fact that I was going to be a champion.
- [35:09]
A
You know, you knock out Aleister Overeem and you earn your first title shot against Stipe Miocic. He Obviously wins the fight. Then you fight Derrick Lewis and that doesn't go your way. Like was there a doubt? Did doubt ever creep into your mind or did you ever still, you still felt like I'm still gonna be the guy?
- [35:28]
B
No, he was in a doubt. You know, I think the like my upcoming was so fast that I kind of like skip a lot of things and then I didn't at time. I still haven't understand how a professional athlete work. You know, you guys, you go to the gym, you train, you do the diet, you do everything. You go, you fight, you fight three rounds, you get to decision, you know, and then I'm just getting there, like getting ready to fight and then somebody s slip in my hand and it's down and it's over. I'm like, ah, okay, what happened? I don't know, it's over. So I mean at some point you
- [36:13]
A
start to be like it's gonna happen every time.
- [36:16]
B
No, not like it's gonna happen every time, but it's hard for you to process or to improve, you understand? Like before I even get in the stupid fight, I never, I get in decision once but he was a, I think was a two round fight. I have never been in three round fight. And then I don't know, so what am I even training for, you know.
- [36:41]
A
And then what?
- [36:42]
B
I. I don't really understand the full concept of the game.
- [36:46]
A
That's crazy that you got there without truly understanding what was happening.
- [36:50]
B
And then, and also one thing I also I have a pressure at time that was the first fight that I have a pressure. I feel like I have to deliver something. Usually I just go there, fight my thing, like be me, enjoy. And this, you know, that time the stupid fight was the first fight that I ever get there and want to a knockout.
- [37:12]
A
Really?
- [37:13]
B
Yeah. I'm like, okay, I'm going to knock you out. Knock him out. And then after, when I watch the tape I'm like, what the hell is this? I don't recognize myself. He looks like me, but how is he fighting? Like that was that, you know, wasn't me because I was driven by that pressure. And then after that I felt so bad and you know, I don't deal basically at time I wasn't handling losses very well. And then I went home like trying to think he was still in my mind. I get the Derek Lewis fight, then I get in the directly with fight. I wasn't fighting Derek Lewis, I was still fighting stp.
- [37:56]
A
Really?
- [37:56]
B
I'm like, oh, I should have calmed down.
- [37:58]
A
Calm down, stay slower.
- [38:00]
B
Then on the Derek Lewis fight, that was me coming down, but I overcome down. Yeah, so much. I mean, when the fight was over, I'm like, I thought. I didn't know the fight was over. I thought, we still have a round.
- [38:12]
A
Really?
- [38:13]
B
Yeah. I wasn't there. I was literally like, absent of that fight. I. I swear to God, like, when the fight, when they call out the fight, I'm like, is it over?
- [38:28]
A
Yeah.
- [38:28]
B
I didn't believe. I thought, we still have one round. I was very absent and it was still because of that pressure. And then after that, oof.
- [38:37]
A
You went. Everybody, you went crazy.
- [38:40]
B
No, I stopped. I started hurt everybody. Like, yeah, he's done. Yes, blah, blah, blah. And all the stuff. I'm like, how come I'm done? What? I haven't done anything. Like, how come. Just started, like. And I'm like, yeah, he's gonna. This, that, that. But even though I was in the lowest moment in my career, because he was very tough at time. Even, like, I would walk out or go to places and people want to take picture with me. I was so shy. I'm like, why this guy does. Doesn't let me alone. Like, why he want to expose me? I just want to sneak around, not being seen by anybody. And then I think I shift to the. I shift my mind to the point, like, come back to. I have to remind myself the reason why I started the combat sport. I even started mma. Why do I. Do you even. Why are you even here? Because it was fun. Is it fun anymore? I'm like, no, it's not fun anymore. I'm not even fighting for that fun anymore. I'm fighting for something. I'm fighting for the pressure. I'm fighting for expectation. I'm fighting for this. And then I'm like, oh, he's done and everything. And I remember this Canadian reporter, he was. I was in the fight, the media day in the fight week in China when I was going to fight Curtis Blade in the second time. This guy talked to me. Like, he said now that you. You went from zero to zero and this.
- [40:16]
A
He said that to you?
- [40:17]
B
Yeah, I'm like, this really? Yeah.
- [40:20]
A
Like, stuck with you?
- [40:21]
B
Yeah, I'm like, so that's how I. He says, like, from zero to zero. Like, how do I even become. Where did I went from to become that hero that he. And I'm like, you know what? Fuck everybody. You just. Just go there. If this gonna be the end, it's gonna end my way just as I started. So the Derek Lewis, the Kurtis Blazer match fight in China. China. The second fight, he was just like, I don't give a damn. Just what happened happened then. If this going to be the last, let it be. You know. And then people just started fall again.
- [41:01]
A
Yeah, you went on this crazy run with him and JDS and Kane and then Rosenstrike and then you fight Stipe again and become a world champion. Now, I know you said that in your mind you always wanted and knew you'd be a world champion, but from sand mines, desert truck trucks and sneaking across borders to the world champion. Like, do you remember what that felt like? Because I remember calling the fight and I remember you just look so much different in the fight with Stipe the second time. And when you hit him that to drop him, it was over. Like, it was done. Do you remember what it felt like to become a world champ? Like, my God, like I've actually done this.
- [41:47]
B
That's not how I felt at time. You know, I. He was like, I wasn't connect. I wasn't connect to the reality at time because you know, when it happened. And then you. I'm in the middle of the octagon. I'm like, okay, then what done. You know, then what?
- [42:10]
A
It's something you've chased so long to accomplish it. You're like, what's next accomplished?
- [42:14]
B
But my life is not over. Yeah, what's next? Yeah, you know, it's great. I. For me, he was more like a revenge in life because at any moment in my life, I have to hang on into that dream. Like, I'm gonna make it. I gonna do this, I'm gonna do that. You know, he was my drive. And then you have to believe in it. Because to come to be like where I was to ended up there. You really have to have some faith.
- [42:46]
A
Yeah.
- [42:46]
B
Like solid faith. To really believe in your capability, in the fact that it's going to happen. Otherwise, it's easy to just like give up. Like turn around. Like, no, it's not for me. I'm not. I don't belong. And this and that at any given moment, you can give up. You know, you have to really believe. So. And then you believe in something so much that he becomes. You felt like real. It's like you visualize it that moment. You don't know how you're going to react at that moment. You finally find yourself someday. At that moment, you don't even know. I'm like, is it real? Guess what? I get that after that night I went home and then I wasn't realizing it. There was a moment that I wake up at night, I'm like, so I'm a world champion. So I do I. So I have a belt. Is it real or I was just dreaming. Then I would go in my living room, like, check. Then I'm like, I think it's real. The bed is here.
- [43:47]
A
Francis, after you win that belt, you beat zero gun, and then you leave. This is not something that people do. People don't leave the ufc. I remember me all over saying, francis, take the money, stay. But then ultimately it worked. But most people were saying, don't leave. What? Ultimately, no allowed. You.
- [44:06]
B
Most people will say, you cannot.
- [44:08]
A
You cannot leave. Stay, stay, stay.
- [44:10]
B
I mean, no, no, like, stay. You cannot. So just get settled.
- [44:14]
A
What made you. What ultimately would made your decision? Was it just money or was it you felt disrespect or what? It was.
- [44:22]
B
He wasn't money. I think the mistake that the UFC did, we get to the point that I feel, it hits my ego. I feel, I feel like I wasn't respected.
- [44:38]
A
Yeah.
- [44:38]
B
And at that point, I think that was the moment that I'm like, okay, I think I'm getting out of this contract, like, first. And then, you know, the thing is, like, when, and this is something that I, I, he really worries me. That's something that I have, that really worries me when something touch my ego. I don't care about anything. And at time I'm like, okay, I don't care if this, my, if this is going to be the end of my career, if this mean I am going back to Africa to farm. At least I can buy some machine to farm. I can do something, you know, I can do something else and still make it. It's not. I mean, I think my success is not about the sport is. I think it's about my personality. And I can implement that in everything that I can do and still do it. So it can be my way. And that's, I think that's what they didn't understand at times. They underestimate and they still kind of like, come harder and harder, like, want to pressure me. He was. I wasn't just the right guy to, to deal with that way, you know, like, to force, to, like, want to, like, over to pressure, you know, life
- [46:08]
A
can be unfair to us. Right. And you and I have dealt with something that most people haven't, and you don't wish it on your worst enemy. And you and I were able to talk quite a bit during a tough time when you. The tragedy of your Boy, how do you. How does I can talk about this? Because I lost my daughter at a very young age. And it changed me. It really did change me. How? How. How have you changed since your. Your son Kobe passed?
- [46:53]
B
Well, you know, it's something that you will never forget. But he definitely like. He definitely like brings you to see life in a different way. And then he happened in the weird moment of my life that I was so like on the go. I was in the moment of my life that I haven't worry if I still have emotion anymore, then it kind of like reminds me that, oh no, I just ignore it. But all the emotions are there. You know, it was a trigger to like find out that I'm so sensitive. I'm such just a human just as everybody and a different experience. You know, stuff like that. You don't know how if he will feel. You don't know how you react. And then when you get there, you feel how life can be like fragile. I'm like, man, I'm out here fighting for this. I'm thinking I'm this. But tomorrow, today can. Every moment can be the last.
- [48:11]
A
Yeah.
- [48:11]
B
For me. For every. For my loved one. Loved one. And it's not even about him that you worry. You're like, I don't have control of anybody around me. It can be anybody tomorrow, now or the next hour. And then you carry. You get traumatized by that. And yeah, basically like something like happens suddenly you get traumatized. You. You don't know. I remember like I have a daughter and then few months after my son passed away. And then I was with her. We went somewhere and then she has a call. Bro. She. At some. At some point I was driving and then. Then was talking to her. And then she stopped react. Reacting. She was just like getting fatigued like this, not reacting. I get the biggest fear of my life. I'm like, man, I'm like, so everything is falling apart. Like this is it. It's the end of the war. Like, yeah, you know, but she. It was just a normal reaction for a kid at that moment. But for me, it's just. I'm just traumatized by what happened.
- [49:36]
A
It's scary.
- [49:37]
B
It's scary, you know, but you have to live with it. I think you have to also like ask yourself what he have. He would have like you to. To do if he could have speak to you, you know? Like it happens all the time where. Even when now when we're speaking, it's happening somewhere right now and people deal with it. So you better Figure it out.
- [50:05]
A
And you. You said you wanted to keep fighting. You want to keep fighting?
- [50:09]
B
No. No, I didn't want to keep fighting. I don't want to keep doing anything
- [50:13]
A
because you want to just stop.
- [50:15]
B
Yeah. I find no reason of fighting. I find no purpose of it. Because the reason why I was fighting
- [50:23]
A
was for family and to make a better life.
- [50:25]
B
Security for a better life. Then I felt so powerless in front of the situation that I couldn't even do anything. I'm like, okay, what's the point of fighting if I cannot even fight for my son? You know? Like, what's the point? What am I looking for? Basically, like, when I'm thinking of the last time that I saw him, he was me leaving the apartment, going through the elevator. And then my. My brother had had him, and then he was crying to me, didn't want me to leave, like, was coming to me, but I just knew I'm gonna be back. I just knew it's gonna be okay. You know, like, those moments that you feel granted, you take for granted. I'm like, I can be back. You know? And then when it happened, all of the sudden you're like, where. Where was. Where was I going? You don't even know where you were going. Nothing even mattered. I'm like, I should have just sit there, like, yeah, hang out. You know?
- [51:28]
A
Can't beat yourself up about that, though. Like, that's one of those things that we have to, like.
- [51:31]
B
Yeah. You know, but, like, seen the last. This last moment, the last moment of him in your mind, was this the last time? I'm like, I should have go back. I should have maybe changed my fly. I should have stay one more day, two more day. Because you don't even know where you were going and what you were going to do. Even though at time it seems so important, then you start to understand that so. So many things that feels important at the moment are not that important. You take so many. So some things for. You take stuff for granted to the point that you really ignore the importance of them.
- [52:19]
A
That's the hardest moment of my life. And I know how it allowed for me to go forward. What gave you the strength to keep going, Francis? Because in those moments, you and I spoke, you know, we texted, we talked on the phone a couple times, and.
- [52:36]
B
Yeah.
- [52:37]
A
What gave you the strength to keep. To move forward?
- [52:40]
B
Well, as I said, like, I wanted to. To stop everything. And then I'm like, I don't need this anymore. Like, I don't feel like doing it anymore. But, you know, at some point, I felt like I was putting the responsibility on him to stop fighting. So now he's basically responsible of me stopping giving up fighting. He didn't deserve. He didn't deserve that responsibility. I didn't have to put that on him, you know, like, I should have just keep doing. I mean, even for him, since I couldn't fight for him, maybe in the. In the other way, maybe actually just keep fighting for him instead of retired for him because of him, you know, you kind of. Like, I took time to think about all those stuff. Like, you know, like, can I even do it? Like, can I even go to the gym and train again? Can I even. You don't know what's next. And with time, you trying to figure it out and try and give it a shot, make. Trying to make sense of it. And basically, like, after that, my return was like, okay, I'm gonna fight for him. And that's why my next fight was dedicated to him. Like, I'm fighting this for him. I wasn't. He was like, okay, I did. I couldn't have done anything to hold him, but at least I would dedicate this, like, do this for him, you know, and just.
- [54:35]
A
I. I always felt like my daughter on the wrestling mat, on a cage. I felt like I always had an angel, like, watching over me because I tried to make sure that I knew that I carried my daughter's spirit with me every time I fought and hope that you can do the same thing and that it continues to propel you forward. And I appreciate you even sharing that. You're a big. You're a powerful human being in stature. You're just as special as a person, Francis. And that's one of the things that I respect so much about you.
- [55:09]
B
Thank you. Yeah. And you know, and also, at some point, I'm like, you have to let him go. You know, you don't have Hanging on there. It's like, he's not. Maybe he's some. He stuck somewhere between you and where he was going. You're trying. You're pulling him back, because, yeah, he has his own mission. He came. He suddenly had his own mission. He certainly was here for something. And then maybe he's done what he was here for. You have to accept it and then let him. Let it be. Let it. Let it go. You know, it's not like you could have done in something to change the situation. I think the situation even proved that you have no say. It wasn't a situation that was in your control. It was completely out of of your control, you know, because I remember, like, when you. They call me, like, my brother called me, like, he was like, the. My son was passing out, and they were all panicking and this. I'm like, what? And then what? You know, I'm so confident that I can take care of this. I'm like, okay. Then I gonna. I was in Dubai. I'm like, I'm okay. Let me find out. If it's an emergency situation, I'm gonna need us find a medical plane to send out there. We're gonna do everything. No, bro, you don't have to do anything. You. You didn't have to try. He was imposed to you like this. I think the situation was just like, okay, you're gonna take it just like this. Don't. Nothing in your power.
- [56:49]
A
Thank you for sharing that, Francis. We got to get back to, like, the competitive part of your life, and you've done some of the biggest things post ufc, and I'm gonna try to hit on these quick so I can get you going. But boxing. In those boxing fights, were you nervous? I was of the belief that you were gonna beat Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua, and I told everyone. But were you nervous in those moments, like, in that situation where you can't possibly be as comfortable as they were?
- [57:20]
B
Yeah, I was a little nervous, but I was also, like, excited, you know, basically getting in. In the. He was the dream that I always have. He was in the box, the boxing, and to have to fight in that level. Of course, even though he was my first. My first fight, he. Yes, I was quite nervous. I never been there. I didn't know if I could have make three rounds, if I could have hold for two or three, four rounds or not. You know, I have to check myself to question myself about that every single second, you know, and then bas. The Tyson Fury fight, I was also excited because everything went well. I get there. I was good. I'm like, okay, I might not be a boxer, but I'm a fighter.
- [58:11]
A
Yeah.
- [58:12]
B
I think it's just about, like, the spirit. He has more experience. He had techniques and everything, but, bro, I'm a man. We're going to fight.
- [58:20]
A
There was a lot of pride. We all had pride. Watching you guys in there. It felt like you guys were on the big stage. I was like, damn, dude. This one of. He's one of us, and he's on
- [58:28]
B
the big stage, and he was a big stage. I think that was the biggest thing that I ever seen as far as even. He was like a movie from start to the end, he was like a movie then. But I think the expectation was that he was going to knock me out after one, two rounds or something, which didn't happen. And then, then we have the ties. The Joshua fight. The Joshua fight was nothing like the fury fight, really? From start to beginning. Yes.
- [59:00]
A
Why was the difference?
- [59:01]
B
Oh, everything was so awkward. It wasn't until the end that I'm like, okay, something's off. But, you know, even like Dewey in the fight week, he sense it. And you are like, yeah, you guys do this to get fired. Fighters get tired before the fight. And now I'm like, sure. You know, Dewey is usually. Is not a guy, is a come. Is the camera guy in the group. But for the first time, he's talking and I'm like, no, cool. I wasn't understanding what's happening because everything that we were doing at. In that week, I will get there two hours before AJ come out, you know, and everything was so awkward. Even the fine night. I left the hotel at 10. Yeah, 10pm because they say, oh, yes, your fight is going to be around midnight, 1pm I get in the arena. It was not like he was like 10, barely 10:30. And then I'm like, yes, we first thought your fight, we are running back, so your fight might be around 145. And then they keep coming and turn and push it a little bit. A little bit. And then I figured out something wasn't right. When AJ arrived at 1, he arrived
- [60:31]
A
at 1 o' clock, and you arrived at 10 in the arena.
- [60:33]
B
Yeah, because they have to show his arrival on the tv. I'm like, we're supposed to fight at one midnight, one. He's. If he's arriving now, he was to
- [60:45]
A
fight at what time, what time did you guys fight?
- [60:48]
B
Like 3:30, Francis.
- [60:50]
A
That's crazy. Yeah, it's crazy.
- [60:52]
B
Yeah. So. And then I get in the locker. I was there trying to warm up. You. You start warm up knowing that, okay, I'm gonna fight at 1:30, then. Then cool down, then start again and then get. Go down, feel fatigue, feel sleepy. And this basically like you were training all this into all the two months, like, scheduled to fight between midnight and one.
- [61:21]
A
Yeah, yeah, that's crazy.
- [61:22]
B
But it wasn't until that moment that I realized that something is off. But he was too late.
- [61:30]
A
Yeah, well, you can't change nothing at that point.
- [61:32]
B
You can change that. And then we even. I haven't walked to the fight and then was barely able to see to. To find where he was. I know he was there. Like this, but I can't find him. My timing wasn't right. Everything, even my reaction was weird. Wasn't. Ah, bro. Then that's how you understand that boxing is different. Yeah, boxing is way different. When they say boxing is different, they are not talking about the sport itself. They are talking about everything around it.
- [62:13]
A
Yep.
- [62:13]
B
Yeah.
- [62:14]
A
But now you got a big fight against Felipe Lynch.
- [62:16]
B
Yeah.
- [62:17]
A
Lynch. And on Netflix, big time return to the Octagon. What's a fight like this feel like now for Francis Ngannou at 39 years old? Like, how excited are you about getting back in the MMA fight and fighting a guy that does have a ton of potential and does have a vast skill set?
- [62:38]
B
You feel like just another fight. You know, when you're being a professional athlete, you know that every opening is the opening.
- [62:49]
A
Yeah.
- [62:50]
B
Everyone you have in front of you is the guy. So you put everything that, that you have and then get ready to get there.
- [63:01]
A
How's training camp been for him? Like, what do you, what is a fight? Like, what do you work on when you're getting ready to fight and everything and, and, and the platform, right. You're on Netflix, your big platform, everything.
- [63:11]
B
And, and that's something that people don't. I think we are missing out here and I hope this is just the beginning of a new platform coming into the sport. But it's going to be on Netflix, which is something that three months ago nobody had. Couldn't have thought that something like this will happen. And then you, you are still there first. Even on Netflix, you're part of it. So you better, you better look good. You better come out and look it because you're going to be watch around the world in the. Maybe in. In the biggest platform. So you better, you better.
- [63:53]
A
How much long get it out. How much longer do you have, Francis and G, how much longer do you have in fighting?
- [64:00]
B
You know, I always said, like, until the day I wake up and then feel like I'm not able to go out there to. I'm not able to go out there and give it all. That will be the call if I feel. I watched Gaba Brown. It was last weekend.
- [64:20]
A
Last weekend. Yeah.
- [64:21]
B
He, he retired and then I really like his reason of retirement. He said he doesn't feel like he's giving a hundred percent anymore. And then I think that's the best reason of retirement. He didn't mention the age or this or that. You just say, I don't feel like I can give. I'm giving my hundred percent anymore. And I think that's the right decision for retirement. The day that I feel like I would not, I cannot give my 100 anymore. I'm out.
- [64:54]
A
Francis. Every time I get a camera in my face, every time I get a camera in my face, I talk about you back in the ufc. I'm always on it, bro. I just won't give up because I believe that the. The division will be better with you. But it doesn't seem like that's something that could potentially happen. There are some big fights in the UFC at heavyweight for you. Obviously, there are big fights outside of you. Is that door completely closed?
- [65:20]
B
Well, there's always a big fight anywhere.
- [65:23]
A
Yeah.
- [65:23]
B
Big fight everywhere. And completely close is not out of the decision. Is not. It's not in my hands. Yeah, I don't. I don't make those decisions. I just think, like, there's a lot of emotion involved in both sides that is going to be hard to make it happen.
- [65:43]
A
Yeah. The biggest fight is you and Jon Jones, though. That's the biggest fight ever.
- [65:48]
B
Wow.
- [65:49]
A
What do you make of the UFC heavyweight division right now? Tom Aspinall?
- [65:54]
B
I think he's not doing very good.
- [65:56]
A
Who do you think wins? Tom Aspinall? Jon Jones.
- [66:01]
B
Yeah, you can think. I. I can think Jon Jones, but you never know what really happened. Will really win the fight until the fight happened. Yeah, but. But looking at the situation of the UFC heavyweight division, it's not the most exciting one.
- [66:20]
A
Oh, you saw Josh Hokut. Did you see Josh Hilkin the other day?
- [66:23]
B
Yeah.
- [66:23]
A
You see that guy with Curtis?
- [66:25]
B
Yeah.
- [66:25]
A
That's the craziest fight.
- [66:27]
B
That was.
- [66:28]
A
How do these big boys hit each other that much and nobody fall down?
- [66:32]
B
Yeah. That was a crazy fight, though. That was a crazy fight.
- [66:36]
A
That was a crazy fight.
- [66:37]
B
Quite impress of both of them.
- [66:40]
A
Yeah.
- [66:41]
B
But I was also proud of my boy Curtis.
- [66:44]
A
Yeah, he fought his ass off.
- [66:46]
B
He fought his ass off. He gave everything in that.
- [66:49]
A
Gave everything in that fight.
- [66:51]
B
But I just think for some reason, for somebody that have been a wrestler for. For so long, I just think he could have. Have a better ground control. He's good at taking down, but he. He doesn't have a good ground control. Like, I see things that he does on the ground, I'm like, you should have done this. I could have done better.
- [67:08]
A
When you started wrestling, C, I was like, oh, my God, if Francis learns to wrestle, this is crazy. Remember, I said it in the fight. I go, oh, my God, he's wrestling now.
- [67:17]
B
Yeah. Because I get to the point that everybody knows that. Oh, if you get there, you just have to wrestle Francis. So then I'm like, okay, so that my weakness, you have to become my strength.
- [67:28]
A
Yeah.
- [67:28]
B
You know, And I'm like. Then I start. I really get into it, that I basically become a wrestler. Sometimes I. I just, like, stand in front of the guy that I can strike with him, but I'm in front of him, like, how I gonna take him down wrestling his ass, you know, Because I. I'm very confident in that area now, you know?
- [67:50]
A
So when it's all said and done, Francis, like, what do you want people to remember about Francis Ngannou? Not only the fighter, but the man?
- [67:58]
B
Well, I think I've never been here. I never. It's never been about the fighter for me. And then that's what people don't. People misunderstand. Sometime I have a misunderstanding because people always limited their vision of me as a fighter, but I don't see myself as a fighter. You know, of course, I am a professional fighter, but. But I see myself more like a life fighter, you know, somebody that go to stuff, break through obstacle, and then, you know, making. Trying to get better every day, you know, move forward at. By. By all means, you know, so that. That's. That's what I see. I made of myself, because before fighting, I had a life, and after fighting, I was still having life. And even if I'm blessed, even if I. I happen to retire at 45 years, and then I'm blessed to live to 80 years, that means I still have 35 years to live. And then I don't think my life should stop after fighting. It has to continue another maybe decades to keep going. And then he has to be the same mindset, the same drive, you know, so fighting, for me is a chapter of my life. It's not a book.
- [69:28]
A
Yeah. Francis, one thing people will remember is that you're a tremendous fighter, tremendous champion. I hope they got to know you a little better today so they can respect the man that is Francis Ngannou. Guys, Francis fights on Netflix. Coming up against Felipe Lenz. Make sure you tune in to watch him. Francis, thank you so much popping on the show. You are the man, my man. Until next time, guys like and subscribe and go tap in everything Francis and Gano is doing. Peace. This podcast is sponsored by Total Wireless, the official wireless partner of ufc. Power doesn't wait in the octagon or outside of it. You either make the move or you miss the moment. That's why you need a network that's just as powerful as you are. With Total Wireless, you get unlimited 5G data keeping you in the action from the walkouts to the knockouts. Now that's a total power move. Make your total power move today. Visit totalwireless.com or stop by your neighborhood Total Wireless Store. Additional terms apply. See totalwireless.com for details. This is an iHeart podcast. Guaranteed Human.