Francis Ngannou is preparing to the brim for his Paris fight. Any heavyweight in the combat sports industry will tell you that the biggest problem is not finding proper training partners to train. This is more evident when your opponent is 6’8” Renan Ferreira. Team Ngannou’s problem however was solved thanks to  Tom Aspinall and his generosity.

Ngannou’s coach Erik Nicksick has a good relationship with Aspinall and revealed that he might help Francis Ngannou out before Paris fight. How did ‘Honey Badger‘ decide to help out?

Erik Nicksick talks about the kindness of Tom Aspinall

While speaking to Bret Okamoto from ESPN MMA, there was a time when he asked the coach about a possible meet-up with the heavyweight champ. The coach was delighted because there might be a chance soon. He said, “I’m hoping man I was trying to pull for that because I hit up Tom and told him that I was gonna be in Paris assuming that he would be here for the UFC Paris card. And he is like they are not having me come to this card. I was gonna go to the one in Saudi Arabia so I was hoping he’d be out here We get some training in and not saying it won’t happen. Maybe it can before we get out of here.”

Nicksick, ever the supportive coach, had hoped to connect Ngannou with Tom Aspinall, the interim heavyweight champ of the UFC—a matchup that has every fight fan buzzing. Though their paths didn’t cross in Paris as planned, Nicksick believes a sparring session could still be on the horizon, and honestly, who wouldn’t want to witness that? Two men at the peak of their game, in different promotions, yet united by the shared pursuit of excellence.

Francis Ngannou wants to win for his son

When you’re built like Francis Ngannou, people expect you to be indestructible. But life has a way of proving that even the mightiest can face battles far beyond the cage. Ngannou, the former UFC heavyweight king now carving his path through the PFL, has faced a trial far more daunting than anything the octagon has thrown his way—the devastating loss of his 15-month-old son, Kobe. It’s the kind of heartbreak that can bring even the strongest to their knees, yet here stands Ngannou, not just surviving but thriving, driven by a promise made to his late child.

His coach, Eric Nicksick of Xtreme Couture, recently opened up about Ngannou’s journey—how despite everything, ‘The Predator’ has remained laser-focused on his training, with a tenacity that even those closest to him find remarkable. “I questioned if I should continue or if I should just retire,” Ngannou admitted. “But I didn’t want my son to be the reason for me to do that, so I decided that I would keep fighting for him.” The resolve in those words reflects the man’s iron will; this fight is no longer just about belts or titles—it’s a tribute to his son’s memory.

Each punch, each grueling training session, and each moment of resilience inside the cage is a testament to his promise. His coach describes how Ngannou is showing up, offering ideas, and pushing the team to be better. The octagon feels like the easy part—life outside it has already dealt the hardest blow.

Ngannou’s return to the top isn’t just a comeback story; it’s a story of overcoming grief, of fighting on when the world feels like it’s crumbling. Now, as he steps back into the spotlight, one question remains: will Francis Ngannou find the strength to win for Kobe? Does he have what it takes to rise once more, against all odds, and leave us awestruck yet again? Let us know what you think in the comments below—this is a story we all need to see unfold.