Francis Ngannou left the MMA world in shock when he revealed the tragic passing of his 15-month-old son earlier this year in April. The former UFC heavyweight champion exited the promotion in 2023 over contract disputes. He later signed a multi-fight deal with PFL (Professional Fighters League) during his free agency period which also allowed him to pursue his dreams of taking on boxing fights.

After two massive crossover boxing fights against names like Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua, ‘The Predator’ is now ready to return to the cage for the PFL. But Joe Rogan recently expressed deep concern about Ngannou’s emotional state in the face of unimaginable tragedy and how it may impact his preparation and mindset for his upcoming MMA return.

Francis Ngannou’s upcoming PFL fight draws concern from Joe Rogan over his ’emotional state’  

In an emotional post made on social media, Francis Ngannou shared the news of the devastating loss of his son almost a month after his loss to Anthony Joshua in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. “Too soon to leave but yet he’s gone. My little boy, my mate, my partner Kobe was full of life and joy”, a heartbroken Ngannou posted, and further questioned, “How do you deal with such a thing? How can you live with it?”

During the JRE (Joe Rogan Experience) Fight Companion episode of the podcast for UFC 305, Joe Rogan and his guests discussed Ngannou’s upcoming clash on October 19 against reigning PFL heavyweight champion, Renan Ferreira. Talking to former UFC heavyweight Brendan Schaub, the podcast host was left stunned at Ferreira’s performance against Ryan Bader at the recent PFL vs Bellator event in February.

But the conversation took a somber turn as he delved into how this fight’s timing might not be the best for Francis Ngannou. Rogan shared, “Not an easy fight, that’s what I’m saying and there’s a lot on the line. Also you’re coming off of a knockout. Also, unfortunately, the death of his son, which is a horrible tragedy.”

‘The Predator’ was knocked out by Anthony Joshua in the second round of their boxing clash and his last MMA fight was against Ciryl Gane at UFC 270 in 2022. With a 2-year lay-off and a recent devastating knockout to add to the pressure of dealing with personal tragedy, Rogan further went on to state, “How could a guy like be completely able to prepare just emotionally to fight when your son just died. Like that’ll haunt you. No matter how strong you are physically, no matter how strong you are mentally. Your son just died you’re going to be filled with sadness… ”

As such, Joe Rogan’s concerns aren’t just about the physical aspects of the fight; they’re about the emotional turmoil that Ngannou is likely carrying with him. But for Francis Ngannou, this fight isn’t just about winning or losing; it’s about finding a way to move forward after an earth-shattering loss.

Ngannou aims to honor his son’s memory in the fight against Renan Ferreira  

Francis Ngannou is taking the fight against Renan Ferreira as more than just another bout. In a recent interview with Sky Sports, ‘The Predator’ confessed that dealing with the passing of his son has been the, “hardest moment in life” for him.

But the cage, with its cold steel and unforgiving canvas, is a place of comfort for Ngannou as he shared, “I need some activities. I need to stay active to be in a zone that I belong to. I also need to keep it going, to fight for my boy, for Kobe…”. The former UFC heavyweight champion also confessed that he was left questioning his motivation to continue fighting after his son passed, but he decided, “But I want to do something good in his memory. Not to be the reason for me to quit but to be motivation and also to fight for him.”

As the fight date approaches, the MMA community watches with bated breath. Will Francis Ngannou’s grief fuel him, or will it be too heavy a burden to bear? Joe Rogan’s words echo the concerns of many who wonder if Ngannou can truly focus on the fight when his heart is still healing. What are your thoughts on ‘The Predator’s return to MMA? Let us know in the comments below!