In a night filled with emotion and triumph, former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou made his grand return to the cage. But this time, the victory was about more than just reclaiming his status as one of the most dangerous men in MMA. It was personal. The Cameroonian powerhouse dedicated his win to his late son, Kobe, and fans across the world couldn’t hold back their admiration.

Ngannou’s journey to this fight wasn’t easy. After a brief venture into boxing—where he faced the likes of Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury—Ngannou returned to the sport that made him a legend. Stepping into the PFL cage at the Super Fights: Battle of the Giants event, he squared off against the towering Brazilian, Renan Ferreira. Even when the likes of Conor McGregor picked the 6-foot-8 Brazilian over him, Ngannou remained undeterred.

The former UFC heavyweight champion’s performance was nothing short of spectacular. It took him just under four minutes to dispose of Renan Ferreira. But as the dust settled from his devastating TKO win, Ngannou’s thoughts weren’t on his victory. Instead, his mind was on his son. In a heartfelt post on X and Instagram, he shared a picture of his son and himself with the words, “KOBE 4EVER.”

Ngannou’s son who died just 15 months old was named after the late great Kobe Bryant. During his last appearance on ‘The Joe Rogan Experience,’ the former heavyweight recalled the harrowing series of events before his son’s death.

“He has some malformation on his brain, which is something that we didn’t know,” Ngannou told Rogan. “He passed out twice. The first time was in Cameroon, we took him to the hospital. They didn’t find anything. The second time was in [Saudi Arabia], we took him to the hospital. They ran a lot of exams, they didn’t do anything. They did the EEG, they didn’t do the [CAT] scan or MRI, because according to them, their conclusion was that he had a swollen lung. That is what was pressing his chest and stopping him from breathing and it created that thing.

“After all those exams, they gave him some medicine, that he’s going to be OK. Nothing to worry about. Because at first, they even thought about asthma. They gave, like, a ventilator, and then afterward, after some research they took it out. It [made me] confident.”

Francis Ngannou went to Dubai for training, thinking his son was doing better. But a call from his brother later ended in the news of his son’s passing.

The social media post after the PFL debut win instantly went viral, with fans flooding the internet to show their support for the heavyweight star. Here’s a look at what the netizens had to say about this emotional outpouring from ‘The Predator’.

Francis Ngannou immortalizes son Kobe with memorable win, fans overwhelmed with emotions

The fans threw in their support for Francis Ngannou’s decision to come back to the sport of MMA amidst heart wrenching personal tragedy. During a previous appearance on Joe Rogan’s podcast, the former UFC champion had shared, “If they ask you what do you want or what can comfort you, you don’t know. It’s nothing. It’s really about facing it daily, take it one at a time.”

“Cameroon is proud of you Rest in Peace Kobe”

The support kept pouring in as the resemblance between father and son stunned many, and the image brought the loss into even sharper focus. The fans’ sentiment indicate that they saw not just a champion but a grieving father trying to honor his son’s legacy.

“He looks just like u Brotha R.I.P”

After the win, Ngannou dedicated his victory to the memory of his son and in his post-interview stated, “I just want to say, please remember my son, remember my son Kobe. I dedicate this to him, this is to Kobe.” And the reactions by the fans indicate that the Cameroonian has done more than enough to honor his son’s memory.

“Great performance,  Kobe will remembered  Fight did MORE than just honor him”

It was a sentiment echoed throughout the MMA community. In that moment, Ngannou wasn’t just a fighter—he was a father carrying the weight of his loss, yet somehow still standing tall. The love from his fans reflected the respect they had for him, not only as a warrior inside the cage but as a man battling something far bigger than any opponent.

“Such a warrior and amazing human Francis, RIP the Legend Kobe”

Ngannou’s story has always been one of resilience and perseverance, but now, more than ever, it’s a story of love, loss, and the strength to keep moving forward in the face of seemingly insurmountable personal tragedy. But as the fans stated, he is being watched over by his son while the rest of the MMA sphere is filled with admiration for him.

“Kobe is surely smiling down on you, champ. Proud of you, King.”

As the fans so eloquently put it, Francis Ngannou is more than a warrior. And as the support continues to pour in, it’s clear that Ngannou has not only honored his son’s memory—he’s also earned the admiration of millions who see in him both a fighter and a father, forever bonded by the love for his son Kobe. The raw emotion that spilled from him after the win, and the outpouring of love from fans, spoke volumes. This wasn’t just an MMA victory. It was a tribute, a way of keeping his son’s memory alive, while carrying the weight of his absence.