Francis Ngannou reveals retirement plan earlier than PFL debut: ‘I wish to go away the game earlier than the game leaves me’

Francis Ngannou is feeling wholesome and powerful forward of his return to MMA in opposition to Renan Ferreira at PFL: Battle of the Giants, however the clock is outwardly ticking on his time in fight sports activities.

Ngannou (17-3) already mulled retirement as soon as this 12 months after the tragic death of his 15-month-old son, Kobe. He in the end determined to return to honor the reminiscence of his baby and is all in as he prepares to compete in his first MMA battle in 991 days in opposition to Ferreira (13-3) on Oct. 19 at The Mayadeen in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia (ESPN+ pay-per-view, DAZN).

Since formally parting methods with the UFC in January 2022, Ngannou has competed solely in boxing. He fought Tyson Fury to a controversial split decision loss in October 2023 after which suffered a knockout in opposition to Anthony Joshua in March. He’s now again within the sport that made his identify, and with battle camp primarily full, Ngannou stated he’s in good type.

“My physique is holding up nicely,” Ngannou instructed MMA Junkie on Wednesday. “Clearly I had a knee surgical procedure, however that was over two years in the past now. It took me fairly a very long time, over a 12 months to actually get again. However now I’m actually robust. By the point I get again into the battle, I get very robust. I can kick. Despite the fact that kicking shouldn’t be my cup of tea, I do kick.”

Though Ngannou is solely centered on the duty at hand, he admits this battle is the start of his wind down from his combating profession. He intends to have extra MMA and boxing matches earlier than he hangs up the gloves, however after celebrating his thirty eighth birthday on Sept. 5, he stated a timeline to hold it up is crystallizing in his thoughts.

“I’ve an urge for food to return into boxing,” Ngannou stated. “For positive, I nonetheless have a pair fights in each left. I simply turned 38, so I’ll say my retirement, after I begin getting round 41 or 42. It could possibly be 40, however that is simply in an distinctive case. This time I believe I actually must get pleasure from my time contained in the octagon and contained in the ring, after which have my final dance and go house.”

Ngannou understands that heavyweights are inclined to have longer careers in skilled combating than decrease divisions. The founding father of his house health club in Las Vegas, UFC Corridor of Famer Randy Couture, competed nicely into his 40s. There’s a number of different outstanding examples, as nicely, however Ngannou stated he’s not ready the place he must cling on.

With financial security achieved for his lifetime and past, Ngannou stated it’s all about choosing the right second to stroll away. He has seen all too many situations of athletes sticking round past their expiration dates, and Ngannou is adamant he received’t be a kind of individuals.

“Heavyweights can go for a very long time,” Ngannou stated. “Even middleweight, I believe Dan Henderson was 46 when he fought (Michael) Bisping the final time in London and that was in middleweight. Then Glover Teixeira was champion at 42. He was a lightweight heavyweight. However the factor right here, I simply wish to say I wish to go away the game earlier than the game leaves me. I want to go away on the prime of my recreation. We are going to see the way it goes. You make plans, however then God has plans. We are going to see.”

For extra on the cardboard, go to MMA Junkie’s occasion hub for PFL: Battle of the Giants.