Former UFC champion Francis Ngannou is on a journey to rediscover his passion for the sport he loves while navigating through a period of personal loss. As he mourns, Ngannou hopes to find healing and motivation in the ring, reigniting the fire that once drove him to greatness.

Why would a grieving father, mourning the loss of his young son, choose to step back into the MMA cage?

This poignant question looms over Francis Ngannou, the former UFC heavyweight champion, as he faces the world this week.

Just three months after revealing the heartbreaking news that his 15-month-old son had passed away from an undiagnosed brain malformation, Ngannou made a significant announcement.

On October 19, he will return to mixed martial arts, stepping into the ring to face Renan Ferreira, the reigning heavyweight champion of the Professional Fighters League (PFL). This match, part of a PFL pay-per-view event, has yet to have its location confirmed. While the full extent of Ngannou’s reasons for taking on the 6-foot-8 Brazilian remains unclear, the decision has sparked widespread speculation.

There’s the undeniable aspect of fulfilling contractual obligations. Francis Ngannou, the Cameroonian powerhouse, has a multi-fight agreement with the Professional Fighters League (PFL).

However, in a recent video interview with USA TODAY Sports, Ngannou revealed that something deeper is pulling him back into the cage for his first fight since the tragic loss of his son, Kobe.

“I didn’t choose fighting as a profession,” Ngannou, 37, shared with USA TODAY Sports. “For me, fighting has always been a passion.

“I’ve loved fighting since I was a kid, even before I could walk. It’s something that’s always been a part of me. And now, at this point in my life, I need to feel that spark again, to reconnect with life through the fight.”

It’s a feeling that seemed to slip away from Ngannou on April 27, the day his son passed away in Cameroon.

“This fight might be what helps me truly feel alive again,” he expressed. “Being back in that environment, where my mind and heart are fully engaged, could bring some sense of connection. Not that I will ever forget what happened—I’ll never forget the loss of my son, my boy—but perhaps through this, I can find that feeling again, reconnect with that part of myself where I truly belong.”

Redefining Devastation

The last time the sports world saw Francis Ngannou, he was regaining consciousness inside a boxing ring.

Anthony Joshua, the former heavyweight champion, had delivered a devastating blow, knocking Ngannou down three times before knocking him out cold in the second round of their March 8 fight. It was a shocking moment that left fans and critics alike stunned.

That previous October, in his professional boxing debut, Francis Ngannou shocked the world by knocking down Tyson Fury, the lineal world heavyweight champion. Although the bout ended in a split-decision loss, the outcome seemed almost secondary as Ngannou entered his second pro boxing match against Anthony Joshua with high hopes. However, those hopes were dashed by a devastating second-round knockout loss.

The word “devastating” was used to describe that defeat, but true devastation struck soon after.

Just a month following the fight, Ngannou’s son began having trouble breathing. Ngannou later revealed on Joe Rogan’s podcast that doctors had twice failed to diagnose Kobe’s brain malformation, which ultimately led to his death.

As grief consumed him, Ngannou felt a profound sense of powerlessness, leading him to question everything.

“You reach a point where you believe you’re strong,” Ngannou shared with USA TODAY Sports. “You think you’ve overcome so much. And then, suddenly, you realize that you’re not as strong as you thought. You’re just like everyone else, maybe even weaker.”

Despite the incredible physical strength of the Cameroonian fighter, known for his bulging biceps and 12 knockouts in 17 MMA victories, it proved powerless in the face of a medical crisis.

“You couldn’t fight for your son,” Ngannou said, reflecting on the helplessness he felt during that heartbreaking time.

How Will It All Play Out?

In a poignant moment during his video interview with USA TODAY Sports, Francis Ngannou held up a photo of his son.

“I was waiting for him to be strong enough on his feet so we could play soccer together, planning to build a basketball court for him,” Ngannou shared. “I was already thinking about his education, where he should go to school, where he could receive the best education.”

Now, that sense of certainty has been replaced by a feeling of fragility. Why plan for the future when life can change in an instant?

But as he prepares for his upcoming fight against the towering Brazilian, Ngannou seems ready to embrace the uncertainty.

“I don’t know how this is going to play out,” he admitted. “I don’t know what the new version of me will look like. But I can’t find out by just sitting here.”

For more insights on how these developments could impact the upcoming sports season, visit our main Sports Page.