The Daniel Cormier Show - Francis Ngannou on Philipe Lins, leaving UFC, Anthony Joshua fight, losing his son

What’s up guys, welcome to a new episode of the show; today it’s not just about knockouts, it’s about the journey—please welcome my friend, Big Frank, Francis Ngannou, and let’s start back home in Cameroon.

I remember everything about home; each road feels like a page from my life, and while I once hated the limits there, going back now connects me to my roots in the best way.

My parents split early and that shaped me; did your family separate too, and how did that affect you?

My parents split when I was six, we were passed between relatives, I changed schools constantly, and I coped by building an imaginary home in my mind where everything worked and I felt safe.

You were working young; what did those early years look like?

By nine I was living in a village with my grandma where everyone had to work, and by eleven or twelve I could handle the tough jobs like the sand mine.

Did you always believe you’d make a different life, even as a kid?

I wanted more and got labeled stubborn, but seeing older men in the mine terrified me into action; the change started in my head, and once that mindset set in, I was willing to take the risk.

How did fighting enter the picture, and what pushed you to leave?

I loved fighting since childhood, and at twenty-five I left without a clear map; it took fourteen months across multiple countries, bribing and hiding, and crossing the Sahara crammed in a pickup with sandstorms, bones on the ground, and no room to quit.

Was France the plan, or did boxing point you elsewhere?

I aimed for the UK or Germany for boxing, but I stopped in France, found a gym the next day, and stayed.

So how did MMA find you?

A coach saw my boxing and nudged me toward MMA; I didn’t even know what grappling was, but the mix was fun, I joined CrossFight, and kept showing up.

You rose fast in the UFC; did you always see a belt in your future?

I always pictured being champion, but the first Stipe fight and the Lewis bout taught me I’d been skipping fundamentals and giving in to pressure; I reset by chasing the joy again, went to China telling myself I’d fight my way, and that flipped the switch.

When you knocked out Stipe the second time, what did that moment feel like?

It felt almost unreal, like life finally paying back a debt, and it only really hit me later at home when I looked at the belt in my living room.

You left as champion when most said stay; was that about money or respect?

It was respect; once my ego was crossed I was ready to walk and start over because my success comes from who I am, not from a contract.

You and I have shared the worst kind of loss; how did your son’s passing change you?

It stripped me down to how fragile life is, I wanted to stop everything, then I chose to fight in his honor and learned to accept what I couldn’t control while letting him go with love.

Switching to boxing, were you nervous against Fury and then Joshua?

I was nervous but excited because I’m a fighter at heart; the Fury night flowed, but the Joshua night was off with late call times and delays that dulled my timing, and it reminded me boxing is different because of everything around the ring.

Now you’re back against Felipe Lins on Netflix; how does that feel at thirty-nine?

Every opponent is the guy, I’m preparing on all fronts, and being on Netflix is huge so I plan to look sharp and help open a new lane for the sport.

How will you know it’s time to retire?

The day I wake up and can’t give one hundred percent, I’m done, the way Glover stepped away for the right reason.

Is a UFC return possible, and how do you see the division right now?

The door isn’t shut but it’s not in my hands and emotions run high; I slightly lean Jones over Aspinall, the division feels a bit flat, I was proud of Curtis in that wild brawl but think his top control can grow, and I turned my own wrestling from a weakness into a strength.

When it’s over, how do you want people to remember Francis the man, not just the fighter?

I’m a life fighter who keeps breaking through and moving forward; fighting is one chapter, not the whole book.

You’re a tremendous champion and an even better person; watch Francis on Netflix against Felipe Lins, and thank you, my brother, for sharing your story.