N’Gannou: My life experience will make me triumph
UFC heavyweight Francis N’Gannou was born in Cameroon, the 148th poorest country in the world, and, inspired by Mike Tyson,…
UFC heavyweight Francis N’Gannou was born in Cameroon, the 148th poorest country in the world, and, inspired by Mike Tyson, journeyed to France for opportunity. There he suffered homelessness until he walked into an MMA gym in Paris.
They saw his potential, and he found a path up.
In a division so unpredictable that no UFC champion ever successfully defended the belt more than twice, N’Gannou is on a mighty streak. He entered the UFC on a four-fight win streak. And in the UFC he is on another four-fight win streak, all stoppages, the last two within the first two minutes.
Now N’Gannou fights the #7 ranked heavyweight contender Andrei Arlovski at UFC on FOX 23 on January 28, 2017 at Pepsi Center in Denver, Colorado.
I need to go to the best to get my title shot, said N’Gannou to Tim Bissell for BE. I know that to have a title shot you are supposed to fight a great one. I want for people to see I am a great fighter and I think to be a great fighter you are supposed to fight a great one. You’re supposed to fight one who people know, that has a good reputation or is a very tough fighter and that is why I say now, after my fight with Hamilton, I feel now I need top ten because I need to be recognized as a great fighter.
He has good size, good stand-up. That is why I need him. … I don’t have that [Octagon] experience, but I have life experience and I think that’s what will make me triumph. My advantage is in my mind. I know that a lot of people have experience because they are fighters that have fought in the UFC or for other organizations for many years. I don’t have that experience, but I have life experience and I think that’s what will make me triumph. That makes me tough. That makes me something different than Arlovski.
The challenges in my life started since I was born. It has never been easy. Nothing in my life has been easy. … I’m going to show people, I’m going to show fans, that I’m better than him.