UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou had a rough life in Africa. The Cameroonian fighter is now an inspiration for many from his country. In a recent video on his YouTube channel, Ngannou discussed his life in Cameroon and his passion for fighting. He had realized that he might not be able to make it as a fighter if he stayed in his country.

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Hence, he decided to leave his country and move to a place that would have the necessary means to support his dreams. The fighter went on to explain how difficult it is to cross countries. Ngannou tried to escape through the ocean. However, he failed to do so six times, but the seventh time, he was successful.

Further, he also explains how they would call the ‘Red Cross’ once they were deep enough in the ocean.

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“We will call and like, call for help. And they will start to ask our position and it’s very hard to describe our position. People get lost many times about that and sometimes, they find you and can, they can find you and they will even call the Moroccan for rescue, for help.”

He said that the first one to find them then takes them to their territory. Hence, Ngannou said that people hope for the Red Cross to find them first.

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“The guy on the line, I don’t know why he was asking those questions like, ‘Is it a woman on in your boat?’ I’m like ‘Yes, even children’. Like, what does that even matter? We are in danger.”

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This way, Ngannou found himself in a detention center, which the fighter also called a ‘jail’.

Francis Ngannou at UFC

After all of this, the fighter found himself in Paris and soon in a boxing gym. And thus, his fighting career became a reality.

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Francis Ngannou

Imago

He fought for a few different promotions. But in 2015, he finally started fighting for the UFC. Unfortunately, he has ongoing issues with the promotion.

‘The Predator’ has had a rough journey. He has come a long way from his life in Cameroon, to becoming the heavyweight champion.

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Rohini Kottu

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Rohini Kottu is a Newsroom Editor at EssentiallySports, bringing years of expertise in sports journalism and editorial leadership. With many editorials under her byline, she has worked across combat divisions and is now a key part of the Newsroom team, shaping coverage across the site’s 14 category pages. Her editorial command lies in balancing sharp news judgment with compelling storytelling, ensuring every article resonates with sports fans while maintaining ES’s brand voice. Rohini’s journey and impact were also spotlighted in the Humans of EssentiallySports series, where she reflected on her evolution from rookie to pro in just a few years. Today, she continues to drive newsroom standards by delivering authoritative, reader-first content in an era where authenticity and clarity are more vital than ever.

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