Francis Ngannou Breaks Down Sharing Heartbreaking Story: "I Don't Know The Purpose Of Fighting Anymore", "I Feel Powerless", "I Don't Know How To Deal With This!"

The Diary Of A CEO with Steven Bartlett

Crossing oceans, deserts, national borders, and finally the entrance to the UFC ring, you've never heard a journey like Francis Ngannou's

Francis Ngannou is a martial artist, professional boxer, and Lineal Combat Sports Heavyweight World Champion. He became UFC Heavyweight Champion in 2021 and holds an MMA record of 17 wins and 12 victories by knockout.

In this conversation, Francis and Steven discuss topics such as, Francis’ painful childhood, how Francis worked in a sand mine aged 10 and dreamt of boxing, his struggle to find a place to train, and the death of his 15-month-old son.

(00:00) Intro

(02:13) My Childhood: Surviving on Less Than $1000 a Year

(06:17) Overcoming Struggles in Rural Cameroon

(12:52) My Dream of Becoming a Professional Boxer

(14:59) Choosing a Different Path Than My Father

(17:27) Growing Up with a Violent Father

(18:11) Coping with My Father's Death at 15

(19:57) Wishing for One More Day with My Dad

(24:22) The Struggles Of Chasing My Boxing Dream

(25:30) The INSANE Journey to Reach Europe

(28:41) How We Survived the Sahara Desert!

(32:47) The Hardest Part of My Journey

(34:59) Waiting to Cross the Border

(36:53) Two Ways Out: Swimming the Ocean or Climbing the Barbed Wire Fence

(42:15) Six Attempts to Cross the Sea in a Dinghy

(49:02) Months of Survival in the Forest

(50:56) Evading Police Radars

(58:26) Calling the Red Cross for Help

(01:02:60) Two Months in a Detention Center

(01:05:07) Surviving on 50 Euros

(01:07:49) My Coach's Support: A Place to Stay and Guidance

(01:10:15) My First Experience with MMA

(01:11:12) Facing Rejection: No One Wanted to Fight Me in Paris

(01:12:40) How I Made It to the UFC

(01:14:20) My First Fight in America

(01:16:04) Winning the UFC Heavyweight Title

(01:21:10) The Conversation with Dana White

(01:24:31) How the Contract Took My Freedom

(01:27:44) The UFC Contract and Its Clauses

(01:29:40) Tyson Fury vs. Francis Ngannou

(01:32:41) My Future Goals in Fighting

(01:34:53) Ads

(01:35:51) The Truth Behind the Anthony Joshua vs. Francis Ngannou Fight

(01:43:17) Coping with the Death of My Baby Son

(01:47:29) Going Through Grief

(01:52:37) Returning to Cameroon

(01:59:05) The Last Guest Question

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