Ngannou: "The next one's for Kobe"

Eric Nicksick, coach of former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou, recently shared updates on Ngannou's state of mind and career during an interview with Ariel Helwani on The MMA Hour on July 1, 2024. Ngannou, who suffered the tragic loss of his 15-month-old son in April, is slowly finding his way back to a semblance of normalcy. “He’s healing,” Nicksick said of Ngannou. “That’s the best I can say. He’s healing. You’re seeing the smile back on his face. You’re seeing the banter.” Slowly Ngannou's focus seems to shift towards fighting again. “He looked at me at dinner last week and was like, ‘This next one’s for Kobe.’ That shit hit me,” Nicksick shared. “I was like, f*ck, whoever you’re fighting next, God bless them. If this is what we’re fighting for, this man is going to be dialed in." As for Ngannou's professional future, Nicksick mentioned that the next steps are still uncertain. Ngannou remains signed with the Professional Fighters League (PFL), where Renan Ferreira currently holds the heavyweight title. Another option could be returning to the boxing ring after his recent bouts against Tyson Fury in October 2023 and Anthony Joshua in March 2024.