Background

Ngannou was born and raised in the village of Batié, Cameroon. In a country where the average citizen makes about $1,320 per year, and primary education (up to age 12) wasn't free until 2000, Ngannou lived in poverty and had little formal education growing up. He did various odd jobs to make ends meet, until as an adult, he emigrated to Paris, France to pursue his dream of becoming a professional boxer. After Ngannou reached Paris, he had no money, no friends and no place to live. After living homeless on the streets of Paris, he began training for free at an MMA gym in 2013.Being a fan of Mike Tyson, he was originally interested in learning how to box until his coach introduced him to the sport of MMA.

Reflecting on his journey across continents and his decision to become an MMA fighter, Ngannou said:

When I started, I had nothing. Nothing. I needed everything. But when you start [to earn money], you starting collecting things: I want this, I want this, I want that. The purpose is not collecting things, though. The purpose is to do something great. Finish the dream you started.

I want to help my family, first, of course, but then I want to give opportunity to children in my country like me who have a dream to become a doctor or something. If I reach my dream, it will give me the opportunity to help those in my country who have their own dreams and nothing else to fulfill them.

I want to give some opportunity for children like me who dream of this sport and don’t have an opportunity like me. The last time I was in Cameroon, I brought a lot of materials for boxing and MMA to open a gym. Now I just bought a big space to start the gym, as well. A lot of children now in Cameroon, because of me, they have a dream. They say, ‘I will be a champion in MMA. I will do boxing like Francis,’ because they saw me when I was young. I didn’t have anything. I didn’t have any opportunity. And today, they see me, and they are dreaming. They are thinking that something is possible. Even when they are so poor, something is possible in life. … It's not easy. It's so hard, but it's possible.

Mixed martial arts career

Ngannou started his MMA career mostly fighting in France premier MMA promotion 100% Fight in Paris, also fighting one time in other promotions in Geneva and Bahrain amassing a record of 5-1, finishing all of his wins, before signing with the UFC in the summer of 2015.

Ultimate Figthing Championship

Ngannou made his promotional debut against fellow newcomer Luis Henrique on December 19, 2015 at UFC on Fox 17.He won the fight via knockout in the second round.

Ngannou faced promotional newcomer Curtis Blaydes on April 10, 2016 at UFC Fight Night 86. He won the fight via TKO at the conclusion of the second round.

Ngannou next faced another newcomer in Bojan Mihajlović on July 23, 2016 at UFC on Fox 20. He won the fight via TKO in the first round.

Ngannou faced Anthony Hamilton on December 9, 2016 at UFC Fight Night 102. He won the fight by submission in the first round, earning his first UFC Performance of the Night bonus.

Ngannou faced Andrei Arlovski on January 28, 2017 at UFC on Fox 23. He won the fight via TKO in the first round. The win also earned Ngannou his second Performance of the Night bonus.