Francis Ngannou is a gentle giant whose imposing style as a fighter belies his calm demenour. The 38-year-old Cameroonian has seen it all in a remarkable career and prefers to let his actions do the talking.
The former UFC heavyweight champion makes his long-awaited return to MMA on Saturday when he meets Renan Ferreira for the PFL's heavyweight title in the headline bout of the “Battle of the Giants” show at Kingdom Arena in Riyadh.
It's been almost 33 months since Ngannou, one of the biggest stars in combat sports, competed in an MMA bout and Saturday will be his first since his high-profile switch to the Professional Fighters League in May last year. Naturally, there is a huge amount of excitement surrounding the Cameroonian, but the man at the centre of it is only focused on the job at hand.
“I don't need to be excited or jumping around to express how I fight and talk about my opponents,” Ngannou told The National during a tour of the Fifa World Cup Exhibition Centre in Riyadh on Tuesday.
“I don't waste my energy when it's not needed. My thought is that we are here. It's becoming more serious. Even though I've always been serious, you can feel the energy of the fight coming around. Since I landed in Saudi Arabia (last Thursday), you get that feeling of being in the element of the fight.”
As part of Ngannou's deal to join the PFL, which included becoming chairman of PFL Africa and taking a place on the PFL's Global Advisory Board, he was given the freedom to pursue non-MMA fighting opportunities.
He grabbed those opportunities with both hands – literally – making his professional boxing debut against none other than Tyson Fury in Riyadh 12 months ago. A contest that was expected to be little more than a glorified exhibition (the fight was officially sanctioned) almost ended in one of the all-time great upsets when Ngannou sent the WBC and lineal world champion to the canvas in the fourth round and took him to a split decision.
Ngannou returned to the Saudi capital in March for another lucrative boxing bout against former unified world champion Anthony Joshua, although he was knocked out in the second round.
Returning to a day job that saw him become the UFC's heavyweight champion and amass a professional record of 17 wins against three defeats, Ngannou said he is locked in with just a few days to go until fight night.
“There have been some ups and downs during the preparations as always but I think at this point, it's not about preparation anymore, it's about getting your mind set for the night,” he said.
“It is more the thought process now. It's more like you're feeling the energy and then trying to process, trying to imagine as best as you can, even though you would never be able to imagine how a fight can go.
“It’s in your mind; get in that moment, try to be present in that moment. So, I think that's what will happen from now until the fight.”
While much of the attention has been on Ngannou, his opponent will not be there simply to make up the numbers. Ferreira has won seven of his last eight fights, including four in a row with the PFL. The Brazilian's most recent outing was a 21-second destruction of Bellator's heavyweight champion Ryan Bader eight months ago in Riyadh.
“Renan is a very tough opponent. He’s very challenging and I think a lot of people are underestimating him,” Ngannou said. “I have people talking more about him, like he is not a big name and about his talent, but I believe he’s a very talented fighter, more than a lot of people think. He’s very athletic, he's a black belt in jiu-jitsu.
“I think he's by far the fastest and the best striker, maybe the best striker in the heavyweight division globally right now. That's just my opinion, so for me he represents a lot from a fighter’s perspective.”
At 6ft 8in, Ferreira stands four inches taller than Ngannou and has a better reach advantage. At 34, he is also four years younger than the Cameroonian.
“He represents a huge challenge, he's massive, he's very big and very skilled, very agile, very athletic so that's a lot of challenge for me," Ngannou added. "He may not be a big name but he's a crazy fighter. I am saying I'm going into this fight looking at it as more like underdog.”
Quick pearls of wisdom
Focus on gratitude: And do so deeply, he says. “Think of one to three things a day that you’re grateful for. It needs to be specific, too, don’t just say ‘air.’ Really think about it. If you’re grateful for, say, what your parents have done for you, that will motivate you to do more for the world.”
Know how to fight: Shetty married his wife, Radhi, three years ago (he met her in a meditation class before he went off and became a monk). He says they’ve had to learn to respect each other’s “fighting styles” – he’s a talk it-out-immediately person, while she needs space to think. “When you’re having an argument, remember, it’s not you against each other. It’s both of you against the problem. When you win, they lose. If you’re on a team you have to win together.”
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
Pearls on a Branch: Oral Tales
Najlaa Khoury, Archipelago Books
Teenage%20Mutant%20Ninja%20Turtles%3A%20Shredder's%20Revenge
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The biog
Favourite films: Casablanca and Lawrence of Arabia
Favourite books: Start with Why by Simon Sinek and Good to be Great by Jim Collins
Favourite dish: Grilled fish
Inspiration: Sheikh Zayed's visionary leadership taught me to embrace new challenges.
Book%20Details
%3Cp%3E%3Cem%3EThree%20Centuries%20of%20Travel%20Writing%20by%20Muslim%20Women%3C%2Fem%3E%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EEditors%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESiobhan%20Lambert-Hurley%2C%20Daniel%20Majchrowicz%2C%20Sunil%20Sharma%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPublisher%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EIndiana%20University%20Press%3B%20532%20pages%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Petrarch: Everywhere a Wanderer
Christopher Celenza,
Reaktion Books
The biog
Favourite colour: Brown
Favourite Movie: Resident Evil
Hobbies: Painting, Cooking, Imitating Voices
Favourite food: Pizza
Trivia: Was the voice of three characters in the Emirati animation, Shaabiyat Al Cartoon
COMPANY PROFILE
Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
Total funding: Self funded
RIDE%20ON
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The specs: 2018 Audi RS5
Price, base: Dh359,200
Engine: 2.9L twin-turbo V6
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
Power: 450hp at 5,700rpm
Torque: 600Nm at 1,900rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 8.7L / 100km
The specs: 2018 BMW R nineT Scrambler
Price, base / as tested Dh57,000
Engine 1,170cc air/oil-cooled flat twin four-stroke engine
Transmission Six-speed gearbox
Power 110hp) @ 7,750rpm
Torque 116Nm @ 6,000rpm
Fuel economy, combined 5.3L / 100km
Avatar: Fire and Ash
Director: James Cameron
Starring: Sam Worthington, Sigourney Weaver, Zoe Saldana
Rating: 4.5/5
MATCH INFO
Sheffield United 2 Bournemouth 1
United: Sharp (45 2'), Lundstram (84')
Bournemouth: C Wilson (13')
Man of the Match: Jack O’Connell (Sheffield United)
German intelligence warnings
- 2002: "Hezbollah supporters feared becoming a target of security services because of the effects of [9/11] ... discussions on Hezbollah policy moved from mosques into smaller circles in private homes." Supporters in Germany: 800
- 2013: "Financial and logistical support from Germany for Hezbollah in Lebanon supports the armed struggle against Israel ... Hezbollah supporters in Germany hold back from actions that would gain publicity." Supporters in Germany: 950
- 2023: "It must be reckoned with that Hezbollah will continue to plan terrorist actions outside the Middle East against Israel or Israeli interests." Supporters in Germany: 1,250
Source: Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution
Herc's Adventures
Developer: Big Ape Productions
Publisher: LucasArts
Console: PlayStation 1 & 5, Sega Saturn
Rating: 4/5
Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026
1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years
If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.
2. E-invoicing in the UAE
Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption.
3. More tax audits
Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks.
4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime
Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.
5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit
There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.
6. Further transfer pricing enforcement
Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes.
7. Limited time periods for audits
Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion.
8. Pillar 2 implementation
Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.
9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services
Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations.
10. Substance and CbC reporting focus
Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity.
Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer
