Francis Ngannou
Born in Cameroon, Ngannou lived in poverty throughout his childhood years and was working in a sand mine by his 12th birthday. Ngannou’s father had a reputation as a street fighter. Ngannou was offered the chance to become part of local gangs, but he resisted and instead turned his attention towards boxing.
By the age of 26, he was still extremely poor. He made a brave decision to travel to France in the hopes of making his living from boxing. With no money to his name, Ngannou began living rough on the streets of Paris. A local gym let him train for free, during which time he began focusing on MMA. Ngannou quickly turned pro. With his hulking physique and knockout power, he compiled a winning record and caught the attention of the UFC. ‘The Predator’ has since gone on to become one of the UFC’s leading heavyweight stars. He fought for the title and now commands a six-figure salary every time he competes.
