Dressing room conversation between Francis Ngannou and Cristiano Ronaldo revealed by coach Eric Nicksick: "Loss of one of his children"

Cristiano Ronaldo shared an emotional moment with Francis Ngannou on Saturday night, discussing the devastating loss of a child shortly before Ngannou's PFL debut against Renan Ferreira in Riyadh. This fight marked Ngannou's first appearance since the tragic death of his 15-month-old son, Kobe, due to an undiagnosed brain malformation in April.

Ronaldo, who experienced a similar heartbreak two years ago with the loss of his son during childbirth, connected with Ngannou on a personal level. The two stars embraced in the dressing room, where they spoke candidly about their shared grief.

Later appearing in an interview with MMA Junkie, Ngannou's coach, Eric Nicksick recounted the conversation:

"Francis got up to wrap his hands, and Ronaldo could feel Francis' energy, and he goes, 'I'm just going to give him words of encouragement…' He was talking about the loss of one of his children and how he related to that. I know how big of a star he is, but sitting next to me and having this very personal conversation made him feel like he was part of the team right then and there."

He added:

"His son [Cristiano Jr] was in there with us and hanging out, so it was very much a welcomed energy to have in the room, especially someone of that stature who understands the highest pressure."

Check out Eric Nicksick's comments below:

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Francis Ngannou makes impressive comeback with KO victory over Renan Ferreira

Francis Ngannou began another chapter in his MMA career by securing the PFL's heavyweight championship with a first-round TKO victory against Renan Ferreira at the organization’s pay-per-view event in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Ngannou showcased his wrestling skills early, quickly taking Ferreira to the ground. He maintained control, fending off a triangle choke attempt before transitioning to Ferreira’s back and unleashing a barrage of strikes. The referee stepped in to halt the contest as Ferreira could no longer defend himself.

Check out Francis Ngannou's KO victory below:

This fight marked Ngannou’s return to MMA after his UFC contract expired in early 2022, following a title defense against Ciryl Gane. Signing with the PFL allowed Ngannou to pursue boxing opportunities, which included a split-decision bout against Tyson Fury and a knockout loss to Anthony Joshua.