Francis Ngannou admits to having "second thoughts" about Renan Ferreira fight amid emotional fight camp

Francis Ngannou's eagerly anticipated return to MMA could have been scrapped as he recently revealed details regarding his title fight with Renan Ferreira. In addition to personal hardships, the former UFC heavyweight champion revealed an injury that nearly forced him out of the bout.

Ngannou made a statement this past Saturday at PFL: Super Fights: Battle of the Giants, when he knocked out Ferreira in the opening round with devastating ground and pound strikes. Following his win, 'The Predator' spoke to Oscar Willis of The Mac Life and shared his thoughts on preparing for the fight, saying:

''I think sometimes it's good to just take it one at a time. Some days are tougher than some and then you just have to tell yourself, 'deal with this day and tomorrow you will find out'. Even when I came here in Riyadh, I landed on Thursday night and on Friday morning I had a second thought about this fight. Because my rib was hurting so bad that we're checking in the hospital and it was just a pain...It's all about like one foot at a time and you see how it goes.''

Check out Francis Ngannou's comments below:

Discussing Ngannou's fight camp during an interview with MMA Junkie, his coach Eric Nicksick disclosed that the 38-year-old was nervous ahead of his title fight with Ferreira. Nicksick revealed how Ngannou doubted his skills during the training period and even on the day of the event, stating:

"I never questioned him [Ngannou], but I knew he was questioning himself all the way, even up to the day of the fight. I know that he carried a different type of weight to him [within himself]."

Check out Eric Nicksick's comments below (6:12):

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Francis Ngannou pens emotional statement following title win against Renan Ferreira

Francis Ngannou had a lot on his plate going into the heavyweight title fight against Renan Ferreira since he lost his 15-month-old son Kobe to brain malformation earlier this year.

During the post-fight press conference, Ngannou talked candidly about coping with his child's demise and its aftermath, saying:

"They've been telling me that I'm tough to the point that I believe that I'm tough and I recently just found out that I wasn't tough. Life can make you look at events and [make you] think you're running away and then it hits you really bad... It's one of those things [to lose a child] you ask yourself, 'Is it ever going to be over?'... I don't think a lifetime would be enough to grieve. It is just about keeping going. It's a new way of living that I have to learn."

Check out Francis Ngannou's comments below: