Francis Ngannou discusses retirement timeline ahead of PFL debut: "I want to leave the sport before the sport leaves me"

Francis Ngannou's retirement has become a topic of growing interest, especially as his bout with Renan Ferreira is on the horizon. This is due to 'The Predator's' absence from MMA since Jan. 22, 2022, when he last fought in the sport, defending his UFC heavyweight title against Ciryl Gane.

Now, he is signed to the PFL and spoke to MMA Junkie's Mike Bohn about his upcoming heavyweight superfight title bout with Ferreira. As Ngannou sees it, he still has a few years left in the tank despite turning 38 years old back on Sep. 5.

"I have an appetite to go back into boxing. For sure, I still have a couple of fights in both [boxing and MMA] left. I just turned 38, so I will say my retirement, when I start getting around 41 or 42. It could be 40 but this is just in an exceptional case."

Ngannou is confident that he competes into his forties, given how long heavyweights tend to last in the sport. He even touched on fighters from lighter weight classes who fought well into their twilight years.

"Heavweights can go for a long time. Even middleweight, I think Dan Henderson was 46 when he fought [Michael] Bisping the last time in London and that was in middleweight. Then Glover Teixeira was champion at 42. He was a light heavyweight. But the thing here, I just want to say I want to leave the sport before the sport leaves me."

Check out Francis Ngannou's thoughts on his retirement (8:02):

Nevertheless, Ngannou is wary of fighting too far past his due date, which often leads to disastrous slumps for once legendary fighters.

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Francis Ngannou vs. Renan Ferreira is a pivotal fight for 'The Predator'

Besides nearing his forties, Francis Ngannou is at a critical stage in his career. His last MMA bout was in the UFC in 2022, where he reigned as the heavyweight champion, departing with a six-fight win streak comprising five stoppages. However, his most recent fight was a loss in the boxing ring.

He was knocked down and knocked out in brutal fashion by Anthony Joshua, with many wondering whether he will ever be the same again. His fight with Renan Ferreira is not just his first MMA fight in over two years, it will also answer many questions regarding Ngannou's durability and whether age has caught up to him.

Fans will have to tune in on Oct. 19 to find out.