Francis Ngannou: Family Comes Before Legacy

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Francis Ngannou: Family Comes Before Legacy

Originally posted on Dice City Sports | By Robert LaMar | Last updated Mar 16, 2026 9:02 AM ET

Former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou isn’t concerned with criticism surrounding the recent direction of his career. As he prepares for his return to MMA against Philipe Lins on May 16 at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, Ngannou says the conversation about his “legacy” misses the point entirely. The fight will take place on Netflix’s first-ever MMA event, headlined by Ronda Rousey vs. Gina Carano.

Since leaving the UFC in 2023, Ngannou has been heavily criticized by some fans and analysts for how he has navigated the latter part of his career. But the Cameroonian knockout artist made it clear he prioritizes financial security for his family over accolades or legacy debates. “My legacy right now is my kids back home… getting healthcare, getting security, being able to put food on the table.”

Ngannou said the idea of fighters chasing legacy over fair compensation is something promotions often use to influence athletes. “You can’t go to the store or pay school fees with a legacy. Give me my pay.”

Francis Ngannou fired back at critics claiming he ruined his legacy after the UFC:

“You can’t go to the store and pay with legacy. This is bullsh*t promotions feed fighters, that they’re fighting for legacy. Good for you. Keep the legacy, give me my pay.”

Image | Source: Dice City Sports

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Career Path Since Leaving the UFC

Ngannou walked away from the UFC in January 2023 while still holding the heavyweight title, becoming one of the few champions in MMA history to leave a promotion as a free agent.

Since then, he has competed across multiple combat sports:

MMA