Francis Ngannou's opponent makes disgraceful comment after his son's death

Renan Ferreira has sparked outrage with his insensitive remarks about the death of Francis Ngannou's son, Kobe.

The 15-month-old tragically died in April , and Ngannou shared the heartbreaking news on social media . Since then, Ngannou, a major name in MMA, has not stepped into the ring.

His last bout was a boxing match against Anthony Joshua in Saudi Arabia in October 2023 . Ngannou is set to return to action on October 19, facing off against Ferreira in what will be his first appearance in the Professional Fighters League (PFL).

At a press conference in Washington on Thursday, which was held to hype up their upcoming clash, Ngannou opened up about the loss of his son.

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"I have questioned if I have to continue or if I should just hang up the gloves," he confessed. "But then I realized that should be a purpose for me you know.

Fighting back tears, he continued: "I didn't have the chance to fight for my son man. So I think this is it."

While Ngannou received praise for his courage, the atmosphere soured when Ferreira decided to use Kobe's death as a way to provoke his opponent. Speaking through an interpreter, Ferreira declared: "Francis has been going through a tough year in his life, but the toughest challenge in his life and in his year is gonna be me.

"I'm gonna be the biggest problem of his year right now. It's a tough puzzle for him to figure out."

MMA fans have been quick to criticize Ferreira for his controversial comment. One fan expressed their disapproval on social media, saying, "That's messed up," while another chimed in with: "Classless piece of trash."

Another added their voice to the chorus of criticism: "I definitely think he crossed the line with that one."

However, some supporters are rallying behind Ferreira, arguing that there was a mistake in how his words were interpreted. A defender of Ferreira pointed out on social media: "Translation is incorrect. Renan just says that Ngannou got a big 'problem' ahead, referring to himself."

Ferreira, a seasoned MMA fighter, has made a name for himself with multiple appearances in the PFL and boasts a record of 13 victories out of 19 bouts, including three defeats and three no-contests.

On the other hand, Ngannou has an impressive MMA track record with 17 wins and only three losses after an extensive period in the UFC. He has been absent from the MMA scene for almost three years, following a foray into boxing where he faced defeats by Joshua and Tyson Fury.