Video: Francis Ngannou gets hero’s welcome in first trip to Cameroon as UFC heavyweight champion

Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC

Francis Ngannou returned home to Cameroon and brought the UFC heavyweight title with him.

Ngannou, who captured the title for the first time with a second-round KO win over Stipe Miocic at UFC 260 in March, made the trip back home days after cornering welterweight champion Kamaru Usman during his knockout win over Jorge Masvidal this past Saturday.

“The Predator,” as expected, got a hero’s welcome from his fellow Cameroonians—as well as his mother.

@FrancisNgannou gets a hero's reception on his return to Cameroon!

The new heavyweight champion put the belt on his mother and toured the streets of Douala!

( @ckomentmagazine & @DidierLefa) pic.twitter.com/Esak79mSE6

— UFC on BT Sport (@btsportufc) April 28, 2021

The championship victory parade included thousands of fans as they celebrated Ngannou’s heavyweight championship victory on the streets of Douala.

With his new title reign underway, many are wondering what is next for the dominant Ngannou. While the fight everybody wants to see is a matchup with former, longtime light heavyweight champion Jon Jones, UFC president Dana White seems to be leaning towards a rematch with Derrick Lewis for the 34-year-old’s first title defense. As of now, nothing has been made official as Ngannou is hoping to return in July or August.