https://arab.news/2h3wn
- The 37-year-old MMA and boxing star takes on Anthony Joshua at ‘Knockout Chaos’ in Riyadh on Friday night
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia has awarded Francis Ngannou, the former UFC heavyweight champion and now boxing contender, a Premium Residency.
Ngannou will headline “Knockout Chaos” at Riyadh’s Kingdom Arena on Friday night when he steps into the boxing ring to take on former champion Anthony Joshua.
The residency award is a part of the Kingdom’s broader efforts to attract top-tier athletes from around the globe, in its bid to become a major sporting hub. The news was announced on Thursday night by Turki Alalshikh, chairman of Saudi Arabia’s General Entertainment Authority, via his Snapchat account.
Ngannou is popular among MMA and boxing fans in Saudi Arabia, especially after a narrow loss to heavyweight champion Tyson Fury at the “Battle of the Baddest” event in Riyadh last October.
The 37-year-old has signed with the Professional Fighters League, which recently acquired MMA rival Bellator. Last month, the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh was the venue for the PFL Champions vs Bellator Champions event.
Ngannou was ringside at that first MMA event in Saudi Arabia and has trained in the capital to prepare for his bout with Joshua.