The heavyweight champ joins up with the fitness and apparel company ahead of his first title defense at UFC 270 against Ciryl Gane.
On Saturday at UFC 270, Francis Ngannou will walk out to the octagon for the very first time as UFC heavyweight champion for a clash with challenger Ciryl Gane.
He’ll also do so for the first time as an official partner of fitness and apparel company Gymshark, who revealed its new campaign featuring “The Predator” Wednesday. It’s a rare, introspective look at the Cameroonian-born power-puncher’s journey from humble beginnings to MMA legend status — and his desire to use his growing platform to give back and strengthen communities like the one he himself came from.
“Gymshark respects my journey in becoming the athlete that I am today and they want to inspire others,” Ngannou said in an official release. “I hope to be an inspiration for those who follow me, especially people from my home country and the kids in Africa. They care about what I care about. We share the same values. We are all about community.”
“Francis’s story is so incredibly inspiring. His strength, perseverance and commitment to community make him a perfect partner for our brand as we continue to unite our community all over the world,”added Sennai Atsbeha, Gymshark VP of Brand Marketing. “We’re excited to support him during these big moments and explore what we can achieve together.”
Ngannou has been busy since winning the UFC heavyweight title from Stipe Miocic in thunderous fashion last year. On the heels of a successful NFT release in collaboration with Bosslogic, he announced he’d receive 50% of his upcoming fight purse in Bitcoin, a move seldom seen (if ever) in combat sports.
Now, the 6-foot-4, 265-pound iconoclast’s legend continues as the newest member of the Gymshark family.
UFC 270 takes place Saturday night in Anaheim, California. The main card begins on ESPN+ pay-per-view at 10 p.m. ET.
Get on our list for weekly sports business, industry trends, interviews, and more.
