Ex-UFC champion Francis Ngannou allegedly ‘involved' in fatal crash killing girl, aged 17

News.com.au

30-04-2025

Former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou is alleged to have been involved in a fatal road incident in his native Cameroon.
According to reports, a 17-year-old girl in the Omnisports District of Yaounde passed away as a result of a collision with a motorcycle-riding Ngannou.
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Cameroonian outlets Camer.be, Lebledparle and ActuCameroun reported that the victim suffered severe injuries to her arm and leg.
She was rushed to the hospital by Ngannou but was unable to recover from her fatal injuries, tragically passing at the Yaounde General Hospital.
Ngannou, 38, is said to be 'devastated' by the fatal crash, The Sun reports.
It's claimed the Professional Fighters League Super Fights Heavyweight Champion, who has yet to issue a statement on the accident, paid for the victim's 'medical expenses.'
SunSport has reached out to Ngannou's representatives for comment.
The crash is the latest tragic incident involving the pride of Cameroon, who entered the boxing world in October 2023 and March 2024 for showdowns with Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua.
Last April, it was announced that Ngannou's 15-month-old son, Kobe, had sadly passed away.
'The Predator' heartbreakingly opened up on Kobe's death during an appearance on the Joe Rogan Experience podcast.
He said: 'Kobe had some malformation on his brain, which is something that we didn't know.
'He passed out twice. The first time was in Cameroon, we took him to the hospital. They didn't find anything.
'The second time was in [Saudi Arabia], we took him to the hospital. They ran a lot of exams, they didn't do anything.
'They did the EEG, they didn't do the [CAT] scan or MRI, because according to them, their conclusion was that he had a swollen lung.
'That is what was pressing his chest and stopping him from breathing and it created that thing.
'After all those exams, they gave him some medicine, that he's going to be OK.
'Nothing to worry about. Because at first, they even thought about asthma.
'They gave, like, a ventilator, and then afterwards, after some research they took it out. It [made me] confident.'
Ngannou tried to call his family for updates on his son's condition after leaving Cameroon for a Dubai training camp but was unable to get through.
He continued: 'I tried to call, I wanted to talk to him and I was on the bike.
'I called his mom and his mom didn't pick up the phone.
'I'm like, 'After I'm done, I'm going to go take my shower, lay in bed and call him.'
'Thirty minutes after, I was on the leg machine, my phone rang and it was my little brother.
'He said, 'Bro, things are not going well here.' I'm like, 'What is it?'
'[He said,] 'Kobe, he passed out, he's not breathing, we are at the hospital, they kicked me out from the room.'
'I'm like, 'What's happening? As we are talking, he's also trying to get information, so I lost him for like three or four minutes.'
After calling back, Ngannou heartbreakingly heard the nurse telling his brother that Kobe had sadly passed away.
He continued: '[She said,] 'Well, he's gone.' Just like that. He's gone.
''What do you mean he's gone? How come he's gone?
''This kid was 15 months [old], he was bigger than 15 months.
'He was growing. He was the most joyful, happy kid around. What do you mean he's gone? Gone where?' That was it.'
Ngannou returned to MMA action last October, TKO'ing Renan Ferreira in their Saudi Arabian showdown.
And he was overcome with emotion after stopping the Brazilian, breaking down in tears before dedicating the victory to his late son.
Ngannou bravely wept: 'I can't think about anything other than my son, Kobe.
'I only took this fight because of him, I took the fight for him.
'I hope they can remember his name because without Kobe, we wouldn't be here tonight. I wouldn't have fought.'