UFC fighter Francis Ngannou has opened up about the heartbreaking loss of his 15-month-old son, Kobe, who passed away suddenly this past April.
This marks the first time Ngannou has spoken publicly about his son’s death.
During an emotional episode of Joe Rogan’s “JRE MMA Show,” released on Tuesday, July 23, Ngannou shared the poignant details of his last moments with Kobe. “The day that I was leaving, he was crying. He wanted me to go with him,” Ngannou recalled. “I knew that I was going to be back. I had no clue that was it.”
Ngannou explained that the last time he saw Kobe was in Cameroon, his home country, just before he left for a trip. “He was with my little brother and he didn’t want me to go because he became my buddy so much that even when I’m around, he doesn’t want me to leave him alone,” the fighter remembered.
RELATED: UFC’s Dana White Says One Thing About Trump is Now ‘Undebatable’ Following Assassination Attempt
On April 29, Ngannou took to Instagram to share the devastating news of Kobe’s passing, which occurred two days prior.
His son was named after the late NBA legend Kobe Bryant. “Too soon to leave but yet he’s gone. My little boy, my mate, my partner Kobe was full of life and joy. Now, it’s lying without life. I shouted his name over and over but he’s not responding,” Ngannou wrote. “I was my best self next to him and now I have no clue of who I am. Life is so unfair to hit us where it hurts the most.”
In the podcast, Ngannou provided further insight into the circumstances surrounding Kobe’s death. He revealed that his son had fainted and passed out twice before they sought medical attention. Kobe was ultimately diagnosed with a swollen lung.
Believing his son was in good hands, Ngannou continued with his planned trip to Dubai. However, he soon received a distressing phone call from his brother, informing him that Kobe was in the hospital. During the call, a nurse delivered the devastating news, saying, “He’s gone.”
“All of a sudden, you realize how a kid that wasn’t there two years ago has become a major part of your life,” Ngannou reflected. “Then you realize that all the things that you were worrying about didn’t mean s–t at all.”
Ngannou also shared the profound impact of returning to his apartment filled with his son’s belongings after Kobe’s death. “You get back in the apartment and see all his toys, the stuff that he was playing with, the things that you took from him the other day and put here, it’s right there,” he said. “But he’s not there anymore. He will never be there anymore.”
This tragic experience has deeply affected Ngannou, who conveyed the immense void left by his son’s passing. His candid discussion serves as a poignant reminder of the fragility of life and the profound love and loss experienced by those left behind.
