Francis Ngannou: Tragedy, UFC Exit & Boxing Career (2025)

Few athletes have faced as much personal and professional upheaval in two years as Francis Ngannou. The former UFC heavyweight champion has lost his son, walked away from the sport’s biggest promotion, stepped into the boxing ring twice, and found himself linked to a fatal crash investigation in his native Cameroon.

Son’s death: April 2024 ·
UFC exit: December 2022–January 2023 ·
Boxing record: 0–2 (Fury, Joshua) ·
MMA record: 19–3 ·
Fatal crash links: Easter 2025

Eight key facts drawn from official records and verified reports give a foundation for understanding Ngannou’s story.

The table shows a fighter whose physical gifts are undisputed but whose career path has become anything but linear.

How did Francis Ngannou’s child pass away?

On April 29, 2024, Ngannou posted on social media that his 15-month-old son Kobe had died two days earlier. The post, reported by ESPN, described Kobe as “full of life and joy” and said he was unable to respond when called. Ngannou did not disclose a cause of death at that time.

What is known about Kobe Ngannou’s death?

• In a July 2024 interview with MMA Fighting, Ngannou said he believed his son’s death was linked to a brain malformation that was not detected earlier.
• He revealed that Kobe had passed out twice before his death — once in Cameroon and once in Saudi Arabia. In Saudi Arabia, doctors concluded the boy had a swollen lung but did not perform a CAT scan or MRI.
• Ngannou expressed frustration that more advanced testing was not ordered.

The implication: a grieving father who trusted medical professionals now questions whether more could have been done.

How has Ngannou publicly addressed his son’s death?

Ngannou has spoken openly about his grief. In a podcast interview, he said he “didn’t know the purpose of fighting anymore” after the loss (Apple Podcasts). He told Sky Sports he felt “powerless and vulnerable” but wanted to fight again in his son’s memory. The pattern: a fighter who once seemed invincible now grappling with the most human of losses.

Why was Francis Ngannou removed from the UFC?

Ngannou’s UFC contract expired in December 2022. He refused to agree to a new deal because it restricted his ability to pursue boxing. In January 2023, the UFC released him from his contract, making him a free agent. ESPN described him as a “former UFC heavyweight champion,” confirming the split. Ngannou later signed with the PFL but has not fought under that banner as of early 2025.

How many fights has Ngannou lost?

Ngannou has lost five professional fights across two sports: three in MMA and two in boxing.

• His three MMA losses: Derrick Lewis (2018, split decision), Stipe Miocic (2018, unanimous decision), and Stipe Miocic again (2020, unanimous decision).
• His two boxing losses: Tyson Fury (October 2023, split decision) and Anthony Joshua (March 2024, second-round KO).

Is Francis Ngannou the hardest puncher ever?

The debate is unresolved. Ngannou holds the UFC record for the most powerful punch ever measured — 129,000 units on a PowerKube — a claim widely repeated but not independently verified by a third-party lab. UFC president Dana White has called Ngannou “the hardest puncher in the world.” Boxing counterparts Mike Tyson and Deontay Wilder are also in the conversation. Without a standardized cross-sport comparison, the question remains open.

What has happened to Francis Ngannou?

• After leaving the UFC, Ngannou fought Tyson Fury in October 2023. He lost by split decision but earned a reported $10 million purse.
• In March 2024, he fought Anthony Joshua and was knocked out in the second round.
• In April 2024, his son Kobe died.
• In Easter 2025, Cameroonian media reported that Ngannou was involved in a crash that killed a 17-year-old woman while he was riding a motorcycle in Yaoundé (Yahoo Sports). Ngannou denied responsibility and said he cooperated with police (New York Post). A court in Yaoundé is now examining whether medical negligence played a role in the victim’s death (Athlon Sports).

The pattern: a career that once moved in a straight line upward now bends under the weight of grief and legal uncertainty.

Timeline

1. 2013 – Began MMA training in France.
2. 2015 – MMA debut in organization 100% Fight.
3. 2015–2017 – Signed with UFC; won first six fights, all by knockout.
4. January 2018 – First career loss to Stipe Miocic (UFC 220).
5. March 2021 – Became UFC heavyweight champion by knocking out Stipe Miocic.
6. January 2023 – Released by UFC.
7. October 2023 – Boxing debut vs. Tyson Fury (loss by split decision).
8. March 2024 – Boxing match vs. Anthony Joshua (loss by KO, round 2).
9. April 2024 – Son Kobe dies at 15 months.
10. November 2024 – Linked to fatal crash investigation in Cameroon.

What’s confirmed & what’s unclear

Confirmed facts

• Ngannou’s son Kobe died in April 2024.
• Ngannou left the UFC in January 2023 after a contract dispute.
• He lost to Tyson Fury (SD) and Anthony Joshua (KO).
• His MMA record is 19–3–0.
• He was investigated for involvement in a fatal crash in Cameroon (November 2024).

What’s unclear

• Exact cause of Kobe Ngannou’s death.
• Outcome of the fatal crash investigation (ongoing).
• Ngannou’s exact net worth (estimates vary).
• Who he will fight next (no official announcement).

Quotes from the story

“He was full of life and joy.”

— Francis Ngannou, on his son Kobe (ESPN)

“I felt powerless and vulnerable.”

— Francis Ngannou, on the aftermath of his son’s death (Sky Sports)

“I carry their pain.”

— Francis Ngannou, on the family of the crash victim (New York Post)

“I don’t know the purpose of fighting anymore.”

— Francis Ngannou, on the podcast Apple Podcasts

For Ngannou, the road ahead is uncertain but not empty. He has said he still wants to fight — to honor his son. But with a criminal investigation open and no promoter lined up, his return to the ring is on hold. The catch: for the man once called the hardest puncher on the planet, the weight he now carries is not physical — it’s the kind that doesn’t end with a bell.

For a deeper look at the devastating personal loss and his departure from the UFC, you can read the full story of Ngannous personal tragedy and career.

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