MMA fighter and boxer Francis Ngannou says his 15-month-old son Kobe has died

Francis Ngannou, the MMA fighter and boxer, announced on Monday that his 15-month-old son Kobe has passed away.

"Too soon to leave but yet he’s gone," Ngannou shared on Instagram. "My little boy, my mate, my partner Kobe was full of life and joy. Now, he’s laying without life. I shouted his name over and over but he’s not responding."

Ngannou did not reveal the cause of his son's death.

"I was my best self next to him and now I have no clue of who I am," Ngannou continued in his Instagram post. "Life is so unfair to hit us where it hurts the most.

Ngannou confirmed the news in a heartbreaking post on his Instagram account on Monday

"How do you deal with such a thing? How can you live with it? Please help me if you have an idea because I really don’t know what to do and how to deal with this."

In another post on X, previously known as Twitter, Ngannou expressed, "What’s the purpose of life if what we’re fighting tooth and nail to get away from is what finally hit us the hardest!?

"Why is life so unfair and merciless? Why does life always take what we don’t have? I’m f*cking tired."

Ngannou received condolences from fellow fighters, including former UFC champion Conor McGregor.

“I am so sorry to hear of your loss Francis, my prayers are with you and your family at this time,” McGregor wrote on X.

Ngannou remains extremely close to his roots and regularly returns to Batie, where he grew up

Ngannou’s manager, Marquel Martin, also expressed his sorrow for the fighter.

“I’m so sorry that you and your family are going through this,” Martin wrote on Instagram.

“I don’t have the words to even begin to tell you how bad I feel for you. Im trying to write this without breaking down again. We’ve had our ups and downs as brothers, but NOTHING comes before our families and the love that we have for them.”

Ngannou’s trainer Eric Nicksick offered support as well.

The former UFC champion is also extremely close to his mother (pictured with her in May 2021)

“You’ve been our rock, our guiding light through thick and thin. Now, as you face this unimaginable loss, please know that we’re here for you, ready to be your support just as you’ve always been for us,” Nicksick wrote on Instagram.

“Lean on us, cry with us, and let us share the burden of your grief. Together, we’ll navigate this dark time, and together, we’ll find a way to honor and remember your precious Kobe. You’re not alone in this, and you never will be.”

Ngannou, a former UFC heavyweight champion, had transitioned to boxing recently, with mixed results in his professional matches against Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua.

Ngannou was then knocked out in the second round when he took on Anthony Joshua in March