Tragic news has surfaced out of Cameroon involving former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou.
According to multiple reports from local Cameroonian outlets, Ngannou was allegedly involved in a fatal motorcycle accident over Easter weekend in Yaoundé. The incident reportedly occurred in the Omnisports district, where Ngannou’s motorcycle collided with a 17-year-old girl, later identified as Ntsama Brigitte Manuella.
Details around the accident are still emerging, but reports suggest Manuella sustained severe injuries to her arm and leg. Ngannou is said to have acted quickly, rushing her to the General Hospital of Yaoundé himself. Despite efforts to save her, including emergency surgery, she tragically passed away.
Ngannou, 38, is said to be devastated by the incident. He reportedly covered her medical expenses and has yet to make any public statement, while local authorities have launched an investigation. As of now, neither Ngannou nor his team have responded to international media inquiries, and he has reportedly been unreachable since the news broke.
Nicknamed “The Predator,” Ngannou has long been a national hero in Cameroon, not only for his achievements inside the cage but for his charitable efforts outside of it. The tragic nature of this incident has left many stunned, and the full story is still developing.
Ngannou’s last appearance in combat sports came during the PFL’s “Battle of the Giants” event in October, where he claimed a dominant first-round TKO win over Renan Ferreira to capture the Super Heavyweight title. Before that, he made headlines with a gutsy pro boxing debut against Tyson Fury in October 2023, where he pushed the undefeated champion to a razor-close split decision. His second boxing outing, however, ended in a brutal knockout loss to Anthony Joshua in March 2024.
