Francis Ngannou reveals heartbreaking tribute to late 15-month-old son five months after tragic death

Francis Ngannou has honored the memory of his 15-month-old son Kobe with a heartbreaking tribute, five months after his tragic death.

The MMA icon, who previously reigned as UFC heavyweight champion, announced the devastating news of Kobe’s passing just weeks after his boxing defeat to Anthony Joshua in April.

And as he prepares to return to his natural discipline in the Professional Fighters League this weekend, Ngannou unveiled a tattoo tribute to his late son.

His left bicep featured a tattoo with Kobe’s name and a dove as he weighed in during his fight against Renan Ferreira in Saudi Arabia, ensuring his memory lived on forever.

Ngannou released a heartbreaking statement in April confirming Kobe’s death, admitting he didn’t know how to cope with the loss of his young child.

“Too early to leave, but he’s gone anyway,” he wrote. “My little boy, my buddy, my partner Kobe was full of life and joy. Now he lies lifeless. I screamed his name over and over again, but he doesn’t respond.

‘I was my best self next to him and now I have no idea who I am. Life is so unfair to hit us where it hurts the most.

‘How do you deal with something like that? How can you live with it? Please help me if you have any ideas because I really don’t know what to do and how to deal with this.’

Weeks before Kobe’s death, Ngannou was brutally knocked out in Saudi Arabia by former world heavyweight boxing champion Joshua.

But after transitioning to the sweet science of fights against both AJ and Tyson Fury – whom he dropped to the canvas before losing a highly controversial points decision – the ex-UFC king returns to MMA on Saturday night.

He will battle Ferreira in Saudi Arabia this weekend to start a new chapter in his martial arts career, despite playing out of retirement following the tragic death of his son.

The ex-UFC heavyweight king announced the devastating news of Kobe’s death in April

He will return to MMA on Saturday in a PFL fight against Renan Ferreira in Saudi Arabia

Ngannou admitted that he considered retiring after his son’s death

“I wondered if I should continue or if I should just retire, but I didn’t want my son to be the reason for me to do that, so I decided I would keep fighting for him,” said Ngannou at a press conference before the fight in August.

‘It has become a new goal for me. My son was 15 months old, but he was very active and I had many future plans for him, but life decided otherwise.

‘I decided to make something positive of his fifteen months of life; to keep going instead of giving up. It’s the best way to honor him.”