Francis Ngannou issues statement after woman he hit on motorcycle dies

Francis Ngannou issued a statement Friday regarding the motorcycle accident he was involved in that resulted in the death of a woman.

News reports circulated earlier this week saying that Ngannou was in Cameroon riding a motorcycle and had hit a woman who was returning home from an outing with friends. The woman was taken to a hospital in Yaoundé, which is the capital of Cameroon. She reportedly underwent emergency surgery for injuries to her leg and arm, but ended up dying.

Ngannou was said to have transported the woman to the hospital and paid for her medical expenses. He expressed in his statement the grief he had over the matter.

“From the very beginning, I have been by the family’s side, offering support, comfort, and deepest condolences during this time,” Ngannou said in a statement on the matter. “I’ve met with them privately to share in their grief, and I will continue to stand with them every step of the way.”

“I carry their pain with me, and my unwavering thoughts and support remain with them as they face this heartbreaking loss.”

The 38-year-old Ngannou is a famous MMA heavyweight fighter. He was the UFC heavyweight champion from 2015-2022, and he currently competes in the heavyweight division for the Professional Fighters League. He is 18-3 in his professional MMA career.

This is the second tragedy Ngannou has been a part of recently. In April 2024, Ngannou announced that his 15-month-old son had died.