Francis Ngannou has shared his feelings about the death of his son, Kobe, in a recent interview with Daniel Cormier. Kobe passed away at 15 months old in April 2024 due to a brain malformation that doctors missed during examinations in Cameroon and Saudi Arabia. Ngannou described the suddenness of the loss, recounting how Kobe fainted twice before his passing.
Francis Ngannou Discusses Son’s Loss Ahead of Netflix Return
Speaking with Daniel Cormier on YouTube before his return to MMA, Ngannou revealed the depth of his grief. “You worry, I don’t have control of anybody around me, can be anybody tomorrow. You get traumatized by that,” he told Cormier. He explained that the experience fundamentally altered his outlook on life, revealing emotions he believed he had lost and highlighting his own sensitivity.
Despite the immense pain, Ngannou continued his fighting career. In October 2024, he secured the PFL heavyweight title with a knockout victory over Renan Ferreira, dedicating the win to Kobe. This marked his first fight since his son’s death, a loss that came after earlier medical oversights regarding the brain issue.
During his conversation with Cormier, Ngannou also reflected on his challenging past. He recalled his childhood in Cameroon, working in sand mines from the age of nine and experiencing family instability. His journey to France from Africa at 26 was arduous, taking 14 months and involving a dangerous truck ride through the desert. His initial path to combat sports was through boxing, with coaches eventually guiding him toward MMA.
Ngannou is now set to face Philipe Lins in a five-round heavyweight bout. This fight will serve as the co-main event on May 16, 2026, at the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles, and will be streamed live globally on Netflix. This event marks Netflix’s first foray into broadcasting MMA, with a main event featuring Ronda Rousey against Gina Carano, promoted by Jake Paul’s Most Valuable Promotions.
Philipe Lins, a 40-year-old Brazilian, enters the fight with an 18-5 record, including nine knockouts. He previously won the 2018 PFL heavyweight tournament and has competed in the UFC and Bellator. Ngannou’s record stands at 18-3 with 13 knockouts. His last MMA victory occurred in 2024.
Early in his UFC career, Ngannou faced tough losses against Stipe Miocic and Derrick Lewis. However, he demonstrated resilience, bouncing back with impressive knockout wins against Alistair Overeem and Curtis Blaydes. He departed the UFC as champion in 2023 to join the PFL and has since also competed in boxing matches against Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua.
The upcoming Netflix event is generating significant buzz with the return of legendary fighters Rousey and Carano. Ngannou is currently preparing for his fight against Lins while still processing his grief. He expressed to Cormier that the trauma is ongoing and has made life feel unpredictable. Spectators are keenly awaiting his performance this weekend.