Former UFC heavyweight champion, Ngannou mourns Brigitte Tsama

Former UFC heavyweight champion, Ngannou 

Francis has broken his silence and spoken out for the first time about the circumstances of the tragedy that cost the life of 17-year-old Brigitte Ntsama Manuella earlier this year.

The Cameroonian giant recalled that the tragic accident disrupted his life in April 2025 in Yaoundé, while riding his motorcycle, the former UFC heavyweight champion was reported to have collided with Brigitte Ntsama who was crossing the street. 

Brigitte Ntsama was taken to hospital with a broken tibia, but died during surgery. In an interview with the Ariel Helwani Show, broadcast on YouTube, this week, Francis Ngannou sheds some light on the exact circumstances: "I was on my way to my mother's house when I saw the young girl crossing the street.”

“I thought I could overtake her, but she froze and I bumped into her.” I took matters into his own hands. I carried her, put her in a taxi, and followed her to the hospital”,

“She was conscious, which reassured me. I waited two hours before leaving, convinced that everything would be fine." Two days later, the news broke: Brigitte had never woken up after her operation. “It was incomprehensible. I wondered how this could have happened,” says Francis Ngannou. 

Already devastated by the loss of his 15-month-old son Kobe, he says he has been living with sleepless nights and a sense of guilt ever since, “I constantly think about what I could have done.” Francis Ngannou added. Despite everything, he maintains a peaceful relationship with Brigitte's family. 

They acknowledge that he has taken responsibility by covering medical expenses and being there for them. "They saw how hard I fought for their daughter," he emphasised

BY SIMON KALLA with additional report

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