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Francis Ngannou recalls last meeting with son Kobe before his tragic demise, details how NBA icon Kobe Bryant inspired boy's name

Francis Ngannou recently reflected on the poignant memory of his final meeting with his 15-month-old son Kobe before the child's untimely death. The combat sports star publicly mourned the heartbreaking loss of his son this past April.

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In a recent appearance on the Joe Rogan Experience (JRE) MMA show, Ngannou delved into various subjects, including the difficult moments leading up to his son's passing. The former UFC heavyweight champion disclosed that his son had been suffering from mild brain inflammation and a swollen lung.

During the conversation, Ngannou reminisced about his final moments with Kobe, sharing that the last time they were together was just before he left Cameroon for a fight. He recalled how his son didn't want him to go:

"The last time I saw him was me leaving Cameroon, going to the elevator, and he was with my little brother, and he didn’t want me to go because he became my buddy so much that even when I’m around, he doesn’t want me to leave him alone… Then you start thinking about all those little things that you guys have, just you and him; then it’s over. The day that I was leaving, he was crying, like he wanted to come with me."

The 37-year-old Cameroonian further revealed that he named his son after NBA legend Kobe Bryant. Ngannou recounted meeting 'The Black Mamba' in October 2017 during the UFC's announcement of its partnership with Body Armor:

"I named him after Kobe Bryant because I had a great memory of Kobe Bryant... When he died, I was in LA when I heard about the news, and it hit me really bad, and I decided that I'm going to make Kobe and have a Kobe."

Check out Francis Ngannou's comments below:


Francis Ngannou finds peace in belief of reuniting with his son after death

During the same interview, Francis Ngannou revealed to Joe Rogan how he has been managing the intense pain of losing his child.

Ngannou acknowledged that, although he usually has a passion for life, the grief has been overwhelming. However, he shared that he finds comfort in the belief that he will be reunited with his son one day:

"I always love life and know that I have everything... but at least for once I'm like, 'At least whenever I die I can go and see my kid'. I'm not afraid of it. I still want to live, but at least whenever you get to that point, to think like that, some way you're looking forward for whenever that happens."

Check out Francis Ngannou's comments below:

Check out the full episode below:

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