Francis Ngannou has released a heartbreaking social media post amid reports his 18-month-old son has died.
Cameroonian outlet 237online.com initially reported the passing of the UFC star's infant son on Monday afternoon - a claim that was then corroborated by several publications.
The former UFC champion-turned boxer then confirmed the tragic news with a pair of heartbreaking social media posts.
Writing on X, Ngannou said: "What's the purpose of life if what we're fighting tooth and nail to get away from is what finally hit us the hardest!?
"Why is life so unfair and merciless? Why does life always take what we don't have? I'm f***ing tired."
Ngannou then said: "Too soon to leave but yet he's gone. My little boy, my mate, my partner Kobe was full of life and joy. Now he's laying without life. I shouted his name over and over but he's not responding.
"I was my best self next to him and now I have no clue who I am. Life is so unfair to hit us where it hurts the most.
"How do you deal with such a thing? How can you live with it? Please help me if you have an idea because I really don't know what to do and how to deal with this."
Conor McGregor was among the first to send their well-wishes to the Cameroonian.
The Irishman replied to Ngannou's post: "I am so sorry to hear of your loss Francis, my prayers are with you and your family at this time."
Ngannou grew up in the Cameroonian village of Batie and was raised by a single mother in relative poverty. As a child he walked six miles to school every day and by the age of 10 he was digging sand mines.
When he reached adulthood, Ngannou made the journey from Cameroon to the north of the continent, through Nigeria, Niger and Algeria before reaching Morocco.
The 37-year-old then went on to settle in Paris, where he met trainer Fernand Lopez, who convinced him to pick up MMA instead of boxing.
Upon winning five of his first six mixed martial arts bouts, Ngannou penned his first contract with the UFC and went to make waves in the promotion.
He claimed six successive wins to earn a heavyweight title shot against Stipe Miocic, only to suffer a blowout loss in 2018.
Nevertheless, Ngannou would ultimately go on to become a superstar in the sport, winning 17 of his 20 fights to become UFC heavyweight champion in 2021.
A year later however, he quit the promotion and signed with the Professional Fighter's League, before dipping his toes into the boxing world.
Ngannou has fought both Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua, suffering a narrow defeat to former, before losing heavily to the latter.
Topics: UFC, Boxing, Francis Ngannou
Chris Byfield