Yaoundé High Court Discloses ‘Serious Error’ in Francis Ngannou Motorcycle Crash Involvement in Cameroon

New details come to light on fatal motorcycle crash in Cameroon involving ex-UFC heavyweight and current PFL fighter Francis Ngannou.

Yaoundé High Court Discloses ‘Serious Error’ in Francis Ngannou Motorcycle Crash Involvement in Cameroon

New details emerge about motorcycle mishap involving former UFC star Francis Ngannou (Source: X)

Ex-UFC heavyweight and PFL’s current biggest star, Francis Ngannou, was recently part of a motorcycle mishap. The accident left a native Cameroonian woman dead in the process. While the tragic incident occurred over the Easter (April 20) weekend, reports from Cameroonian news outlets were not published until Monday.

Le Bled Parle was the first to report the news, citing sources. The young woman was allegedly hit with Francis Ngannou’s motorcycle while she was walking in Yaoundé, Cameroon. The General Hospital of Yaoundé staff took her there, and the staff performed emergency surgery on her before she passed. Now, there is a new tidbit about her tragic passing, per an official press statement.

A serious medical error was made while taking care of Ms Tsama Manuella in hospital, including an overdose of anesthesia, which directly contributed to her death…We ask that all light be shed on the responsibility of the hospital establishment and the nursing staff.

Per Le Bled Parle’s report, Ngannou attended to her promptly following the incident and expeditiously took her to the hospital. The former UFC fighter reportedly covered all expenses even. While Cameroonian authorities were looking more deeply into the matter, these new details could shape the mold into a whole different thing.

Further details might divulge the line between the French-Cameroonian’s timely intervention and clinical error by the operating/working staff. However, no details are confirmed as stout and rock-solid as of yet. Ngannou, 38, later made a reactionary statement to TMZ Sports about it all:

From the very beginning, I have been by the family’s side, offering support, comfort, and deepest condolences during this time, …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.

PFL’s hottest free agency star and one-time super fight HW champ himself is reeling fresh from death and tragedy. Ngannou recently had to get over the loss of his 15-month-old son, Kobe; he even dedicated his PFL debut win to it. Hence, the African fighter had given a heartfelt tinge of response to it all. Where the matter goes from here is anybody’s guess.

What’s next for Francis Ngannou?

Ngannou has gained renown for his tenure in the UFC, wherein he contended from 2015 to 2022. During that time, he won and defended the UFC heavyweight title one time. His bouts came against industry big names such as Stipe Miocic, Cain Velasquez, Junior dos Santos, and Alistair Overeem to secure his title reign.

After PFL Africa in Q2, Francis Ngannou to return soon
After PFL Africa in Q2, Francis Ngannou to return soon (Source: X)

After a highly publicized rift with UFC in 2022, Francis Ngannou opted for free agency and later joined up with PFL in 2023. In the go-between, ‘Predator’ made his boxing debut as the Riyadh Season opener, against then-lineal WBC HW Tyson Fury.

Ngannou even got praise for giving the champ a run for his money. He then had a run up against WBA (Super), IBF, WBO, and IBO fame boxer Anthony Joshua and lost. While tragedy struck him during that frame, he returned to beat Renan Ferreira at the PFL ‘Battle of the Giants’ pay-per-view.

Many publications considered his triumphant PFL debut worthy of ‘MMA Comeback Fighter of the Year 2024’ honors. Alongside that, what adds to his gravitas in the PFL is that he will be heading PFL Africa, in adjunct to PFL MENA/Europe ventures.

The PFL Africa, under the leadership of Global Athlete Advisory Board chairman Francis Ngannou, will officially kick off on July 26th at the GrandWest Arena in Cape Town. Despite the dead-in-water brand, ex-Bellator champion Johnny Eblen will headline the affair, defending against Costello van Steenis. In the co-headliner, WMMA flyweight starlet Brit Dakota Ditcheva defends against Hawaii’s Sumiko Inaba.

As for Ngannou himself, he has two contractual fights left before possibly opting for free agency again. The Predator will need to defend his heavyweight Super Fight inaugural strap within the bracket and has plans to return to boxing later.

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