MMA champ Jahreau Shepherd was 30-year-old stabbed to death at his birthday party in Kennington on Saturday night

A mixed martial arts fighter has been stabbed to death at his 30th birthday party in front of his family.

Welterweight champion Jahreau Shepherd, nicknamed The Nightmare, was knifed on the Black Prince Estate, Kennington, just after 10pm on Saturday.

Officers and paramedics tried to stop him losing blood but he was pronounced dead at the scene.

Mr Shepherd was hosting a barbecue on the lawn of the estate with his family when he was attacked.

Mr Shepherd had a 6-2 win record in professional Mixed Martial Arts, five by knockout. The fighter, who was previously on Cage Warriors’ books, also competed in Bellator, UCMMA and Fusion FC.

He overcome the challenge of Quinten de Vreught by unanimous decision in February at Contenders 29 to clinch the welterweight championship.

Jeremy Petley, MMA coach at the London Fight Factory in Hoxton, where Mr Shepherd trained, said: “Jay was a great friend, fighter, training partner, coach and team member, and his sense of humour, positive presence and wonderfully loud laugh will be very much missed.”

Shepherd’s promoters, Contenders, said in a statement: “Everyone at Contenders is absolutely devastated to hear of Jahreau Shepherd‘s death.

“Jay, our welterweight champion, was hugely talented and great fun to be around, a big personality with a huge smile and infectious laugh.

“Inside the cage, he was destined for the top – a champion in three different organisations with heavy hands and a warrior heart.

“Our thoughts are with all his family and friends at this terrible time. Rest in peace, champ.”

Mr Shepherd’s cousin Tanisha Shepherd, 27, told the Standard: “Jahreau’s mother is not in a good place at the moment, she is devastated.

“Jahreau was so looking forward to the gym opening again after the lockdown and was lining up a fight.

“He had everything to live for. He helped keep the young people on the straight and narrow and was a role model.”

Scotland Yard have launched a murder investigation and said a post-mortem will be held in due course.

A 26-year-old man also presented himself at hospital suffering stab injuries believed to have been sustained at the party. He is expected to recover. There have been no arrests.

Detective Chief Inspector Dave Whellams, from the Met’s Specialist Crime, said: “A man has lost his life and a family has been left suffering unimaginable grief because of the callous use of a knife to inflict fatal injuries.

“I will do all I can to get justice for this family, and, along with colleagues from my homicide teams, I will use every available tactic to find whoever is responsible for this terrible attack.”