Dana White Rages Over Francis Ngannou's Departure: 'Total Bulls***'

UFC CEO Dana White was not amused when he was asked about Francis Ngannou's exit from the promotion last winter.

Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images / Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images

UFC CEO Dana White is a man of many opinions. He always finds a way to speak his mind, whether it be grudges, plans not coming to fruition, or disappointment.

Tuesday night was no different, especially when it came to him having to chronicle why his former heavyweight champion, Francis Ngannou, did not remain part of the promotion.

Long-time combat sports writer Kevin Iole asked White about his plans to enter boxing as a promoter along with his MMA and 'Power Slap' ventures. Although White said the timing to join the sport is deemed correct in his mind, he was quick to respond to those who believe the reported payouts for Ngannou's fights against Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury, both of which took place within the last year.

"That's not necessarily true," White told Iole in an interview posted Tuesday. "That's the bulls*** publicly that people believe. But that's not the truth. Total bulls***. Total bulls***. That's that whole myth [about combat sports pay] that makes everybody go, 'Oh, f***, go to boxing and all this f****** bulls***. [The] boxing [model] don't work, Kevin. Boxing doesn't work."

White expanded upon his answer further when Iole pushed back to clarify why the boxing pay structure isn't sustainable.

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"You need a Saudi f********* trillionaire to make f***** fights," White said, referencing His Excellency, Turki Al-Sheikh. "And even Saudi trillionaires get tired of the f***** bull****."

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Dana White Stands Firm On UFC's Effort To Keep Francis Ngannou

White was asked to follow up on his comments about Ngannou, calling out the MMA media for not knowing key information only he and those inside the company knew about Ngannou's contract holdout.

Dana White says Francis Ngannou was offered more to stay in the UFC and fight Jon Jones than he was to leave and go boxing:

“I know the real numbers.”#UFC #MMA pic.twitter.com/ZSi7KsUTey

— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) October 2, 2024

"Cause why, what's [the point]?" White said. "What's the difference? Because I know all of the s*** you [media] people don't know. And I don't care what everybody says. It doesn't matter to me. And that's a fact. He was offered more money [to stay with the UFC] because I know the real numbers. I know the real numbers. And let me tell you what, I don't want to call him [Hunter Campbell] out, but let me tell you what, he would have done anything to make that f******* fight [between Jon Jones and Ngannou]. And he tried to."

In May last year, Ngannou signed a lucrative deal with the PFL four months after his UFC exit. After two-plus years away from MMA, he will finally return on Oct. 19, headlining against Renan Ferreira in Saudi Arabia for the PFL Super Fight Championship.

Meanwhile, the UFC heavyweight division moved on, as did finding a new champion. November 16 will see former light heavyweight champion Jon Jones finally defend his heavyweight title against ex-champion, Stipe Miocic, at UFC 309.

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