Dana White practically reduce Francis Ngannou from the UFC years earlier than he left of his personal volition.
Earlier this month, Ngannou made his long-awaited return to MMA, knocking out Renan Ferreira within the first spherical of their heavyweight matchup at PFL: Battle of the Giants. The battle was Ngannou’s first since leaving the UFC as heavyweight champion in 2023 and re-ignited a simmering feud between the 38-year-old fighter and his former boss.
The premise of the dispute between White and Ngannou is a part of the rationale why “The Predator” selected to not re-sign with the UFC based mostly on the phrases that had been supplied. Throughout a Energy Slap press convention on Thursday, White doubled down on his declaration that Ngannou might have made more cash staying within the UFC, however this time added a brand new wrinkle: He truly needed to chop Ngannou from the promotion in 2018.
“Francis is all in regards to the cash,” White stated. “Francis left as a result of he knew that if he fought Jon Jones and didn’t win, it could damage his possibilities of making the cash that he needed to make. However realistically, his deal was greater right here. His deal was greater right here if he stayed within the UFC. … They’ll deny all of it they need, why the f*ck would I lie? Why do I care? It doesn’t matter to me in some way.
“I used to be going to chop Francis when he misplaced two in a row. I used to be going to chop him. Any person round right here begged me to not do it. So it wouldn’t have mattered to me, in some way. There’s a a lot deeper story to this entire factor and he would have made more cash if he stayed within the UFC.”
Ngannou dropped back-to-back fights in 2018, falling to Stipe Miocic for the heavyweight title of their first encounter after which dropping a call to Derrick Lewis six months later in a battle extensively thought-about to be one of many worst in trendy UFC historical past.
In fact after these losses, Ngannou went on his present run, stringing collectively 4 first-round knockouts to earn a second crack at Miocic. He received the rematch through second-round knockout to say the UFC heavyweight title.
Ngannou then defended his title towards Ciryl Gane and whereas many followers hoped he would return to the promotion for a showdown towards Jon Jones, he opted to signal with the PFL in free company.
For White, that was the tip of his give attention to Ngannou.
“He didn’t wish to battle Jon Jones, that’s a reality, and we’re transferring on,” White stated. “Clearly, everyone loves Tom Aspinall and needs to see Jones and Aspinall, or Stipe and Aspinall. I really feel like when Stipe and Jon had been younger — Jon was 23, youngest champion in UFC historical past — anyone gave him a possibility. I feel that Stipe and Jon, whoever wins ought to give Aspinall the identical alternative they’d.”
Jones and Miocic are set to battle for the heavyweight title in the primary occasion of UFC 309 subsequent month. With interim heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall ready for his shot on the undisputed title, the bout has confronted criticism, significantly with each Miocic and Jones doubtlessly teasing retirement afterward.
However for White, he believes that’s simply posturing and followers will finally get the battle they need for Aspinall.
“I feel each Jon and Stipe will say they’re going to retire as a result of they’re going to start out negotiating,” White stated. “And what the negotiation is, we are going to get the deal executed.”
UFC 309 takes place on Nov. 16 at Madison Sq. Backyard in New York Metropolis.
