Ali Akbar Rosady
UFC President Dana White has publicly elaborated on his long-strained relationship with former heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou, alleging two separate instances of physical confrontation with himself and a top UFC official. Speaking on the Flagrant podcast, White painted a stark picture of Ngannou, branding him a "bad guy" and detailing what he described as a pattern of entitled and aggressive behavior that predates Ngannou’s departure from the organization in 2023.
White recounted an incident that he claims occurred at the UFC offices following one of Ngannou’s victories. According to White, Ngannou, who was reportedly utilizing the complimentary facilities at the UFC Performance Institute (PI) extensively, confronted him over the non-receipt of a $50,000 post-fight bonus. The UFC PI, a state-of-the-art training and recovery facility in Las Vegas, offers athletes free access to its comprehensive resources, including specialized nutrition programs, sports science support, and medical services, a benefit White stated Ngannou was "f*cking living there" to leverage.
"He was pissed off he didn’t get a $50,000 in his last fight, that he didn’t get the bonus of the night," White explained on the podcast. "I said Francis you didn’t get it for this, that [reason] and he’s in my office and he’s arguing with me." White continued, describing how the conversation escalated. "The conversation’s over, and I’m starting to leave, and he grabs me by my shirt and pushes me back in my office and I said ‘dude, get your fcking hands off me.’ I could see in this guy’s face and in his eyes and the way he’s acting who this guy really fcking is."
This alleged incident, which White did not specify a precise date for but linked to a bonus dispute, forms a central part of his characterization of Ngannou. UFC post-fight bonuses, typically awarded for "Fight of the Night" or "Performance of the Night," are discretionary and are a significant financial incentive for fighters. Ngannou, known for his devastating knockout power, had accumulated numerous such bonuses during his tenure, earning "Performance of the Night" awards for four of his finishes, including his stoppages of Alistair Overeem and Jairzinho Rozenstruik.
Related News :
- CFP Committee’s Initial Rankings Spark Heated Playoff Debate and Bubble Scrutiny
- Paramount+ Poised for 2026 Price Increase Following Landmark UFC Broadcast Rights Acquisition
- Bonfim Delivers Stunning Knee Knockout, Calls Out Covington After Dominating UFC Vegas 111 Main Event
- UFC Confronts Integrity Crisis as Isaac Dulgarian Loss Sparks Fight-Fixing Investigation
- UFC 321: High Stakes and Future Champions Converge in Abu Dhabi’s Octagon.
Furthermore, White alleged a similar physical encounter involving UFC Chief Business Officer Hunter Campbell. Campbell, who plays a critical role in UFC matchmaking, fighter contract negotiations, and overall business strategy, was reportedly engaged in a discussion with Ngannou, potentially concerning the same bonus dispute. "My guy Hunter [Campbell], they were talking about something, it might have even been that same thing [about the bonus]," White stated. "And when Hunter started to walk away, Francis grabbed him by the fcking back of his collar and fcking pulled him back and said ‘we’re not done talking yet.’ This guy’s not a good f*cking guy. He’s a bad guy."
These claims from White offer a rare glimpse into the often-tense dynamics behind the scenes of professional combat sports, particularly concerning financial disputes and athlete-promoter relationships. Ngannou has not yet publicly addressed these specific allegations of physical altercations.
White’s concerns about Ngannou’s character, he claimed, trace back to the Cameroonian fighter’s early ascent to stardom, even before his first shot at the UFC heavyweight title. Ngannou’s initial rise in the UFC was meteoric, marked by a six-fight winning streak, all by stoppage, including a brutal first-round knockout of veteran Alistair Overeem at UFC 218 in December 2017. This dominant run, which showcased his unprecedented power, earned him a title fight against then-champion Stipe Miocic at UFC 220 in January 2018. Miocic, an accomplished heavyweight and former two-time champion with a professional MMA record of 17 wins and 2 losses, was defending his title for the third time, a UFC heavyweight record. Ngannou, with an impressive 11-1 record, was widely touted as the next dominant force in the division.
White recounted a peculiar demand made by Ngannou prior to the Miocic fight in Boston. "So he’s going in to fight Stipe Miocic in Boston, and he knows he’s going to fcking kill Stipe," White said, detailing Ngannou’s perceived overconfidence. "So after the press conference, we’re walking down this hallway and he comes over to me and he grabs me and he says ‘let me tell you what’s going to happen’ — his English is fcking great, no language barrier whatsoever — ‘when this fight’s over, you’re going to book me a private plane to Paris.’ I laughed and said ‘oh yeah.’ He said ‘I’m not joking, you’re going to book me a private plane to Paris.’ I said OK."
The fight, however, did not go as Ngannou or many pundits predicted. Miocic delivered a masterful performance, neutralizing Ngannou’s formidable power and controlling him on the ground for much of the five rounds, ultimately winning a dominant unanimous decision (50-44, 50-44, 50-44). This marked Ngannou’s first loss in the UFC and a significant setback for his championship aspirations. White reflected on the outcome and his reaction to Ngannou’s earlier demand: "We go our own ways. Stipe Miocic beats the fcking shit out of him. Beats the shit out of him. That ended that whole conversation. I should have fcking cut him that day."
Despite White’s strong feelings, Ngannou remained with the UFC. Following his comprehensive loss to Miocic, Ngannou endured another defeat to Derrick Lewis at UFC 226 in July 2018 in a widely criticized bout that saw minimal action, bringing his record to 11-3. However, he subsequently embarked on another impressive four-fight knockout streak, dispatching Curtis Blaydes, Cain Velasquez, Junior dos Santos, and Jairzinho Rozenstruik, all in the first round and within a combined total of 2 minutes and 42 seconds, between November 2018 and May 2020. This remarkable resurgence ultimately led him to a rematch with Miocic at UFC 260 in March 2021, where Ngannou avenged his earlier loss with a spectacular second-round knockout, claiming the undisputed UFC Heavyweight Championship.
White admitted that he had considered releasing Ngannou on another occasion, but was dissuaded by his matchmakers. "I told my guys I wanted to cut him early and two of my matchmaker guys are like ‘no, you don’t understand,’" White revealed. "I said guys, let me tell you a story. When somebody shows you who they are, believe them. Believe them." This sentiment underscores White’s long-held skepticism about Ngannou’s character, despite his undeniable athletic talent and his inspiring backstory of living on the streets of Paris before finding success in combat sports.
The relationship between the UFC and Ngannou ultimately reached an impasse after his first title defense. At UFC 270 in January 2022, Ngannou, battling a significant knee injury, successfully defended his title against interim champion Ciryl Gane via unanimous decision, showcasing an unexpected grappling prowess. This victory marked the final fight on his existing UFC contract. Negotiations for a new deal became protracted and public, with Ngannou vocalizing his desire for improved compensation, long-term health benefits for fighters, and the unprecedented freedom to pursue professional boxing matches concurrently with his MMA career. The UFC, historically resistant to co-promotion or allowing its top talent to compete under other banners, particularly in the lucrative world of boxing, was unable to meet Ngannou’s demands.
In January 2023, Ngannou officially vacated his UFC heavyweight title and departed the organization, becoming a free agent. His exit was a significant event in the MMA world, reigniting discussions about fighter pay and contractual freedoms within the UFC. White, at the time, publicly stated that Ngannou "never really wanted to take the risk" of fighting Jon Jones, who would later claim the vacant heavyweight title against Ciryl Gane at UFC 285 in March 2023.
Ngannou subsequently signed a landmark deal with the Professional Fighters League (PFL) in May 2023, a contract that reportedly included an equity stake in PFL Africa, a guaranteed minimum purse for his fights, and the highly sought-after clause allowing him to compete in professional boxing. He made his professional boxing debut against WBC Heavyweight Champion Tyson Fury in October 2023, where he surprisingly dropped Fury in the third round and ultimately lost a close split decision, earning widespread acclaim for his competitive performance. He is currently scheduled to face former unified heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua in March 2024.
White concluded his podcast appearance with a reiteration of his strong views on Ngannou. "Francis Ngannou is a bad guy," White asserted. "He’s not a good guy. He plays the whole ‘I don’t understand the language’ and tries to come off that he’s a fcking nice guy. People go ‘oh it’s the language barrier probably.’ There’s no fcking language barrier with this guy. He’s a bad guy."
Referring to Ngannou’s current ventures, White added, "Now he’s over and he’s done a deal with PFL and Saudi Arabia and now he’s asking to fight, ‘me and Jon Jones need to fight.’ I’m sure they wish they never f*cking signed him. I don’t have to hear one word from any of those guys over there to know because I know. I’ve dealt with him and I know who he really is." White’s comments highlight the enduring animosity between the two figures, even as Ngannou forges a new path in combat sports outside the UFC octagon.
💬 Tinggalkan Komentar dengan Facebook
Author Profile
Latest entries
MMANovember 19, 2025Los Angeles Secures 2-0 NLCS Advantage Behind Yamamoto’s Stellar Outing; NBA Unveils Top 100 Rankings; Prisco’s NFL Week 7 Power Shifts Revealed
MMANovember 19, 2025Kamaru Usman Analyzes Jack Della Maddalena’s Mental State During Dominant UFC 322 Defeat
MMANovember 18, 2025Duke Navigates Modern College Basketball with Unwavering Commitment to Freshman Talent
MMANovember 18, 2025UFC Charts New Course with Paramount Deal, Eyes Ilia Topuria for Inaugural Main Event
arthur roy sitompul
Anshari Taslim
rifan muazin
alina maya