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The relationship between Dana White and former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou has hit a definitive breaking point. At UFC 308’s post-fight press conference, UFC CEO Dana White didn’t hold back in expressing his frustrations with Ngannou, dismissing any chance of future business between them. The two have exchanged heated comments over the past weeks, with White accusing Ngannou of missing out on substantial earnings by opting out of the UFC and joining the PFL instead. Ngannou, however, claims to have earned nearly $40 million in the past year, a figure that White has publicly questioned.
When asked to respond to Ngannou’s suggestion that White "prays for his downfall," White responded bluntly,
“I don’t think about Francis that much.”
White then turned the tables, suggesting it’s the PFL that may regret signing Ngannou, as he questions whether Ngannou can bring in significant pay-per-view numbers or ticket sales.
White claimed, “Good for him. Not good for them.”
This isn’t the first time White has voiced dissatisfaction with Ngannou’s business approach. He noted that if the UFC had retained Ngannou, even with potential matchups against Jon Jones, Ngannou would have made an estimated $31 million over three fights. Ngannou, on the other hand, has reportedly exceeded that amount through his PFL contract and two high-profile boxing matches. White’s distaste for Ngannou dates back even further.
“I didn’t like Francis as a person,” White stated.
He recounted moments when he felt Ngannou’s true nature showed through, beginning with what he described as questionable actions from Ngannou leading up to his first fight with Stipe Miocic.
White remarked, “When somebody shows you who they are, believe them.”
White clarified that he believes Ngannou only appears “like a nice guy” but that this is merely an act. His decision to sever business ties isn’t based on Ngannou’s achievements but on what he perceives as his true character.
White reflected, “Francis isn’t a good guy. He plays the good guy. He’s not.”
The possibility of a heavyweight super fight between Ngannou and Jon Jones has also been put to rest. Despite Ngannou’s assertions that White didn’t want the fight, White counters that Ngannou was the one to avoid it.
White stated simply, “He didn’t want that fight… Tom Aspinall deserves that fight.”
In closing, White reiterated that he and Ngannou will not be working together in the future, a decision he’s been confident about since the days before Ngannou’s first encounter with Miocic. For White, Ngannou is simply not the person he wants in his business.
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