ABU DHABI – It seems Francis Ngannou’s return to MMA didn’t change Dana White’s thoughts about his departure from the UFC.
Days after Ngannou (18-3) pounded out Renan Ferreira (13-4) at PFL: Battle of the Giants, White was requested his impressions of the battle throughout a Energy Slap 9 post-event press convention Thursday.
“(His efficiency) was higher than Donn Davis’ – approach higher,” White mentioned with amusing when chatting with MMA Junkie and different reporters. “Pay attention, man, I’m going to inform you what I take into consideration Francis: Francis is all concerning the cash. Francis left as a result of he knew if he fought Jon Jones and didn’t win, it could damage his possibilities of making the cash he needed to make. However realistically his deal was larger right here. His deal was larger right here if he stayed within the UFC. I feel I instructed this story one million instances. They will deny all of it they need. Why the f*ck would I lie? What do I care? It doesn’t matter to me in some way.”
Whereas White’s claims of Ngannou leaving the UFC to keep away from preventing Jon Jones are notthing new, the UFC CEO talked about an extra element. White mentioned that, after Ngannou suffered consecutive losses to Stipe Miocic and Derrick Lewis in 2018, he needed to chop the longer term UFC heavyweight champion.
“I used to be going to chop Francis when he misplaced two in a row,” White mentioned. “I used to be going to chop him. Someone round right here begged me to not do it. It wouldn’t have mattered to me in some way. There’s a a lot deeper story to this entire factor. He would’ve made extra money if he would’ve stayed within the UFC. He didn’t wish to battle Jon Jones. That’s a reality, my good friend. We’re transferring on.”
“I used to be going to chop Francis when he misplaced two in a row. Someone round right here begged me to not do it.”
Dana White hurls one other spherical of criticism at Francis Ngannou and isn’t eager about a battle vs. Jon Jones. pic.twitter.com/IZjeNgq06M
— MMA Junkie (@MMAJunkie) October 24, 2024
Ngannou’s 2023 departure from the UFC was an unprecedented transfer, as he vacated the promotion’s heavyweight title to enterprise into free company. Ngannou competed in profitable boxing crossover fights vs. Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua earlier than his MMA return Saturday in Saudi Arabia.
Ngannou has disputed White’s claims that he would’ve been paid extra had he stayed, even going so far as to say he would supply the numbers if want be. White has remained unwavering in his counterclaims, nonetheless.
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