Relating to Dana White’s continued makes an attempt to color his UFC departure a sure manner, Francis Ngannou is doing his greatest to take the excessive street – however he additionally needs to maintain it actual.
On Thursday, White was requested to share his ideas on Ngannou’s efficiency in his first-round TKO win over Renan Ferreira this previous weekend at PFL: Battle of the Giants. The battle marked Ngannou’s return to blended martial arts for the primary time since defending the UFC heavyweight championship in his ultimate promotional look towards Ciryl Gane in January 2022. One yr later, Ngannou left the UFC to signal with the PFL.
Somewhat than give his tackle Ngannou’s in-cage efficiency, White went out of his strategy to re-hash how issues ended with Ngannou – at the least in line with him.
“(His efficiency) was higher than Donn Davis’ – manner higher,” White stated with amusing. “Hear, 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 will damage his probabilities 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’ll 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.”
White later stated that he needed to launch Ngannou in 2018 after consecutive losses to Stipe Miocic and Derrick Lewis, however he didn’t as a result of somebody “begged” him to not.
Ngannou responds on to White
Francis Ngannou and Dana White
Ngannou can’t appear to grasp why White received’t cease speaking dangerous about him.
“No matter the whole lot that occurred, I’m not about him,” Ngannou stated Friday in an interview with Sirius XM Struggle Nation. “I went on the market, did a battle, had a very good battle for my son’s reminiscence, however the man can’t stand – I don’t know what’s his downside. He could make the whole lot up as he needs. That’s his downside. I feel he must make peace with himself. …
“(He) may’ve simply stated, ‘We didn’t discover an settlement. We couldn’t come to a deal, however good luck to him.’ That’s it, you understand? Good for him, and we proceed our lives. What’s the issue right here? I feel the issue is he can’t deal with this loss.”
And that’s a degree Ngannou needs to drive house
“Dana has misplaced on this scenario, and the one factor is that he can not stand it,” Ngannou stated. “Bro, I received the whole lot.”
A giant motive why Ngannou couldn’t come to phrases with the UFC on a brand new contract was as a result of the promotion wouldn’t help his want to enterprise into boxing. The PFL obliged that request and after signing with the promotion, Ngannou took half in two profitable fights with Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua in October 2023 and this previous March.
Whereas he misplaced each matchups within the ring, Ngannou extensively has been lauded for locating his manner out of a restrictive UFC deal and maximizing his earnings. Ngannou can solely think about how a lot that bothers White.
“I’m positive he’s been praying for my downfall, however I simply maintain doing my factor, rising,” Ngannou stated. “Since I left the UFC, in lots of senses, I’m greater than what I used to be. …
“Now I’ve made extra money than I might have ever made within the UFC. I might say perhaps twice the cash that I may have made in my complete UFC profession if I had continued within the UFC. I’m not simply saying from the second that I ended. Both manner, if I’ve made much less cash, if I’m not making sufficient cash that I may’ve made within the UFC, that might be my downside. Why is he so pissed about me not making that a lot cash? C’mon, man, reside your life.”
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