Dana White practically minimize 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 struggle 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 have been provided. 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 wished 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 will harm his possibilities of making the cash that he wished 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 choice to Derrick Lewis six months later in a struggle extensively thought-about to be one of many worst in trendy UFC historical past.
After all after these losses, Ngannou went on his present run, stringing collectively 4 first-round knockouts to earn a second crack at Miocic. He gained the rematch through second-round knockout to assert the UFC heavyweight title.
Ngannou then defended his title in opposition to Ciryl Gane and whereas many followers hoped he would return to the promotion for a showdown in opposition to Jon Jones, he opted to signal with the PFL in free company.
For White, that was the tip of his concentrate on Ngannou.
“He didn’t need to struggle Jon Jones, that’s a truth, and we’re shifting on,” White stated. “Clearly, all people loves Tom Aspinall and needs to see Jones and Aspinall, or Stipe and Aspinall. I really feel like when Stipe and Jon have been younger — Jon was 23, youngest champion in UFC historical past — someone gave him a possibility. I feel that Stipe and Jon, whoever wins ought to give Aspinall the identical alternative that they had.”
Jones and Miocic are set to struggle for the heavyweight title in the principle 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, notably with each Miocic and Jones doubtlessly teasing retirement afterward.
However for White, he believes that’s simply posturing and followers will in the end get the struggle 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 begin negotiating,” White stated. “And what the negotiation is, we’ll get the deal finished.”
UFC 309 takes place on Nov. 16 at Madison Sq. Backyard in New York Metropolis.
