Dana White insists he has no interest in working with Francis Ngannou again, citing personal issues and past conflicts, despite Ngannou’s success and ongoing career outside the UFC.
Dana White insists that Francis Ngannou is the last thing on his mind. Despite not working together for nearly two years, questions about each other persist. The latest drama? White revealed he wanted to cut Ngannou after back-to-back losses in 2018.
Ngannou fired back, calling White a “bully” and claiming the UFC owes him money from wins over Ciryl Gane and Stipe Miocic. White dismissed these claims at the UFC 308 post-fight press conference. “When have we ever owed someone money? Never happened,” he asserted.
White continued, “I lost? I didn’t lose anything. After the Derrick Lewis fight, I was done with Francis.” He even joked that Ngannou owes him for having to watch that bout. As for praying for Ngannou’s downfall, White said, “Trust me, I don’t think about Francis that much.”
He suggested the PFL might regret signing Ngannou due to lackluster numbers. Regardless of past tensions, Ngannou rebounded and won the heavyweight title after six straight victories. Yet, White insists their issues were personal, not professional.
“Someday, I’ll tell you the story,” White hinted. He once supported Ngannou but later changed his mind. “I didn’t like Francis as a person,” he admitted. The relationship soured long before Ngannou left for free agency.
Ngannou ventured into boxing against Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua before debuting in the PFL with a win over Renan Ferreira. Although he’s under contract with the PFL, he’s hinted at future boxing matches.
White is adamant: there’s no chance of rekindling business with Ngannou. “We won’t be. We’ll never be in business together,” he stated firmly. Their relationship ended before the first Stipe fight, and it hasn’t mended since.
White once dreamed of a Jon Jones vs. Ngannou matchup, but that’s off the table now. If Jones fights again after facing Miocic at UFC 309, it won’t be against Ngannou. “He didn’t want that fight,” White claimed. Instead, Tom Aspinall deserves that opportunity.
In conclusion, while both men have moved on professionally, their saga continues to intrigue fans and media alike.