Ambitious and determined to potentially reconnect with the UFC, Francis Ngannou must however deal with a major enemy. Neither more nor less than the boss of the organization.
A fight at the White House – why not against local icon Jon Jones – such is the project of Francis Ngannou who would see himself playing a role in the fight of the century on a UFC scale. An organization from which he slammed the door in January 2023 to join the PFL, a breakaway MMA league.
Yes, but the Cameroonian fighter must obtain the blessing of UFC boss Dana White to do this. An essential figure who does not really hold him in his heart since the latter openly accuses the person concerned of having physically attacked him.
“ Everyone has a thing with Francis Ngannousays Dana White, as part of Andrew Schulz’s podcast entitled Flagrant. He’s a bad guy. He’s not a good guy. He plays the role of the guy who doesn’t understand the language and he tries to come across as a super nice guy. Do you see what I mean? People say, “It’s the language barrier.” No, there is no language barrier with this guy. He’s a bad guy and I told my guys I wanted to fire him quickly. »
“Take your fucking hands off me…”
Why such animosity? Dana White recounts an anecdote that preceded the colossus’ fight against American-Croatian Stipe Miocic for the heavyweight belt in 2018. “ After the press conference, we were walking down the hall and he came up to me and grabbed me and said, “Let me tell you what’s going to happen.” His English is impeccable, okay? No language barrier. “When this fight is over, you will book me a private jet to Paris.” I laughed, and he insisted, “I’m not kidding, you’ll book me a private jet to Paris.” Okay. We separated. »
Ultimately, Stipe Miocic will dominate Francis Ngannou in the cage. “ Stipe Miocic smashed himcontinues Dana White.
He had just fought and he came by my office. He was hanging out in the hallway, I said to him, “Come in, what’s going on?” » He was furious at not having received the $50,000 bonus from his last fight, the bonus of the evening. I told him: “Look, Francis, you didn’t get it for such and such a reason.” He was in my office and he was arguing with me. (…) The conversation is over, I start to leave, and he grabs me by the shirt and pushes me back into my office, and I’m like, “Dude, take your fucking hands off me…” »
