UFC President Dana White has made shocking allegations against former heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou, claiming the Cameroonian fighter physically accosted him during a dispute over fighter compensation.
The Shirt-Grabbing Incident
During a recent appearance on Andrew Schulz's 'FLAGRANT' podcast, White detailed a confrontation that occurred in his office after one of Ngannou's fights. According to White, Ngannou was angry about not receiving a $50,000 performance bonus and became physically aggressive when White attempted to leave the conversation.
'He grabs me by my shirt and pushes me back into my office,' White recounted. 'I said, 'Dude, get your f***ing hands off me.'' The UFC boss claimed this moment revealed Ngannou's true character, stating he could see 'who this guy really f***ing is' through his facial expressions and behaviour.
Multiple Alleged Confrontations
White further alleged that Ngannou engaged in similar behaviour with UFC executive Hunter Campbell shortly after their own altercation. According to White, Ngannou grabbed Campbell 'by the f***ing back of his collar' and pulled him back during a discussion, declaring 'We're not done talking yet.'
These incidents reportedly contributed to the deteriorating relationship between Ngannou and UFC leadership, ultimately leading to the fighter's departure from the organisation in January 2023. White didn't hold back in his assessment, bluntly stating: 'This guy's not a good f***ing guy. He's a bad guy.'
Ngannou's Post-UFC Career
Ngannou's exit from UFC came despite reportedly turning down an offer that would have made him the highest-paid heavyweight in UFC history. The exact reasons for his departure were never explicitly stated by either party, though White had previously hinted at friction between them.
After leaving UFC, Ngannou signed a lucrative deal with rival MMA promotion Professional Fighters League (PFL), which allowed him to pursue boxing opportunities. He fought both Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua within six months, impressing many with his performance against Fury where he scored a knockdown, though he ultimately lost both matches.
White offered a blunt assessment of Ngannou's boxing ventures, particularly his brutal knockout loss to Joshua. 'If Fury trained for the fight and didn't show up and look like he ate Tyson Fury, that's probably the way that fight would've ended, too,' White commented, adding that such crossovers typically end 'just like that.'
