Since his departure from the UFC, a lot of negative news has been spread, mostly by Dana White, about Francis Ngannou.
‘The Predator’ is still regarded as one of the best in the world, having captured PFL gold last year in a dominant performance against a real contender. The Cameroonian stepped away from the UFC as the heavyweight champion, though his relationship with the company’s hierarchy has been estranged in the aftermath.
Many uncomfortable stories have been shared regarding Francis Ngannou’s time under the UFC banner. From having a lack of respect for company employees to demanding bonuses from the bosses, Ngannou’s stay in mixed martial arts’ premier organization is rumored to have been a nightmare behind the scenes, but there’s more.
According to Dana White, the knockout artist attempted to physically bully him.
“Francis Ngannou is a bad guy,” White said during an appearance on the Flagrant podcast. “He’s not a good guy. He plays the whole, I don’t understand the language, and he tries to come off like he’s a f***ing nice guy.”
The pair’s working relationship was publicly broken for years before its eventual collapse.
White was on the verge of cutting Ngannou from the UFC before his matchmakers persuaded him not to.
“He’s a bad guy. And I told my guys, I wanted to cut him early, and two of my matchmaker guys were like, Oh, no. You don’t understand.'”
Dana White went on to tell a story of an altercation between himself and Francis Ngannou.
According to the UFC CEO, Ngannou was physically abusive with him during a visit to the UFC Performance Institute.
“[Ngannou] was passed off he didn’t get a $50,000 in his last fight, that he didn’t get the bonus of the night. I said, ‘Francis, you didn’t get it because this and that.'”
“He’s in my office and he’s arguing with me. I’m like, ‘This guy got this, this guy got that, and this is why.’ The conversations over and I’m starting to leave, and he grabs me by my shirt and pushes me back in my office.”
“I said, ‘Dude, get your f***ing hands off me.’ I could see in this guy’s face and in his eyes and the way he’s acting who this guy really f***ing is.”
Related: Dana White recounts physical altercation with Francis Ngannou
This feud between Dana White and Francis Ngannou seems to worsen with each passing interview.
The likelihood of the two rekindling their relationship, if they ever had one, is low. However, their war of words may be coming to an end courtesy of Ngannou.
“Why am I not surprised?” Ngannou said in response to White.
“At some point, it feels very annoying to just have to be responsible of what people say. Basically, if Dana says this, then I’m out here to defend myself of what Dana said, or whatever.”
“I think, whatever he said, if he’s at peace with it, it’s OK.”
“No, I don’t find it important [to respond]. I don’t find it necessary. At some point it was, but over time, it’s not anymore. Maybe I’m getting old.”
“I have less energy for drama or for stuff. I just want to be at peace, and for people to leave me alone. That’s all.”
Dana White’s bully comments didn’t sit well with Francis Ngannou.
Instead of arguing back, Ngannou doubled down on his uninterest in a social media battle with White.
“In his office that’s what he said, right?” Ngannou continued. “Well, I’m sure he has a lot of cameras there.”
“If every time that somebody says something about you, that you have [to respond], it’s going to be tough.”
“As I said, over time, I just get tired of that stuff. I really saw that and scrolled. I get past it… I’m long gone from that.”
