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‘The Predator’ Francis Ngannou has concluded his debut in boxing, and the results were truly astonishing. Although he faced a defeat, the Cameroon-French fighter garnered the respect of not only the combat sports community but also a wider audience due to his masterful performance against the formidable Tyson Fury. Their bout also proved to be a tremendous success in terms of revenue.

Terrell Owens holding Dude Wipes XL

The triumphant contest acted as a stark reminder of Dana White‘s statements concerning Francis Ngannou’s withdrawal from the UFC. In an illustrious conversation, renowned journalist Ariel Helwani recounted an incident during which White deliberated Ngannou’s exit, an occurrence that has undeniably generated a buzz within the community.

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Controversy erupts over Dana White’s comments

‘The Battle of the Baddest’ was a masterclass; Ngannou showcased a stellar performance against the heavyweight champion Tyson Fury. Even though Fury clinched the victory, the ultimate spotlight was upon Ngannou. Amidst the media buzz, Ariel Helwani reminded us of the comments Dana White made about the reason behind Ngannou’s exit.

White in his statement said “ I think Francis is in a place right now where he doesn’t want to take a lot of risks. He has got in his head that there are bigger opportunities outside the UFC with lesser opponents.” The post gathered a ton of comments from fans as well as Francis Ngannou himself.

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Ngannou stated, “The opportunity is real man but I don’t know about lesser opponents.” Even ‘Mighty Mouse’ Demetrious Johnson joined the bandwagon to ridicule White. Johnson stated “This f**king guy.” Along with Johnson and Ngannou, fans bashed the CEO for his comments. Some other Comments from the fans are as follows:-

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Dana lives rent free in Ariel’s head

Ngannou is the UFCs biggest L. Took away the most important HW fight atm, the exhibition match Dana would cream for and IMO Ngannou is the real MMA HW champ.

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The guy who travelled across oceans in a rubber dingy doesn’t take risk!

The size of the bag Dana fumbled is astronomical

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Francis is the best MMA HW fighter. He KOs Jon

UFC needs to find some humility or the kingdom comes crashing down.

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The fans were certainly not amused by White’s comments. They also stated that Ngannou might be UFC’s biggest loss. Nonetheless, now that the debut is done, Ngannou might be looking for other opportunities which also include many more boxing fights.

Francis Ngannou will continue his journey in boxing

Following the bout’s aftermath, Ngannou demonstrated unequivocally that he is a formidable presence. Speaking to ESPN, Ngannou conveyed his recognition of the substantial lessons derived from the fight. Though his initial career aspirations revolved around becoming a professional boxer, he acknowledged his relative novelty in the sport. He also further affirmed his intention to persist in boxing on multiple occasions.

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Read more: Francis Ngannou Confirms Continuing Boxing as the ‘Predator’ Is Set to Enter WBC Rankings Despite Loss to Tyson Fury- “So the Plan Is…”

Ngannou said “Right now, I have a deal with PFL. I’m intending to fight MMA again. I still love it and I might do some MMA fights but I’m still going to do boxing like I never intend to just step over, do one fight and go out, that wasn’t the plan at all. Never. So the plan is still the same.”

Francis Nganou will seemingly continue to shine in the world of combat sports. What’s your opinion on Dana White’s stance? Do tell us in the comments below.

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Suryakant Das

3,440 Articles

Suryakant Das is a senior writer who leads UFC live coverage at EssentiallySports, known for his broad expertise and standout professionalism in MMA journalism. Over two years in the field, he has become a key voice on real-time event updates, pre- and post-fight interviews, and analysis of viral moments from the Joe Rogan Experience. His dynamic reporting is backed by selection to the Journalistic Excellence Program, which hones advanced editorial skills and strategic coverage approaches for top talent. Suryakant’s career is defined by his ability to deliver both speed and depth. His versatile background spans sports journalism, content writing, and editorial roles, helping him navigate fast-paced live coverage and deliver meaningful stories with clarity and precision. Recognition from respected MMA figures such as Nina-Marie Daniele and Hall of Famer Michael Bisping further marks him as a trusted authority in the UFC community.

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Joyita Das

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