This was recently brought to light at the UFC 308 Abu Dhabi pre-fight press conference when a reporter asked White for his thoughts on Francis Ngannou’s recent win under the PFL banner against Renan Ferreira, where he knocked him out in the first round.

White praised ‘The Predator’ for his performance but seized the opportunity to take shots at him. He stated, “I’m going to tell you what I think about Francis. Francis is all about money. Francis left because he knew that if he fought Jon Jones and didn’t win, it would hurt his chances of making the money he wanted to make. But realistically, his deal was bigger here. His deal was bigger here if he stayed in the UFC. I think I’ve told this story a million times.”

This marks the second time in recent months that White has reiterated his stance. Francis Ngannou fought under the UFC banner until 2022 when he last successfully defended his heavyweight title against Ciryl Gane. Since then, ‘The Predator’ set aside his MMA gloves to venture into boxing, reportedly earning around $30 million from two matches against Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua, respectively. With that, Ngannou has managed to overcome his financial struggles, as he recently admitted in an interview, effectively refuting White’s claims.

Did Francis Ngannou’s fight with Anthony Joshua help clear his debts?

Francis Ngannou made a daring move when, at the height of his career, he transitioned to a different promotion—a choice few fighters would even contemplate. However, his decision paid off. Despite not claiming victory in his brief boxing stint, ‘The Predator’ earned millions, which has sparked criticism from those accusing him of being financially motivated. But as the saying goes, “The rich get richer, and the braggarts complain.”

He took this bold step while carrying a debt owed to former UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman. When he left the UFC, Francis Ngannou shared on the Pound 4 Pound podcast, “He knew about the stuff I turned down from the UFC during negotiations. Even for my last fight in the UFC, I took $600,000 as opposed to the $5 million they offered for the same fight. I was like, ‘Bro.’ And at the time, I was broke. I owed Usman $200,000.”

Now, the tables have turned for Francis Ngannou. With his newfound wealth and fame, it’s no surprise that critics might be envious. What are your thoughts on Dana White? Do you think he’s right about ‘The Predator’, or is he unable to accept Ngannou’s success outside the UFC? Drop your opinion below!

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