Francis ͏Ngannou‘s departure from the UFC was a challenging moment for both the fighter and the combat community. Ngannou left the UFC while ͏holding the champion title, sparkin͏g numerous questions about the internal administration of the organization and prompting criticism towards Dana White. The fighter expressed that he har͏boured no regrets, except for one.

Ngannou was supposed to fight Jon Jones, and there was a peak hubbub surrounding the bout. But Dana White had other plans, and the fight was snubbed. Ngannou has since revealed that he believes that White manipulated everything for the fight not to happen. Let’s dig deeper to understand this perspective.

 Francis Ngannou accuses Dana White of manipulation

Francis Ngannou’s career has undergone a massive change. His transition from the UFC to the PFL was monumental. However, his move into boxing was one of the most significant decisions in the combat community this year. Despite losing the bout, his debut against Tyson Fury was marked by success. One might think that with such a career, Ngannou might have no regrets, but even the ‘Predator’ has his own set of regrets

Recently Ngannou was interviewed by Club Shay Shay’s YouTube handle. While having the conversation the host inquired Nganouau whether he had any regrets considering his departure from UFC. Ngannu stated that he had only one regret and that is he was not able to compete with Jon Jones.” I always regretted before I left the UFC. I’ve been asking for this fight for almost three years, and guess what? They’ve been telling me that Jon Jones is scared” Said Ngannou.

Ngannou further stated that even if Jon Jones is willing to fight him then he is sure that UFC would have controlled the information against him. He further accused Dana White and Co of being manipulative. “The only thing I know about Jones is what the UFC tells me, and the only thing Jon Jones would know from me is what the UFC would tell him. So, what does that mean? The power is here; they manipulate everything, both sides and public opinion.” Said Ngannou.

Ngannou’s only regret is his potential fight with Jon Jones that could not materialize. Can a cross-promotion fight between them happen since both the fighters are big stars which could help UFC and PFL get necessary traction? Dana White would beg to differ.

Dana White is not ok with cross-promotion fights

During a recent press conference, White was questioned about the possibility of co-promoting the highly anticipated Francis Ngannou vs. Jon Jones fight alongside the PFL. White appeared visibly displeased with the query, dismissing it as “dumb” and urging the reporter to provide a compelling rationale for such a collaboration. The incident gained traction on Instagram after ‘MMAJunkie’ shared the viral video of the exchange.

Fans are eagerly anticipating the showdown between Ngannou and Jones in the Octagon, but making the fight happen seems unlikely at the moment. White, the UFC CEO, has reservations, possibly due to the PFL being a direct competitor of the UFC. Speculation is circulating that White might be intentionally delaying the fight, even though the PFL has expressed interest.

Read More: Post UFC 295, Dana White Accused of Stalling Jon Jones vs. Francis Ngannou in Co-Promotion With PFL Despite Several Trials

Would you like to witness a matchup between Francis Ngannou and Jon Jones? Tell us about your opinion in the comments below.

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