Ngannou – UFC player White stands in the way of a megafight with Jones

Francis Ngannou is tired of listening to UFC boss Dana White and wants to set the record straight.

Ngannou, 38, made a successful return to MMA after a two-year stint in boxing – and the death of his 15-month-old son – by defeating PFL heavyweight champion Renan Ferreira in the main event of the PFL Super Fights in Abu Dhabi.

While most of the MMA world celebrated Ngannou's return, White took aim at his former champion at a press conference ahead of UFC 308, saying he was considering cutting Ngannou before he became champion and that “The Predator” would be interested in a fight with the current UFC heavyweight champion Jon Jones was actively avoided.

Ngannou responded to White on Sirius XM Fight Nation's MMA Today.

“I think Dana is trying to make things right, to gain confidence in the position he lost,” Ngannou said Friday. “Dana lost in this situation… and he can't take it. Brother, I won everything: I left. It's been almost two years and the guy is still out there, he can't live without stalking me. Whatever happened, it's not about him for me.

“The guy can’t stand me. I don't know what his problem is. He can think of anything. That's his problem. I think he needs to make peace with himself because this situation is kind of strange.”

White said Ngannou would have made more money if he had chosen to stay with the UFC instead of signing with the PFL. Ngannou left the UFC in January 2023 and signed with the PFL in May 2023. While signed with the PFL, he was given the freedom to pursue opportunities outside of the promotion, and in boxing he took on then-undefeated WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury, followed by a huge striking fight with former unified champion Anthony Joshua. Despite losing both fights, Ngannou reportedly earned $20 million for both fights and increased his profile before returning to MMA last weekend.

White ignored Ngannou's success in the UFC, saying he would have made more money if he had stayed.

“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,” White said. “But realistically his deal was bigger here. His deal would be bigger here if he stayed in the UFC. They can deny all they want, why the hell should I lie? Why do I care? It doesn't matter.” In my opinion, he would have made more money one way or another if he had stayed in the UFC.

For Ngannou, it's about more than the money he believes the UFC still owes him.

“What money is he talking about? “The money he owes me?” said Ngannou. “Remember, this all ended with (them) saying, 'Oh, we're going to pay you back the money we owe you for the Stipe (Miocic)-Ciryl Gane fight,' and all that. They never paid me back. Now.” I made more money than I ever made in the UFC – I would say twice as much money as I ever could have made in my entire UFC career had I continued in the UFC.

“Either way, if I made less money, if I didn’t make enough money that I could have made in the UFC, then that would be my problem. Why is he so mad that I don't make as much money? Like, c' My man, live your life.

As for the fight against Jon Jones, Ngannou is still very interested in it and believes Jones would like the fight too. Jones will face former heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic on November 16th. Should Jones win, Ngannou would welcome a cross-promotional fight that would be one of the biggest in MMA history. Whether it could happen is another question.

“The only one standing in the way of this fight is Dana White,” Ngannou said. “I want the Jon Jones fight. I'm ready for battle. Jones is ready for the fight. But this is a new narrative. I was up for a Jon Jones fight three years ago and I’m up for it now.”

One person who could make the fight a success is the chairman of Saudi Arabia's General Entertainment Authority, Turki Alalshikh, and his Riyadh season events. Riyadh Season was the title sponsor for Noche UFC and Alalshikh was instrumental in financing Ngannou's fights with Fury and Joshua. If anyone has the drive to make this happen, it would be Alalshikh.

While Ngannou clings to a shred of optimism that a fight with Jones could happen, White would have to check his ego at the door.

“For this to happen, Dana needs to let this problem go,” Ngannou said. “He needs to let it go.”