Dana White Insists Francis Ngannou Avoided Fight With Jon Jones

Photo: Instagram/Francis Ngannou

UFC president Dana White continues to claim that Francis Ngannou left the UFC to avoid fighting Jon Jones. It's been nearly a year and a half since Ngannou, then the heavyweight champion, parted ways with the UFC. Despite Ngannou's repeated statements that he left to gain more control over his career, White stands firm on his belief.

In a conversation with Shannon Sharpe on the "Club Shay Shay" podcast, White pointed to Jon Jones' easy win over Ciryl Gane for the heavyweight title as evidence that Ngannou didn't want to face Jones. White said, "In my opinion, he does the same thing to Francis. 100 percent. He does the same thing to Francis. Francis didn't want to fight Jon Jones. Jon Jones is the scariest, most bad-ass fighter of all time."

White praised Jones' fighting skills and suggested that his legacy won't be fully appreciated until he's retired. "When you talk about who the baddest man on the planet is, two guys get locked in a room, who is walking out? It's Jon Jones all day, every time," he added.

Photo: Instagram/Francis Ngannou

Ngannou, however, has a different story. He left the UFC despite being offered a record-breaking deal in early 2023 because some of his major demands weren't met. These included waiving the UFC's extension, exclusive negotiating window, and contract-matching clauses.

Ngannou told "The MMA Hour" in January 2023, "In that contract, I'm not free. I'm not an independent contractor. I have no rights, I have no power. I hand over all the power to you guys, and I've seen in the past how you can utilize that power."

After leaving the UFC, Ngannou signed with the PFL but hasn't competed there yet. He has had two major boxing matches, almost beating Tyson Fury before losing by split decision and then being knocked out by Anthony Joshua.

Read Next: Manny Pacquiao Delivers Stern Verdict On Canelo Alvarez vs. Terence Crawford

Source: CBS Sports 

Comments

Post a Comment

Trending Now

Katie Taylor Suspended After Controversial Win Over Amanda Serrano

Image
Photo: Katie Taylor / Instagram   Katie Taylor will be suspended for at least 30 days after her controversial victory over Amanda Serrano on Friday night. The fight took place at the AT&T Stadium in Texas, where Taylor defended her light-welterweight titles. The bout went the full 10 rounds, with Taylor winning by unanimous decision. The judges scored it 95-94 in her favor, but the match wasn’t without controversy. Serrano suffered a bad cut from a head clash earlier in the fight, and Taylor was later penalized for a headbutt in the eighth round. After the fight, Serrano expressed her frustration. “I knew when it went to the judges it would be shady,” she said. “She kept headbutting me, but it’s not new. She did the same with Chantelle Cameron.” Photo: Katie Taylor / Instagram   Taylor denied any foul play, saying, “The headbutt was accidental. This is a tough sport, and things like that happen. I’m not a dirty fighter.” Both fighters will be suspended for a mandatory rest perio
Read More

Evander Holyfield Reveals The Best Fighter He Ever Faced

Image
Photo: Instagram/Evander Holyfield Boxing legend Evander Holyfield has faced some of the sport's biggest names, and he has now revealed who he thinks was the best of them all. Holyfield, one of the most decorated boxers ever, ended his amateur career with an Olympic bronze medal. He then became a standout talent in the cruiserweight division before moving up to become a four-time heavyweight champion, despite being smaller than many of his opponents. Until Oleksandr Usyk matched his feat, Holyfield was the only man to achieve undisputed titles in both cruiserweight and heavyweight. Holyfield is well known for his infamous fight with Mike Tyson , where Tyson bit his ear, and for facing other legends like Lennox Lewis and George Foreman. But in an interview with Ring Magazine’s ‘Best I Faced’ series, Holyfield named Riddick Bowe as the greatest opponent he ever fought. Photo: Instagram/Evander Holyfield "I would say Bowe. I had three fights with Bowe. He was very competitive,
Read More

Ryan Garcia Plans Return To Boxing In December, Eyes Fight With Jake Paul

Image
Photo: Ryan Garcia / Instagram   Boxing star Ryan Garcia is set to return to the ring on December 30 for an exhibition fight in Japan. This will be his first match since being suspended for a year after testing positive for a banned substance earlier this year. Garcia, known as "King Ry," will face former kickboxing champion Rukiya Anpo. The fight will be broadcast as a pay-per-view event on Fanmio for $49.99. “I’m excited to knock Anpo out,” Garcia said. “He tried to take down a legend like Manny Pacquiao , and I’m going to teach him some respect.” Photo: Ryan Garcia / Instagram   Anpo recently fought  Pacquiao  to a draw in an exhibition match, but Garcia claims he’ll finish the job in just three rounds. Even before stepping into the ring with Anpo, Garcia has his sights set on Jake Paul. Paul, who recently won a controversial decision against boxing legend Mike Tyson , is one of the biggest names in crossover boxing. “I’ve been quiet, but here’s the plan,” Garcia sh
Read More

Prosecutors Say Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs Is Trying To Influence Witnesses And The Jury While In Jail

Image
Photo: Sean 'Diddy' Combs / Instagram   Prosecutors allege that Sean 'Diddy' Combs has been breaking federal detention rules to influence witnesses and the jury pool in his ongoing sex trafficking case. According to a new court filing, Combs used other inmates' phone accounts to avoid monitoring and paid them through intermediaries, which is against jail rules. The music mogul, who is being held at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, is accused of making three-way calls to unapproved contacts and sending hundreds of unauthorized text messages. Prosecutors claim he is attempting to silence accusers and sway testimony in his favor. Combs, who has pleaded not guilty, faces charges of sex trafficking, racketeering conspiracy, and related crimes. Prosecutors also accuse him of using social media to influence public opinion, including directing family members to post videos to gain sympathy and manipulate potential jurors. Photo: Sean 'Diddy' Combs /
Read More

Jon Jones Predicts Gable Steveson Will Become UFC Champion

Image
Photo: Jon Jones / Instagram   Jon Jones , the UFC heavyweight champion, has named Gable Steveson as the next big star in MMA. After successfully defending his title at UFC 309 by knocking out Stipe Miocic , Jones spoke about Steveson, who is still new to the sport but has impressed many, including Jones himself. Jones, who was training with Steveson before UFC 309, praised the Olympic gold medalist wrestler's toughness and potential. "Gable has everything it takes," said Jones. "When we were practicing, he stepped in right away when one of my teammates got hurt. He’s fearless, even when facing tough situations." Jones went on to explain how Steveson handled being kneed in the face during a sparring session, showing no fear. "He ate it, and it looked like a kid with a new toy," Jones recalled. "He’s going to be scary. Once he learns boxing and jiu-jitsu, it’s not a question of if he’ll be a champion, but when." Photo: Jon Jones / Instagram  
Read More

Jake Paul Challenges Canelo Alvarez: “He Just Wants Money”

Image
Photo: Jake Paul, Canelo Alvarez / Instagram   YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul is once again calling out Mexican boxing star Canelo Alvarez , claiming he’s confident the fight will happen. Paul believes a showdown with Canelo would be a huge event, both for the sport and financially. Paul, who has built a reputation as one of the most polarizing figures in boxing, shared his thoughts after his recent victory over Mike Tyson in a highly hyped match. Despite the event's financial success, many fans were disappointed with the fight. Now, Paul says his focus is on climbing the boxing ranks and taking on the world’s best, with Canelo being his ultimate goal. “I’ve been asking for the fight for three years,” Paul said on his YouTube show, BS w/ Jake Paul . “Canelo doesn’t care about whether I’m a risk or not. He’s just thinking about the money. That’s why I think the fight will happen.” Photo: Jake Paul / Instagram Paul, who wants to fight Canelo at 200 pounds in the cruiserweight di
Read More

Stipe Miocic Retires After UFC 309 Loss

Image
Photo: Stipe Miocic / Instagram   Stipe Miocic , one of the greatest UFC heavyweights, has officially retired. The 41-year-old announced his decision after a third-round TKO loss to Jon Jones at UFC 309 on Saturday night. "I'm done," Miocic said. "I'm hanging them up." Miocic, from Euclid, Ohio, ends a legendary career that saw him crowned as the greatest UFC heavyweight by many, including UFC CEO Dana White . "He's one of the greatest heavyweights ever," White told ESPN. "You can't deny Stipe." Photo: Stipe Miocic / Instagram Miocic joined the UFC in 2011 and quickly rose through the ranks. Despite early setbacks, like losses to Stefan Struve and Junior dos Santos, he bounced back with wins over Roy Nelson, Gabriel Gonzaga, and more. His big moment came in 2016 when he knocked out Fabricio Werdum to win the heavyweight title. Miocic held the belt for over two years, defending it three times against top fighters like Francis N
Read More

Mike Tyson Responds To Evander Holyfield’s Callout: “The Trilogy Is Our Friendship”

Image
Photo: Mike Tyson / Instagram   Mike Tyson has addressed a challenge from his former rival, Evander Holyfield , just days after losing to Jake Paul in a much-hyped boxing match. The 58-year-old boxing legend returned to the ring last weekend but was outmatched by the younger Paul, losing by unanimous decision. While Tyson hinted at a possible fight with Logan Paul , Holyfield’s callout has sparked interest among fans. Holyfield, 61, took to Instagram to suggest a third fight with Tyson, writing, “The fans want it! #UnfinishedBusiness.” Tyson responded warmly, saying, “I love you, brother, but the trilogy is our friendship.” Photo: Mike Tyson / Instagram   The two have a storied history in boxing. Holyfield defeated Tyson in their first bout in 1996 and famously won their 1997 rematch when Tyson was disqualified for biting his ear. Despite their heated past, the former rivals have grown close in recent years. Holyfield last fought in 2021, while Tyson’s recent match was his first p
Read More

Jury Rules Conor McGregor Sexually Assaulted Woman In 2018

Image
Photo: Conor McGregor / Instagram   Irish mixed martial arts star Conor McGregor has been ordered to pay €250,000 ($259,950) in damages after a jury found he sexually assaulted a woman in 2018. The verdict came on Friday after a civil trial at Ireland’s High Court. The jury, made up of eight women and four men, deliberated for over six hours before reaching their decision. The woman, Nikita Hand, said McGregor assaulted her on December 9, 2018, at a party in a hotel penthouse in Dublin. She also accused another man, James Lawrence, of assault, but the jury found Lawrence did not harm her. Photo: Conor McGregor / Instagram   McGregor, 36, denied the allegations, claiming the encounter was consensual. He also denied causing any injuries. He left the court without commenting. Hand’s lawyer, John Gordon, told the court that Hand visited a sexual assault treatment unit the day after the incident, where a doctor documented her injuries. Hand testified that she met McGregor after a work Chri
Read More

Jennifer Lopez Sparks Rumors of Romance With Bodyguard After Ben Affleck Split

Image
Photo: Jennifer Lopez / Instagram   Jennifer Lopez is back in the spotlight, this time with rumors about her personal life. Reports suggest the 55-year-old superstar might be getting close to her bodyguard following her recent divorce from Ben Affleck . Despite telling the public she’s “not looking for anybody” right now, insiders claim she’s enjoying some light-hearted fun. “She’s not actively dating, but she’s definitely flirting,” a source shared. “She knows this could get under Ben’s skin.” Lopez and Affleck tied the knot in 2022 after rekindling their romance. However, the relationship ended in August when Lopez filed for divorce. According to a source, “She didn’t want the divorce, but Ben has a habit of avoiding problems. Now, she’s trying to take control of the narrative.” Photo: Jennifer Lopez / Instagram   In a recent interview, Lopez spoke about the challenges of being on her own. “It’s lonely, unfamiliar, scary, and sad,” she admitted. “But I’m learning to find joy and
Read More