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dana white Has clarified his comments on the previous “physical” controversy with Francis NgannouAfter responding to a claim by the former heavyweight champion ufc chairman.
Ngannou left the UFC in early 2023, vacating the mixed martial arts (MMA) promotion’s heavyweight title in the process. But that wasn’t the end of Cameron’s complicated relationship with UFC president White.
In November, White accused Ngannou of starting a physical altercation between them during his time with the UFC. White, 56, said open Podcast: “Francis Ngannou is a bad man. He’s not a good man.
“He’s going to fight Stipe Miocic in Boston [in 2018]And he ‘knows’ he’s going to kill Stipe, right? So, after the press conference, we’re walking down this aisle and he comes up to me. He grabs me and says: ‘Let me tell you what’s going to happen […] When this fight is over, you will book me a private plane to Paris. I laughed and said: ‘Oh, yes?’ He said, ‘I am not joking.
“Miocic beat the crap out of him, beat the s*** out of him, so that whole conversation ended. I should have beat the crap out of him [from his contract] That day.”
The American alleged that in another incident Ngannou was seen “in my office” and “arguing with me”, adding: “The conversation is over, and I’m starting to leave, and he grabs me by my shirt and pushes me back into my office. I said: ‘Dude, get your f***ing hands off me.’ “I can see in this guy’s face, his eyes and the way he acts, who this guy really is.”
This week, Ngannou responded to the claim In an interview with Ariel HelwaniTelling the journalist: “At some point, I feel very irritated by being responsible for what people say. Basically, like… if Dana says it, I’m basically going to be here to defend what Dana said – or whatever.
“I think whatever he said, if he’s at peace [it]No problem. I don’t think it’s necessary [to address]At some point, it was [necessary to address]But over time, this is no longer the case. Maybe I’m getting old. I feel like I have less energy for drama, I just want to live in peace and have people leave me alone. That is all.
“He’d be the only person I’ve ever ‘put my hands’ on. In his office, that’s what he said, right? I’m sure he has a lot of cameras in there.
“I’m not inviting him to do anything [like release footage]I am not in court […] I’m just tired of this thing. i actually saw that [when White first said it] And scrolled. “I’ve moved on from this, I’ve moved on from this a long time ago.”
Now White has responded and said mac life: “Let me also clarify something. When I talk about physicality, it’s not like Francis Ngannou came here and threatened us or did anything like that.
“But, being men, everyone who is a man knows that these situations […] I started to walk out and she put her hand on my chest, she said: ‘We haven’t talked yet.’ And I said: ‘Oh, we’re done talking.’
“It’s not like Francis Ngannou came here and was physically like that… that’s what happened. I tell you guys all the time: We’re in the fight business, s*** happens.”
Ngannou signed with PFL After leaving the UFC, a stipulation in his contract allowed him to pursue boxing.
In 2023, he boxed then-heavyweight champion Tyson Fury, suffering a controversial points defeat to the Briton; In 2024, he suffered a crushing knockout loss to Anthony Joshua in another boxing match. Returned to MMA with Ngannou PFL Later that year, Defeated Renan Ferreira in the first round,
Ngannou, he said, has not competed since that event in October 2024. In his interview with Helwani That his PFL contract is expiring. On that note, He expressed openness to fighting at the UFC’s planned White House event In June.
However, White told The Mac Life: “There was nothing more gratifying than turning that guy over to the PFL. Let me tell you: If we let guys go, they’re going to feel bad for the company that took them.
“We let them go for a few reasons. I don’t want to let anybody go. I don’t want to be in business with people I don’t like and who I don’t think are good people.”