LAS VEGAS, NEVADA — The president of the UFC has responded to the former UFC heavyweight champion’s new deal with the Professional Fighters League (PFL).
It was a big week for Francis Nganou as he had a new home and the killer deal he wanted. The former UFC Heavyweight Champion has signed with the PFL and will fight in 2024 with a career high seven-figure purse, as well as serving on the PFL’s Global Sports Advisory Council.
The tension between Ngannou’s former boss and UFC boss Dana White has been at an all-time high over the past year, and it looks like it’s not going anywhere. During the UFC Vegas 73 post-fight press conference (watch here), White gave his thoughts on Ngannou signing with the PFL.
“Based on what I know about the deal, which isn’t much, it doesn’t make sense to me,” White told the media. “I mean, you’d pay the guy not to fight for a year, and it’s already been 18 months—he’s fought three times in the last three years. It’s just not what we do here. The day we let him go, I knew exactly what was going to happen.”
White criticized Nganu when he was released earlier this year for wanting to fight fewer opponents for more money and not taking any risks. He confirmed this during the press conference.
“Francis wants to take zero risks, he doesn’t want to take any chances, he clearly doesn’t want to take any risks against Jon Jones, and after we saw what happened with Cyril Jean, I don’t blame him,” White said. “I think the outcome would have been exactly the same, And I’m sure most of you do, and I think Francis does too. And the media makes it sound like I’m saying he’s afraid of him. I don’t think he’s afraid of anyone. It’s just that he didn’t want to take any chances.”
“He wants, you know, the PFL is going to pay this guy to train for a boxing match that might not even happen and that they might not even be in. How does that make sense?” Anthony Joshua called it a fight gimmick this week. When [Joshua was] Asked about that fight, he said, “I’m focused on fighting the best guys in the world. You know, I’m not interested in a gimmick fight right now. And that’s one of the biggest problems in boxing right now. Everything about these fights is of the gimmicky kind. And that Not what I’m doing here. I’ve had fights with the best fighters in the world and fights people want to see.”
The UFC tried every way to re-sign Ngannou after his victory at UFC 270 over Cyryl Gane, which included several dinners with chief business officer Hunter Campbell, but in the end they couldn’t agree on a deal.
“Francis could have made a deal here,” White said. “Hunter went to more dinners with Francis Nganu and did everything he could to try and end this fight. Francis just thinks he’s in a situation where he’s got some Conor McGregor vs. Floyd Mayweather fight on his hands, which he hasn’t. That fight was a once-in-a-lifetime deal… MMA men vs. boxers doesn’t make any sense to me, but I know he thinks there’s all that money in there; I disagree; I don’t think there is.”
The UFC president was baffled by the deal the PFL offered to Ngannou but gave them props for trying to go into business with the Middle East to buy out mixed martial arts (MMA) rival Bellator, which was rumoured.
“I have no beef with the PFL. These guys were always very professional and never talked about smacking,” White said. “You know me if I don’t like you… I don’t hold back; I’ll let you have it. I heard they’re collecting money now, $280 million, $300 million from the Middle East. I don’t know what the number is from the Middle East. I’ve done a lot of business in the Middle East. These guys are sharp. I don’t know who in hell would give them $280 million; I heard they are buying Bellator. So you’re an organization that burns money, has no ratings and doesn’t sell tickets, and you’re going to raise $280 million to buy a company that burns cash, doesn’t sell tickets, and doesn’t rate. It seems to me – a completely genius monarch. “
In the end, White wished Ngannou good luck but criticized him for not fighting the current PFL champion.
“I know how this story ends. I get what Francis is doing. I wish the PFL all the best in the world. I wish him all the best in the world.” White said. “When you think about it, it goes to this company. I don’t know what they’re paying him for or what’s going on or any of that stuff. He doesn’t even fight their heroes. you know what i mean? wants the box. He signs with this company, and he’s not even ready to fight their champions right now. He’s fought three times in the past three years… Am I the only one who finds this whole thing to be a bunch of bullshit? “
Ultimately, it will be a waiting game to see if Ngannou’s ‘bullsh-t’ deal pans out. As for his immediate future, he has said many times that he will rule before he has another MMA fight, so now he is just waiting to see his next martial arts move.
For full UFC Vegas 73 results, coverage, and highlights, click here here.