Francis Ngannou Responds To Dana White’s Claims That Ngannou Physically Accosted Him
UFC President Dana White made a recent appearance on the Flagrant podcast and claimed former UFC Heavyweight Champion Francis Ngannou got into a physical altercation with him and UFC chief business officer Hunter Campbell.
White claimed that after a fight, Ngannou was upset that he didn’t get a post-fight bonus.
“He was pissed off he didn’t get a $50,000 in his last fight, that he didn’t get the bonus of the night. I said Francis you didn’t get it for this, that [reason] and he’s in my office and he’s arguing with me. I’m like this guy got this, this guy got that and this is why. The conversation’s over, and I’m starting to leave, and he grabs me by my shirt and pushes me back in my office and I said ‘dude, get your f*cking hands off me.’ I could see in this guy’s face and in his eyes and the way he’s acting who this guy really f*cking is,” said White (via MMA Fighting).
“My guy Hunter [Campbell], they were talking about something, it might have even been that same thing [about the bonus]. When Hunter started to walk away, Francis grabbed him by the f*cking back of his collar and f*cking pulled him back and said ‘we’re not done talking yet.’ This guy’s not a good f*cking guy. He’s a bad guy,” he said.
Ngannou left UFC in January 2023 after the two sides couldn’t agree on a new contract.
Speaking to Ariel Helwani (via MMA Fighting), Ngannou was asked about White’s comments.
“Why am I not surprised?” Ngannou said.
“… At some point, it feels very annoying to just have to be responsible of what people say. Basically, if Dana says this, then I’m out here to defend myself of what Dana said, or whoever. I think, whatever he said, if he’s at peace with it, it’s OK. … No, I don’t find it important [to respond]. I don’t find it necessary. At some point it was, but over time, it’s not anymore. Maybe I’m getting old. I have less energy for drama or for stuff. I just want to be at peace, and for people to leave me alone. That’s all.”
Ngannou said that if it happened in Dana’s office, he was sure Dana had a lot of cameras in there.
“If every time that somebody says something about you, that you have [respond], it’s going to be tough. As I said, over time, I just get tired of that stuff. I really saw that and scrolled [past]. I get past it. I wasn’t even thinking — I should’ve been thinking you were going to ask me that, obviously, but I’m long gone from that,” he said.
Ngannou is currently signed to PFL, but has not fought since October 2024.
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