“The Predator” is done trying to play nice with White after UFC’s president trash talked Ngannou’s new PFL deal and claimed his former Heavyweight champion was ducking Jon Jones.
Francis Ngannou is finally starting to speak out against Dana White after the president of Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) trash talked Ngannou’s “bulls— PFL deal.”
Ngannou made waves last week when he announced he had signed a mixed martial arts (MMA) contract with Professional Fighters League (PFL) and would compete for the promotion in 2024. Along with a rumored purse that would pay “The Predator” in the high seven-figure neighborhood, Ngannou also got a seat on PFL’s athlete advisory board and “chairman” status for PFL Africa.
And perhaps most important, Ngannou is allowed to pursue big money boxing deals on his own. It’s a good deal for Ngannou, but White has been blunt about it “making no sense” for PFL.
“He signs with this company, and he’s not even willing to fight their champions right now,” White said (among other things). “He’s fought three times in the last three years. Am I the only one that this whole thing is just a bunch of bulls—t?”
Up until this point, Ngannou has been pretty chill as White and Co. have used their promotional machine to portray him as difficult to work with and scared of Jon Jones. Now, he’s firing back in a series of tweets that end in a challenge.
Who really is scared? Jon, me … or you? $$$$
Make up your mind pic.twitter.com/d0FurJOHgH
— Francis Ngannou (@francis_ngannou) May 21, 2023
“What is your problem with me?” Ngannou wrote. “1. I completed my contract, was a free agent, and chose to walk away. You didn’t release me. 2. I hate taking risks? That’s why I defended my title to fulfill my contract with no ACL or MCL?
“3. The reason I fought three times in three years is because you wanted to control my deal and signs a new one. And freeze me out. ‘I owe these guys three fights a year.’ Isn’t that what you say? What happened? I always asked for & never said no to any fight in the 3 years. I’m finally getting paid and respected, and have a deal that’s fair and equal for all parties. Why are you so against me being free and happy?”
“If you ever really want that Jon Jones fight to happen reach out to [PFL president] Pete Murray,” Ngannou finished. “Whenever, wherever.”
We doubt this is the last time Ngannou and White will battle it out. At least Ngannou has finally realized he’s in a fight with UFC’s president — whether he wants to be or not. And losing could seriously damage his reputation … more than it already has.