Tag: Dana White

Dana White Blames Francis Ngannou Over Jon Jones Fight Falling Through

Jon Jones vs Francis Ngannou and Dana WhiteUFC President says that it is the fault of the former UFC heavyweight champion that we never say Francis…

Jon Jones vs Francis Ngannou and Dana White

UFC President says that it is the fault of the former UFC heavyweight champion that we never say Francis Ngannou vs. Jon Jones. In a recent interview, White squarely points the finger at the Cameroonian athlete.

Francis Ngannou vs. Jon Jones

Let’s take a closer look at the timeline and clarify what Dana White said about Francis Ngannou vs. Jon Jones.

Jon Jones

Jon ‘Bones’ Jones has been a superstar in the UFC for more than a decade. The US-born star the record for the youngest champion in UFC history in 2011 and then defended his title against multiple former UFC champions. Legal issues, controversies, and performance-enhancing drugs have all been part of the Jones story in the UFC.

Francis Ngannou

Cameroon’s Francis Ngannou’s life story resonated with international audiences as an inspiration. He worked in mines as a child, was ready to die on his walk across Africa, was arrested, then homeless, and eventually became the UFC heavyweight champion.

Ngannou walked away from the UFC and joined the PFL. But having never lost the crown, Ngannou holds the lineal UFC heavyweight title which packs many more championships in MMA with it. He then booked blockbuster boxing matches against boxing champions and will compete in MMA later this year with the PFL, fighting in October.

He left the UFC over various issues citing treatment being top of the list. Now, he is free to box and fight in MMA. Plus, with the PFL, he is supporting children in Africa with his foundation and MMA organization.

Joe Rogan claims Francis Ngannou and Tyson Fury fight wad fixed they could pull it off

Jones and Ngannou Timeline

Jon Jones fought in 2020 and vacated his light heavyweight title, but was inactive until 2023. Ngannou won the UFC heavyweight title in 2021, defended it in 2022, then left the UFC in 2022. ‘Bones’ Jones did not compete in heavyweight until 2023.

Dana White

Despite the timeline making it clear who was not willing to fight, Dana White is still blaming Francis Ngannou. In a recent interview, he said:

“I have zero animosity towards Francis. Francis was out of my world a long time ago. [Sean Shelby] and Mick [Maynard] are another story. It’s a long story. [Shelby] did everything he could in his power to make Jon Jones vs. Francis. The fight did not happen and let me tell you what, it wasn’t because of Jon Jones.” [Ht MMAFighting]

White adds:

“Jon is one of the challenging guys to deal with”

Francis Ngannou confirms plan for PFL debut fight with Renan Ferreira in October

Path to Jones vs. Ngannou

As it currently stands, Jon Jones has not fought since early 2023 but is not willing to face anyone except Stipe Miocic. Miocic has been inactive since 2021 and has not had a victory since 2020. Tom Aspinall is holding and defending the UFC heavyweight interim title, but Jones refuses to fight him.

Francis Ngannou has been booked to fight the powerful striker, the towering, Renan Ferreira on October 19. Ferreira knocked out the Bellator champion in just a few seconds and is also a PFL heavyweight champion.

Francis Ngannou wants to still fight Jon Jones, the PFL leaders and CEOs have said they are willing to book the fight, and the coaching staff of Ngannou said they’re ready. The only party refusing is Dana White and Jon Jones.

Ngannou said:

“I think the UFC have to figure it out and get to a point to figure out that some stuff can be done, maybe cross-promotion in order to give the fans what they want. To make this fight happen. As soon as they get that, as soon as they decide to give that to the fans, everything will be okay. All the parties are down for the fight except one.”

PFL leader Donn Davis said:

“The fight that I believe could happen is Jon Jones and Francis Ngannou. And I think that fight can happen in Saudi Arabia.”

In an interview, Donn Davis told me:

“Unlike the UFC, we would say yes to a fight, yes to an event, yes to [a] collaboration. Anything that is compelling. We’re not dogmatic about working with anybody on anything. But it’s gotta be a big idea. And then we’d say yes.”

Francis Ngannou is active in both boxing and MMA, facing challengers and world champions. His next match is on October 19 while Jones currently has nothing booked.

Dana White Takes Responsibility for Removing Francis Ngannou from UFC History

Francis Ngannou Dana WhiteUFC President Dana White takes full responsibility for removing Francis Ngannou from UFC history. The Nigerian-Kiwi Israel Adesanya was…

Francis Ngannou Dana White

UFC President Dana White takes full responsibility for removing Francis Ngannou from UFC history. The Nigerian-Kiwi Israel Adesanya was not happy to see the removal of the former heavyweight champion.

Francis Ngannou and the UFC

The Cameroonian-born Francis Ngannou has had an incredible life story. He worked in sand mines as a child, traveled across a continent, was arrested, was homeless, then became UFC heavyweight champion and started a foundation in his hometown to support children there. Ngannou walked away from the UFC carrying the lineal heavyweight title and signed with the PFL and competed in blockbuster boxing fights. Now, with the PFL, he is creating a bigger legacy by building MMA in Africa.

The UFC has made videos claiming other fighters are the first Cameroonian athletes in UFC history, completely avoiding Francis Ngannou’s very existence. Adesanya had a complaint about this move and was not happy.

Francis Ngannou claims he was definitely robbed in boxing fight with Tyson Fury

Dana White on Francis Ngannou

The UFC President Dana White has apologized for this in a private message to ‘The Last Stylebender’ Adesanya. In a press conference, White said:

“Someone was editing that and made a conscious decision, thinking that was the right thing to do… I didn’t know about it and that was nothing that ever came across my desk. I’m in charge of everything production-related, so at the end of the day, the fact that it happened falls on me 100 percent. It’s my responsibility and I accept it. Blame me for that. I put them in such a tough spot sometimes saying all this crazy shit, it’s hard for them… Totally on me. I already called Israel Adesanya and apologized for it.”

Francis Ngannou confirms plan for PFL debut fight with Renan Ferreira in October

Jon Jones vs. Francis Ngannou

Jon Jones has been a UFC champion since 2011 and has been talking about a move to heavyweight for quite some time. Ngannou won the heavyweight title in early 2021 and would walk away from the UFC in 2022 with one title defense. Jones held the light heavyweight title during this period but did not take a fight at this time in any weight class. Instead, he waited until 2023 to move to heavyweight.

Interim Champion Tom Aspinall
Interim Champion Tom Aspinall

But, Dana White says the responsibility of that fight falling through lands on Ngannou. Dana White said:

“I have zero animosity towards Francis. Francis was out of my world a long time ago. [Sean Shelby] and Mick [Maynard] are another story. It’s a long story. [Shelby] did everything he could in his power to make Jon Jones vs. Francis. The fight did not happen and let me tell you what, it wasn’t because of Jon Jones.” [Ht MMAFighting]

Jon Jones is looking to book a fight against the aged Stipe Miocic, who has not been active, while declining to fight the interim champion Tom Aspinall. Francis Ngannou will face the knockout machine Renan Ferreira on October 19. The PFL and Ngannou have all recently said that they are willing to book a match against Jon Jones anytime.

Dana White ‘Takes Responsibility’ For Francis Ngannou Erasure In UFC 305 Video, Apologizes To Israel Adesanya

UFC CEO Dana White has addressed the controversy surrounding a quote from Israel Adesanya in the latest Countdown episode being edited to remove any mention of Francis Ngannou. The lead-up to this past weekend’s UFC 305 pay-per-view was heated after Adesanya took issue with some of middleweight champion Dricus Du Plessis’ past comments regarding his […]

Continue Reading Dana White ‘Takes Responsibility’ For Francis Ngannou Erasure In UFC 305 Video, Apologizes To Israel Adesanya at MMA News.

UFC CEO Dana White has addressed the controversy surrounding a quote from Israel Adesanya in the latest Countdown episode being edited to remove any mention of Francis Ngannou.

The lead-up to this past weekend’s UFC 305 pay-per-view was heated after Adesanya took issue with some of middleweight champion Dricus Du Plessis’ past comments regarding his status as the “real African” in the UFC. The Nigerian-New Zealander accused the South African of downplaying his achievements, as well as others who came before him like welterweight veteran Kamaru Usman and former heavyweight kingpin Ngannou.

The promotion unsurprisingly included that storyline in its Countdown episode for UFC 305. But while much of what was said by “The Last Stylebender” surrounded the “three kings,” the UFC eliminated one from the equation.

During UFC 305 fight week, AFeldmanMMA posted a video on X showing Adesanya speaking about Usman and Ngannou, who joined him as the “three kings” hailing from Africa who simultaneously held UFC titles a number of years ago. The quote came during the UFC 305 on-sale press conference weeks before the event.

Accompanying that clip was the same moment shown on Countdown, but heavily edited to remove any mention of the “three kings” and Ngannou.

That drew heavy backlash throughout the community, with Adesanya himself speaking out against the promotion’s apparent attempts to erase the Cameroonian’s legacy and part of history in the UFC.

White Addresses Ngannou Erasure: ‘Somebody In The Company Made That Decision’

During the press conference following this week’s episode of Dana White’s Contender Series, the UFC CEO was asked about the controversy surrounding the promotion’s Ngannou erasure by Kevin Iole.

White and other senior UFC figures close by insisted they weren’t aware of the editing of the quote to remove “The Predator,” with White suggesting it had to have been an employee acting of their own volition.

“I don’t know about this. Do you?” White asked UFC staff who were present. “It was something that we produced? Are you sure that we produced this? What show was it on? Like Embedded or something? I don’t disagree with that (Adesanya’s criticism). But literally everybody who’s sitting in here right now, including our head of PR, doesn’t know about it. When did Israel say it, post-fight? We’ll find out what happened.

“If that’s true and that was done, and it was something that we produced, then somebody in the company made that decision,” White continued. “Listen, you know me. If I said we did it, I’d say, ‘Yeah, f*ck him and this is why we did it.’ I know nothing about it, nobody ever asked me about it, and this is the first we’re hearing about it.”

It evidently didn’t take long for Iole to receive a follow-up statement, posting an update on social media. According to the veteran reporter, White took full responsibility for the controversy and quickly called Adesanya to apologize.

“I had asked @danawhite tonight about the UFC scrubbing @francis_ngannou out of the Countdown show for #UFC305 tonight. He said he’d look into it. Just called me and took full responsibility. His complete answer will be in my story upcoming shortly.

“I should also had here for full context that Dana said he’d already called @stylebender to apologize,” Iole wrote.”

It remains to be seen whether Ngannou will also be receiving an apology. It was, after all, his legacy being erased…

Continue Reading Dana White ‘Takes Responsibility’ For Francis Ngannou Erasure In UFC 305 Video, Apologizes To Israel Adesanya at MMA News.

UFC antitrust lawsuit back in court February 2025

UFC Antitrust Lawsuit Back In Court February 2025The Le vs. Zuffa antitrust lawsuit will officially land back in court for a hearing next year, as soon…

UFC Antitrust Lawsuit Back In Court February 2025

The Le vs. Zuffa antitrust lawsuit will officially land back in court for a hearing next year, as soon as February – as per a ruling this week from sitting judge, Richard Boulware.

The lawsuit, filed initially back in 2014 against the organization by the likes of a slew of fighters including former middleweights, Cung Le, and Nate Quarry – despite a prior settlement agreement in relation to the lawsuit earlier this annum. 

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The initial settlement struck was set to pay out $335,000,000 in relation to two separate lawsuits filed – one covering athletes under the banner of the promotion between 2010 and 2017, as well as other fighters covered from 2017 to the present day.

cung le

Judge Boulware, who has confirmed how the antitrust lawsuit will land back in court on February 3. next, – stated how he had objected the settlement struck earlier this year, questioning if the payment settled on seemed low and how fighters represented in the second lawsuit could take the decision to object to arbitration and further class-action waiver clauses. (H/T MMA Fighting)

Dana White plans to scrap bonus pay increase after UFC 304: 'There was no sense of urgency'

UFC antitrust lawsuit set to return to court in February next year

The antitrust lawsuit initially filed against the promotion alleges that the UFC had participated “in a scheme to acquire and maintain monosopy power in the market for elite professional MMA fighter services.” Furthermore, these alleged practices were achieved through the implementation of exclusive contracts for talent, methods of coercion, and the acquisition of other fighting promotions in a bid to eliminate competitors to their brand and roster. 

Prior to the judge’s ruling, Eric Cramer, who is the lead attorney for fighters said: “They’d be better off both taking the money, getting the injunctive relief. The world where that doesn’t happen is not in that fighter’s interests because I would tell that fighter if they were in my office, ‘You’re likely to lose. You’re likely to get nothing.’”

Social media star iShowSpeed beats Alex Pereira on Punching Power

Social media star iShowSpeed beats Alex Pereira on Punching PowerAlex Pereira is no longer the world’s hardest hitter. Last year, ‘Poatan’ made waves when he famously broke former…

Social media star iShowSpeed beats Alex Pereira on Punching Power

Alex Pereira is no longer the world’s hardest hitter.

Last year, ‘Poatan’ made waves when he famously broke former heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou’s record on the PowerKube, a machine that gauges punch velocity. While attending Fantastic Fest in Austin, Texas last week, Pereira once again tested out his punching power on a standard punch machine that you’d typically find in a bar or arcade.

Pereira put up an impressive high score of 913, but his spot at the top didn’t last for long after social media sensation iShowSpeed showed up and took a turn.

Speed turned in an impressive score of 921 which even had UFC CEO Dana White smiling.

Dana White advises against Speed calling out Alex Pereira for UFC debut

Speed celebrated the accomplishment with fans before demanding the UFC CEO schedule his debut inside the Octagon.

Despite being athletically gifted, Speed has no experience in the fight game. Still, that didn’t stop White from throwing out a potential fight with Adin Ross, another popular internet personally known for his celebrity collaborations. However, Speed quickly shut that down and instead asked for a fight against Alex Pereira.

Alex Pereira KOs Jamahal Hill

White quickly advised against calling out the reigning light heavyweight champ.

“You said that you’re going to give me the fight, bro,” Speed told White, before turning down Ross and insisting that he be given a debut against Pereira. The UFC promoter replied: “That’s a bad idea, have you seen him? He’s here, I think when you see him you’ll change your mind” (h/t Bloody Elbow).

Pereira will return to the Octagon on Saturday, October 5 to put his 205-pound title on the line for the third time in 2024. Headlining UFC 307 in Salt Lake City, ‘Poatan’ will meet No. 8 ranked contender Khalil Rountree in a fight that everyone wants to see, but nobody expected.

Alex Pereira vs. Khalil Rountree

‘The War Horse’ is on a five-fight win streak with knockouts against Modestas Bukauskas, Karl Roberson, Chris Daukaus, and Anthony ‘Lionheart’ Smith.

Rountree KO Smith

Tom Aspinall Aims to Convince Dana White of Jon Jones Fight: “Everyone wants to see it happen.”

Tom Aspinall Aims to Convince Dana White of Jon Jones Fight: "Everyone wants to see it happen."Tom Aspinall is coming for Jon Jones. In July, Aspinall became the first fighter in more than a decade…

Tom Aspinall Aims to Convince Dana White of Jon Jones Fight: "Everyone wants to see it happen."

Tom Aspinall is coming for Jon Jones.

In July, Aspinall became the first fighter in more than a decade to defend an interim belt, putting his temporary heavyweight title on the line against Curtis Blaydes. Aspinall only needed 60 seconds to dispatch ‘Razor’ in the UFC 304 co-main event, both defending his gold and avenging the only loss of his UFC career.

Tom Aspinall

With the win, Aspinall appears to have everyone convinced that he’s the best heavyweight in the world.

Well, everyone except Dana White.

Recently, the UFC CEO has been talking up his undisputed heavyweight king, dubbing Jon Jones the No. 1 P4P best fighter on the planet and suggesting that anyone who says otherwise clearly doesn’t know their ass from their elbow.

Jon Jones and Dana White

While Aspinall has the utmost respect for his boss, the Salford, England native is eager to prove “the best combat sports promoter ever” wrong and hand ‘Bones’ the first legitimate loss of his career.

“This week, actually, we’ve got a cracking video coming out,” Aspinall said via his YouTube channel. We’re going to clap back, clapping back… We’re after Jon Jones. We want the Jon Jones fight around here. We’re trying to make it happen. Fans want to see it happen. Everyone wants to see it happen. Apparently, according to Mr. Dana White, the CEO, the main dog, the best — not even mixed martial artist promoter — the best combat sports promoter ever is saying that Jon Jones is the pound-for-pound No.1.

“How do I feel about that? How do I feel about fighting the pound-for-pound No.1 in the world? Make sure you like and subscribe. You’re going to find out this week. I’m going to reply to Dana White. I’m going to reply to Jon Jones. And we’re coming for you, man. Jon Jones, we are coming for you on the channel — not just on the channel, we’re coming for you in the Octagon, as well” (h/t Sportskeeda).

Dana White expects jon jones to stick around and fight Tom Aspinall

Unfortunately, Aspinall is going to have to remain patient if he really wants to share the Octagon with Jon Jones. ‘Bones’ is expected to make his long-awaited return on November 9 when the promotion heads back to Madison Square Garden for UFC 309. There, he will put his undisputed heavyweight world title on the line for the first time when he meets former two-time champion Stipe Miocic.

Chances are, Miocic is going to retire from the sport, win or lose. Jones, on the other hand, will likely stick around long enough to test himself against Aspinall, so says Dana White.

“After Stipe and Jon fight, whoever wins, the Aspinall fight is even bigger… Jon Jones always loves to challenge himself, moved up to heavyweight. I don’t know what Jon Jones will do after this fight, but I would be shocked if he didn’t want to test himself against Aspinall,” White told Kevin Iole.

Jon Jones and Tom Aspinall