Dana White vs. Francis Ngannou: The Explosive Allegations

UFC President Dana White Makes Shocking Claims About Former Heavyweight Champion

In a bombshell revelation that has sent shockwaves through the MMA world, UFC President Dana White has publicly accused former heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou of physically accosting him and a high-ranking UFC official. The allegations, detailed on White's recent appearance on the Flagrant podcast, paint a starkly different picture of Ngannou than the one often portrayed publicly.

White's explosive claims center on two separate alleged physical altercations at the UFC Performance Institute. The first incident, according to White, occurred when Ngannou confronted him in his office after not receiving a $50,000 post-fight bonus.

"He was pissed off he didn't get a $50,000 in his last fight... I said Francis you didn't get it for this, that [reason] and he's in my office and he's arguing with me... 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 fucking 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 fucking is."

— Dana White, Flagrant Podcast

White alleges the confrontation escalated further when Ngannou grabbed UFC Chief Business Officer Hunter Campbell by the collar during a separate discussion, which may have also related to the bonus dispute.

"When Hunter started to walk away, Francis grabbed him by the fucking back of the collar and fucking pulled him back and said ‘we’re not done talking yet.’ This guy’s not a good fucking guy. He’s a bad guy," White stated emphatically.

A History of Bad Blood and Demanding Behavior

These alleged incidents aren't isolated in White's account of his relationship with Ngannou. He detailed another contentious moment from 2018, before Ngannou's title fight against Stipe Miocic in Boston. White claims Ngannou, confident of victory, made an audacious demand.

"After the press conference, we’re walking down this hallway and he comes over to me and he grabs me and he says ‘let me tell you what’s going to happen’... ‘when this fight’s over, you’re going to book me a private plane to Paris.’ I laughed and said ‘oh yeah.’ He said ‘I’m not joking, you’re going to book me a private plane to Paris.’ I said OK."

— Dana White

White asserts that Miocic's subsequent victory ended that demand, but the incident cemented his negative perception of Ngannou's character. "I should have fucking cut him that day," White admitted.

White also dismissed the notion that a language barrier could explain Ngannou's behavior, claiming his English was always fluent. "He plays the whole ‘I don’t understand the language’ and tries to come off that he’s a fucking nice guy... There’s no fucking language barrier with this guy. He’s a bad guy."

The Fallout: Ngannou's Departure and New Ventures

The relationship between White and Ngannou famously deteriorated during contract negotiations after Ngannou's successful title defense against Ciryl Gane in 2022. Ngannou sought the freedom to pursue boxing alongside his UFC commitments, among other demands. When the UFC couldn't meet these terms, Ngannou left in free agency.

Ngannou has since signed with the PFL and secured lucrative deals involving Saudi Arabia, most notably a high-profile boxing match against Tyson Fury. However, White expressed no remorse about his departure. "Francis Ngannou is a bad guy... Now he’s over and he’s done a deal with PFL and Saudi Arabia... I’m sure they wish they never fucking signed him."

Unanswered Questions and The MMA Divide

Crucially, Francis Ngannou has not publicly responded to White's specific allegations of physical altercations. Ngannou has consistently criticized the UFC's business practices and fighter pay since his exit, but these are the most direct and serious accusations leveled against him by his former boss.

White's comments have reignited the debate about the power dynamics between fighters and promotions, the management of superstar athletes, and the public versus private personas of fighters. Ngannou's journey from street kid to heavyweight king to global boxing contender is remarkable, but the shadow of these explosive allegations now looms large over his legacy.

As Ngannou continues to call for a superfight against Jon Jones, Dana White's recent tirade serves as a stark reminder of the deep-seated animosity that fueled one of the sport's most dramatic breakups. Whether Ngannou addresses these specific claims remains to be seen, but the damage to their relationship, and potentially to Ngannou's reputation, appears significant.