The MMA world recently saw former UFC Heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou and Dana White enter into a war of words. The controversy stems from a fight that did not take place the long-awaited clash between Ngannou and Jon Jones, widely viewed as one of the biggest what-ifs in UFC history. In preparation for his Professional Fighters League (PFL) debut, Ngannou said in no uncertain terms that White’s dressing of the reason as to why nothing was agreed upon regarding the fight is incorrect.
Looking for Transparency and Fair Contract
Ngannou was at the peak of his UFC career, looking for big-time fights that included a showdown with Jon Jones, arguably the best light heavyweight champion in history who had just moved to heavyweight. Ngannou sought the fight and wanted it as a means of making his name, just something for which fans have been pining. According to Francis Ngannou, he had asked for the fight on several occasions but was consistently rebuffed by UFC brass who told him Jones didn’t want it and that “Jon’s living a quiet life in Albuquerque” and wasn’t about fighting at this time. Ngannou thought Jones, who had been bargaining for a steep payday to go door-to-door with Ngannou in the octagon, was looking to cash himself out of fighting him.
Even in later comments Ngannou would stress more than just financial gain surrounded by the fight. As a whole, the Cameroonian fighter had been active in calling for athlete rights like healthcare and in-cage sponsorships as well as general access to fight cards of boxing promotions. While it reflected his career aspirations, they were also conflicting with the UFC’s contract structure at the time. He thought the UFC’s terms were too draconian, and he feared that signing such an agreement could pigeonhole him into a deal one day down the road that wouldn’t be in his best long-term interests.
Dana White Blames it on the Message.
However, Dana White has a similar but contradicting story. He most recently accused Ngannou of ducking Jones, all but attributing his reluctance to engage with the ex-light heavyweight champion as a reason why that fight has not materialized. White, meanwhile, believes Ngannou turned down the UFC because it did not want to hurt his reputation against Jones, such a “scary badass in White’s eyes. White has reported that Francis Ngannou is solely responsible for the missed showdown and insisted to MMA Junkie Radio that it did everything possible to bring about a deal.
In opposition to this, in 2021, White hinted Jones was the one who wasn’t keen on fighting Ngannou at all, and it certainly didn’t help matters that there appeared to be financial issues surrounding a potential showdown between them. White said at the time that Jones was asking for $30 million to face Lesnar, a figure he called “unbelievable” and wouldn’t fly with in terms of their business structure.
The Public and Social Media
On social media, fans are having their say, and many think that White’s flip-flopping has allegedly been due to the fact that Francis Ngannou left the UFC for another promotion in rival outfit PFL. Certain fans and pundits suspect that White’s comments aim to cast doubt on a decision from Ngannou. He recently signed with the PFL because he gained more contractual liberty. This liberty includes options for boxing. Ngannou will make his PFL debut against heavyweight champ Renan Ferreira later this season. This bout has already begun to generate plenty of buzz in the MMA space.
Control, Power, and Fighter Rights in the UFC
The Ngannou-White presentation represents a larger, more difficult tension within the UFC world regarding fighter pay and power. Several potential fights influenced Francis Ngannou to realize he had to leave the UFC. This decision was part of his grand plan to offer him better freedom. It gave him control over his appearance in fights again. In his new PFL deal, for example, he can fight in both boxing and MMA. Ngannou is pursuing licenses to box. He can seek sponsorships as he pleases. He can work out looser deals. These are advantages that, in some respects, Gaethje feels the UFC wasn’t willing or able to provide.
Fighters are “trapped in the UFC’s story,” as Ngannou phrased it. They are bound by promotional whims over their own careers or legacies. Ideally, fighters’ rights and well-being should be considered. Their feelings toward White as the head of UFC should not be taken into account. He has a lot to say about which fights happen or what fighter contracts look like.
What repercussions in the future for MMA?
The Ngannou-White impasse may be the start of more significant changes in the MMA landscape. More top fighters are looking for independence in their careers. Fighters seeking more control are turning to promotions like the PFL and Bellator. These promotions offer contractual alternatives. Fighters can access everything from health insurance to sponsorships or multi-sport opportunities. In particular, the PFL has experienced rapid growth recently. They have been adding big-name talent. Francis Ngannou is another notable name recognizing what the brand stands for.
Regardless of whether Jones-Ngannou is ever realized, the debate it has stirred up highlights many important issues. These issues figure prominently in MMA’s future. The incident frequently shows the complications of organizing fights. These complications are more pronounced with big names in the sport. This is evident from both a fan’s view and a behind-the-scenes perspective.
As Francis Ngannou readies himself for life in the PFL, all of MMA will watch closely. They want to see if these increasing complaints about contracts will affect him. They are curious about the impact on his relationship with the UFC. Meanwhile, many fans hope that fighters like Ngannou and Jones will one day fight without contractual constraints. They wish to see matchups happen solely on their sporting merit, unaffected by story-driven matchmaking.
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