Dana White recently shared his stance on Francis Ngannou’s departure from the UFC, suggesting that Ngannou left for financial gain and to avoid facing Jon Jones. White revealed that he nearly cut Ngannou from the UFC roster following two consecutive losses early in his career, but was convinced by a colleague to keep him. The two have had ongoing tensions since Ngannou left the UFC after contract disagreements, despite White reportedly offering him $8 million. Ngannou, now with the Professional Fighters League (PFL), recently made a successful MMA return and a high-profile boxing debut against Tyson Fury. Despite a split decision loss to Fury, Ngannou reportedly earned $10 million, followed by another $20 million from his subsequent match with Anthony Joshua.

Ngannou’s current PFL contract allows him to pursue boxing, a deal White has criticized, claiming Ngannou would have made more if he stayed in the UFC. White also downplayed the PFL’s popularity, comparing it to his Power Slap venture and questioning the organization’s viability in contrast to the UFC. He emphasized that Power Slap’s social media reach and engagement figures significantly surpass those of the PFL, suggesting the UFC has no reason to collaborate with its competitor.