UFC CEO Dana White has dismissed the notion that Francis Ngannou made more money from boxing than he would have in the UFC, calling it “a myth.”
Ngannou’s recent transition from the UFC to the Professional Fighters League (PFL) and his foray into boxing have sparked significant discussion in the combat sports community. One of the key reasons behind his departure from UFC was his belief that boxing would offer him greater financial-rewards.
During a conversation with Kevin Iole on Tuesday, White vehemently countered this claim, stating, “That’s not necessarily true. That’s the bullshit publicly that people believe, but that’s not the truth. Total bullshit.”
He continued, emphasizing that the perception of lucrative boxing earnings is misleading. “That whole myth makes everybody go, ‘Oh, let’s fcking go to boxing!’ Boxing doesn’t work. You need a Saudi fcking trillionaire to make fights. Even those with that kind of money get tired of the bullshit. It’s all a f*cking myth.”
White highlighted the financial risks associated with boxing, suggesting that many who venture into sport end up losing substantial sums. “Every guy that tries to do the boxing thing ends up losing shit-loads of f*cking money. The model doesn’t work,” he asserted.
Despite Ngannou reportedly earning around $30 million from his boxing matches against Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua, White maintains that Ngannou’s UFC contract offered him more lucrative opportunities. “I know all the shit that you people don’t know, and I don’t care what everybody says,” White stated. “But that’s a fact. He was offered more money because I know the real numbers.”
Ngannou will return to the MMA spotlight later this month, taking on PFL heavyweight champion Renan Ferreira at the upcoming PFL: Battle of the Giants event on October 19 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. This highly anticipated matchup marks Ngannou’s first fight since his move to the PFL and will serve as a crucial test for the former UFC heavyweight champion.
