Former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou has made headlines once again, this time accusing UFC president Dana White of owing him money from previous fights. During an interview on Sirius XM Fight Nation’s MMA Today, Ngannou responded to recent remarks from White, who spoke at a press conference ahead of UFC 308.
“Which money is he talking about? The money that he owes me?” Ngannou questioned, referring to White’s comments regarding Ngannou’s earnings after leaving the UFC. “Remember, all of this ended with [them] saying, ‘Oh, we’ll backpay you from the money that we owe you for the Stipe [Miocic] and Ciryl Gane fight.’ They never backpaid me. Now I have made more money than I have ever made in the UFC—twice what I could have made if I had stayed.”
Ngannou, who departed the UFC in January 2023 and signed with the Professional Fighters League (PFL) four months later, emphasized his financial success outside the organization. He stated, “If I’m not making enough money that I could’ve made in the UFC, that’s my problem. Why is he so pissed about me not making that much money? Like, come on man, live your life.”
In response to Ngannou’s comments, White suggested that Ngannou left the UFC to avoid the risk of losing a potential fight against Jon Jones, which could have impacted his earning potential. “Francis left because he knew that if he fought Jon Jones and didn’t win, it would hurt his chances of making the money that he wanted to make,” White claimed. “Realistically, his deal was bigger here. He would have made more money if he stayed in the UFC.”
Despite the financial discrepancies, Ngannou has found lucrative opportunities in boxing. After signing with PFL, he faced heavyweight boxing champions Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua, reportedly earning around $20 million for both bouts. Ngannou previously noted on The Last Stand podcast that his earnings from the Fury fight exceeded his entire UFC career income.
He explained, “I was in a contract issue that I didn’t want to sign a new contract that would have given me more money, but not enough. Also, the conditions would have prevented me from doing boxing, which was one of my ultimate dreams.” He added that any future fights would likely yield earnings far beyond what he received during his UFC tenure.
Fans have long been eager to see a superfight between Ngannou and Jon Jones, currently regarded as the best pound-for-pound fighter in UFC history. With a professional MMA record of 18-3, Ngannou left the UFC as the heavyweight champion and recently captured the PFL Super Fights Heavyweight Championship with a first-round knockout of Renan Ferreira.
Ngannou reiterated his desire for a matchup with Jones, placing the blame for the fight’s absence squarely on White. “The only guy standing in the way of that fight is Dana White. I want the Jon Jones fight. I’m down for the fight. Jones is down for the fight,” he stated. “I was down for a Jon Jones fight three years ago, and I am down for it now.”
While the prospect of Ngannou vs. Jones remains tantalizing, the complexities of contractual agreements and promotional politics continue to cast doubt on the likelihood of the two stars facing off in the Octagon.
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