Dana White
Francis Ngannou
Conversation History
“Let me be clear on something, when i say the physicality, it’s not like francis ngannou came in here and threatened us or anything like that... we’re in there and he’s telling me that he deserves the $50k. I said 'you’re not getting it.'... and i’m like 'i’m done, i have another meeting'... so i started to walk out, and he put his hand on my chest, and he said, 'we’re not done talking,' and i said, 'oh, we’re f***ing done talking.'... it’s not like francis came in here and was like, physical. But that’s what went down.”
– via TheMacLife, clarifying his previous comments by stating that Francis Ngannou's "physicality" involved putting a hand on his chest and saying, "We’re not done talking," rather than a physical threat.
“There was nothing that made me happier than throwing that guy over to the f***ing pfl.”
– via The Mad Life, strongly stating his lack of interest in bringing Francis Ngannou back to the UFC and expressing satisfaction that Ngannou is now fighting for the PFL
“My whole thing with Francis is, i have this philosophy where, if someone shows you who they really are, believe them... there was nothing that made me happier than throwing that guy over to the f***ing pfl. Let me tell you what, if we let guys go, feel bad for the company that gets them.We let them go for a f***ing reason. I don't want to let anybody go. I don't want to be in business with guys that i don't like and that i don't think are good guys. And when you talk about good guys and guys, i am in the fight business. Sh*t happens, you know what i mean? I'm pretty lenient when it comes to tough guy sh*t. I'm not lenient with bad guy sh*t”
– via an interview with Oscar Willis, expressing his satisfaction that Francis Ngannou left the UFC and stating his philosophy is to avoid being in business with people he deems "bad guys
“We shouldn’t have gone this way. Why do we get all this way first of all? What’s the purpose? How come we get from where we were to where we are now? On the other hand, i would just say it’s quite disappointing the way that things went. That’s all.”
– via an interview with Ariel Helwani, expressing annoyance at being held responsible for White's claims, pointing out that White's office likely has cameras, and stating his disappointment that their relationship went sour.
“You know, i kind of feel very annoyed to have to be responsible for what people say. Whatever he said, if he's at peace with it, it's okay... In his office, that’s what he said, right? Well, i’m sure he has a lot of cameras there… As I said, over time, i just get tired of this stuff. I really saw that and scrolled. I scrolled, i moved. I get past it”
– via an interview with Ariel Helwani, expressing annoyance at being held responsible for White's claims, pointing out that White's office likely has cameras, and stating his disappointment that their relationship went sour.
“My guy Hunter [Campbell], they were talking about something, it might have even been that same thing. And when Hunter started to walk away, Francis grabbed him by the f**king back of his collar and f**king pulled him back and said, 'We're not done talking yet.' This guy's not a good f**king guy. He's a bad guy”
– On Ngannou's Confrontation with Hunter Campbell
“He was pissed off he didn't get a $50,000 in his last fight, that he didn't get the bonus of the night. 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 f**king 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 f**king is”
– On Francis Ngannou Getting Physical Over a Bonus