Dana White slams idiots' for claiming he snubbed Francis Ngannou UFC 270. He also reveals why he didn’t wrap his belt on champ

DANA WHITE has reacted to suggestions that he snubbed Francis Ngannou last weekend at UFC 270. He insists that he was dealing "with stuff going on backstage".

After Ngannou's victory against Ciryl Gane for the title, White was not there. Mick Maynard, heavyweight matchmaker, had to wrap the champ in his belt.

Both fighters and fans jumped to conclusions that White intentionally snubbed Ngannou because of The Predator’s ongoing contract situation. This is a conclusion that he strongly denies.

The UFC chief said during an ESPN Q&A: "I wasn’t there for the main show."

"I actually walked out from the arena right after the co main event because there was stuff happening backstage that I was having to deal with.

"It would be foolish for anyone to believe that I was disrespecting Francis. I saw Francis every week, you fools.

"I shook his hands, I said hello to him, I was there for the staredowns and the whole thing."

Later, he added that "for anyone to believe there was some kind of disrespect towards Francis, I wasn’t out there for Michael Bisping [vs. Luke] Rockhold either. I was dealing with some other stuff."

"I ran from the back. I didn't have my jacket on. To go out and put the belt on Bisping, I had only my shirt on.

"But I couldn’t make it out there for Francis to put the belt on."

White revealed that Anderson Silva and Demian Maya were the only times he has deliberately left a main-event early, 12 years ago at UFC 112.

He stated that he had only once walked out on fights and made it clear. He then showed up at the press conference to say this was why he left.

"It was Abu Dhabi with Anderson Silva [at UFC 112], it was the Demian maia fight.

"So that's the answer. Although I don't remember if someone asked this, it was something that somebody wanted. Here you are.

Ngannou, 34 years old, has been at odds with UFC brass for six months. Now, Ngannou faces uncertain future because his contract with promotion expires in December.

Cameroonian-born Frenchman wants to sign a new promotion, but he will only do it if he is allowed to box and given a raise in his pay.

However, Africa's first UFC heavyweight champion is expected to be on the sidelines for nine to ten more months. He's scheduled to have knee surgery, which could keep him off the sidelines for as long as nine to ten years.