FRANCIS NGANNOU has launched a blistering attack on UFC president Dana White following his exit from the promotion.
The Predator walked away from mixed martial arts’ top league following failed talks over a new contract – leaving the heavyweight title vacant.
Francis Ngannou left the UFC as their reigning heavyweight title after failed contract talks
The Predator was criticised by UFC president Dana White following his exit
Ngannou has branded White’s comments as ‘bulls**t’
After confirming Ngannou’s departure, White claimed he’d rejected an offer to become the promotion’s “highest-paid heavyweight” ever.
And that notion has irked the Cameroonian-born Frenchman, who insists he wasn’t holding out for a blockbuster payday.
During an appearance on The MMA Hour, he said: “I watched part of it and at some point, I stopped watching. I was like, ‘Bulls***.’
“Dana is Dana. I don’t care what he said. Dana cannot hurt me.
“Saying things cannot hurt me. Where I come from I’ve heard a lot.
“What he said, it’s his problem. What I know is I’m here and I have a good future.
“I think what he was expressing was his frustration.
“It doesn’t matter what he said. He’s upset. He’s not happy with the situation.
CASINO SPECIAL – BEST NEW CUSTOMER SIGN UP DEALS“He saw his champion go away, which has probably never happened to him.”
Ngannou was offered close to £6.5million ($8m) for a fight with former pound-for-pound king Jon Jones but turned down the lucrative deal as the promotion would not make any concessions over his requests for fighters to have in-cage sponsors and healthcare.
He said: “For the Jon Jones fight, around that [the $8m Brock Lesnar got paid for UFC 200].
“It was a multi-fight deal. I was for three fights.
“They said they would give that exception for me. No extension.
Jon Jones and Ciryl Gane will vie for the vacant heavyweight title at UFC 285
“One was Jon Jones, two was Stipe [Miocic] then Jones again.
“Out of that three fights, I hoped two were Jon Jones.”
Ngannou’s old belt won’t be vacant for long as Jones and Ciryl Gane will vie for it on March 4 in the main event of UFC 285 in Las Vegas.
Now that he’s a free agent, Ngannou has set his sights on returning to his first love: boxing.
And he’s targeting showdowns with British heavyweights Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua.
