FRANCIS NGANNOU RESPONDS TO DANA WHITE OVER UFC EXIT

Francis Ngannou has responded to comments made by Dana White, the UFC head, regarding the heavyweight's departure from the promotion. White stated during a recent appearance that he had no desire to conduct business with Ngannou. Ngannou replied on social media that he had spent over three years and significant money on legal costs to secure his exit from the UFC. Ngannou characterised White's position as inconsistent, stating that White had worked to prevent his departure whilst now claiming he never wanted him in the promotion.

Ngannou signed a five-year contract with the UFC in 2017 before fighting Stipe Miocic for the heavyweight title. The contract included a championship clause that automatically extended his deal to three fights or one year if he retained the title when the initial contract expired. Ngannou defeated Miocic at UFC 260 and became champion. Before his final contracted fight against Ciryl Gane at UFC 270, Ngannou sought a three-fight deal with freedom to pursue boxing elsewhere. The UFC offered him a deal reported to be worth eight million pounds, which would have made him the highest-paid UFC heavyweight at that time, but Ngannou declined.

Ngannou invoked a sunset clause in his contract that allowed his obligations to expire after a set period, enabling him to leave the UFC in January 2023. The legal process he pursued follows a precedent established in 2007 when Randy Couture declared himself a free agent whilst seeking a fight with Fedor Emelianenko. Ngannou has not returned to the UFC since his departure.