Francis Ngannou and Dana White have been feuding for a long time. The UFC heavyweight champion has expressed dissatisfaction with a number of issues, including the regularity with which he gets scheduled, his contract status, and the manner in which the UFC negotiates.
According to White's most recent statements, things between them haven't improved yet.
“These things happen. Sometimes you don’t always come to terms with people,” White said, before taking yet another shot at Ngannou’s management team. “When you’re a fighter, you have to be careful who represents you. I don’t think he’s had the best representation.”
White and Ngannou's manager have had public spats in the past. Interestingly, Ngannou is represented by Creative Artist Agency (CAA), a large Hollywood and sports agency that has long been adversaries with White's superiors at Endeavor.
White also adds that if Ngannou decides to leave the UFC, he has "no problem" with it.
“Look, if you want to be with us, we’d love to have you. If you don’t want to be with us, no problem. It’s all good,” White claimed. “I think his contract, and this is off the top of my head, if he wins he still has time with us after this fight. He’d probably have one more fight.”
White's comments here, however, contradict the promotion's actions, and it doesn't appear that things will be "all right" with them if Ngannou goes. His initial contract was set to expire in May of this year, but despite the fact that he has not signed a new contract, UFC has been prolonging it through the use of contentious stipulations in his contract.
Ngannou won the UFC heavyweight championship in March 2021. However, three months later, the UFC decided to book an interim heavyweight title, which Ciryl Gane presently possesses.
Ngannou and Gane's championship unification is presently scheduled for UFC 270 on January 22. Not only will it be interesting to watch who wins that exciting matchup, but also how Ngannou's contract conflict plays out after that fight.
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