Ngannou Says White Spent 3 Years Blocking UFC Exit as Return Talk Dies

Q: What secret behind-the-scenes battle cost Dana White millions and permanently destroyed his relationship with Francis Ngannou?

The “secret” battle was a prolonged legal and contractual war over Francis Ngannou’s freedom from the UFC, not a single hidden incident. Ngannou says he spent more than three years and “a lot of money in law firms” building what he called an “escape plan” to get out of his UFC deal, while Dana White was “doing everything in his power” to keep him from becoming a free agent. That dispute centered on Ngannou’s push for greater autonomy, including the ability to box outside the UFC and negotiate terms he felt reflected his market value after becoming heavyweight champion. The UFC, by White’s own account, offered him what it said would have been the richest heavyweight contract in company history, but Ngannou rejected it and let his deal expire in January 2023, leaving as champion. The relationship appears to have broken down well before the exit. White has now admitted he wanted Ngannou to lose his final UFC fight, the 2022 title defense against Ciryl Gane, a revealing sign of how poisoned the relationship had become during the contract standoff. White also skipped the belt-wrapping and post-fight press conference that night, fueling speculation about the rift. So the millions were tied to years of legal fees, contract maneuvering, and the failed effort to stop Ngannou from leaving. The permanent damage came from that power struggle itself: Ngannou won his release, moved into boxing and the PFL, and White has since made clear he considers the split final and irreversible.

3 articles · Updated · Yahoo Sports · Sep 11

Francis Ngannou said he spent more than 3 years and significant legal fees building an "escape plan" from UFC because Dana White was "doing everything in his power" to keep him from leaving.
The accusation came in a social-media response to White's latest remarks, after the UFC CEO ruled out any Ngannou return and again labeled the former heavyweight champion a "bad guy."
That exchange further dims hopes of a Ngannou-Jon Jones fight, with White this week also shutting down speculation about bringing Ngannou back to the promotion.
Since leaving UFC in January 2023, Ngannou has landed lucrative boxing bouts and 2 MMA fights with PFL and MVP, while UFC's heavyweight division remains unsettled even as the company grows more profitable.