Ufc

Fear And Loathing In Anaheim: Francis Ngannou And Dana White Reach An Impasse

The UFC Heavyweight Champion and the company president are at loggerheads
06:45, 25 Jan 2022

There was something unusual about UFC Heavyweight Champion Francis Ngannou’s victory over Interim Champion Ciryl Gane in Anaheim, California on Saturday night. The strangeness did not emanate from the fact Gane was a betting favourite going in, rendering the win a minor upset. Nor was the odd atmosphere attributable to the fact Ngannou, noted for his ridiculous knockout power, had won the first points decision of his career. No, the sense that something was off in the Honda Center came from the fact UFC President did not strap the belt round Ngannou’s waist in the aftermath. 

To a casual observer, this would seem the most minor of moments. But UFC followers will know that White, the highly-visible figurehead of the company, almost always anoints the victorious champion in this way after a fight. The fact this was a deliberate snubbing, rather than an accidental oversight, was confirmed when White did not attend the post-show press conference. For the public face of the UFC to shun a chance to speak to the media after a huge heavyweight title fight was seismic.

The disconnect appears to be over the familiar matter of fighter pay. Ngannou is expected to net $600,000 dollars for his efforts last weekend. Contrast that with boxing’s heavyweight champion Tyson Fury, who reportedly took home as much as $30 million for his trilogy showdown with Deontay Wilder in October. Considering the UFC often surpasses boxing in terms of PPV revenue, it is baffling to see the disparity.

The pay gap issue has been brought up recently by Jake Paul, who has criticised White personally for poor fighter pay. The YouTuber has also used the issue to his advantage, offering the likes of Ben Askren and Tyron Woodley career-high paydays to fight him in a boxing ring. This strategy has also worked elsewhere. WWE made former UFC headliner Ronda Rousey the highest paid woman on their roster in 2018, showing that lucrative offers are available to those who made their name inside the Octagon.

It is for this reason that Ngannou looks set to sit out the last year of his contract. Were he not the world champion, that contract would have already come to an end with the Gane fight. But the UFC operates what is commonly known as ‘the champion’s clause’, where the contract of a reigning titlist is extended for either three fights or twelve months, depending on which arrives first. With ‘The Predator’ disenfranchised by his pay, and keen to explore lucrative opportunities in the world of professional boxing, it seems the big man from Cameroon may wait out his twelve month extension and leave the company.

happier times: ufc president dana white wasn't smiling at the weekend
happier times: ufc president dana white wasn't smiling at the weekend

Such an unthinkable move would be damaging for the UFC. As the Heavyweight Champion, Francis Ngannou is one of the most marketable members of the roster. His exciting, knockout-oriented style is a big selling point for the company, and the ignominy of losing a reigning champion would be devastating. 

Ngannou is convinced he should be allowed to cross-over into the square ring, while the UFC are keen to restrict him to the Octagon. Conor McGregor was permitted to fight Floyd Mayweather in their 2017 money-spinner, in a bout which netted the UFC a considerable sum of money. But Dana White seems reluctant to take the risk of Ngannou being defeated while reigning as champion, an outcome that seems increasingly likely given Ngannou’s desired opponent. ‘The Predator’ has made no secret of his desire to face Tyson Fury in a boxing match, and despite the obvious power the MMA star possesses, a fighter with zero pro boxing experience is never going to beat ‘The Gypsy King’. 

Both sides of the divide have a point. Ngannou feels like he is paid peanuts in the context of how important he is to the UFC. He is also being denied the opportunity to test himself in another sport that McGregor was granted. From Dana White’s point of view, it is crystal clear why he wouldn’t want his Heavyweight Champion being beaten by his boxing counterpart. The ramifications of boxing being seen to defeat MMA could hurt business. 

Ngannou’s path is further complicated by injury, as ACL and MCL issues he suffered training for the Gane fight are believed to require surgery. This puts the kibosh on a potential super-fight with pound-for-pound great Jon Jones, who is training for a move up to heavyweight. A clash with ‘Bones’ is perhaps the sort of fight that could see Ngannou decide to stick around, but Jones’ heavyweight debut is likely to be against another fighter while the Heavyweight Champion recovers.

For now, the situation appears to have reached an impasse. Ngannou is adamant he will see out his contract without fighting again. White and the UFC seem unmoved by the Cameroonian’s threats, or his desire to dabble in boxing. It is a shame that it has come to this. Ngannou is the sort of champion the UFC needs, and with heavyweight boxing already stacked but convoluted, arguably ‘The Predator’ doesn’t need boxing and its politics. While the chances feel remote at this point, here’s hoping for a resolution that suits all parties.

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