You may be interested to know that Dana White, the CEO of the UFC, has strongly disputed the notion that Francis Ngannou earned more money through boxing than he would have while competing in the UFC. This discussion became prominent after Ngannou’s departure from the UFC to pursue opportunities in boxing and join the PFL.
Ngannou previously claimed that one of his motivations for leaving the UFC was the potential for higher earnings in boxing. However, White vehemently refuted this assertion during a recent conversation with sports journalist Kevin Iole. He characterised the belief that boxers earn significantly more than UFC fighters as a “myth,” labelling the idea as “total bullshit.”
Dana White says Francis Ngannou was offered more to stay in the UFC and fight Jon Jones than he was to leave and go boxing:
“I know the real numbers.”#UFC #MMA pic.twitter.com/ZSi7KsUTey
— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) October 2, 2024
During his remarks, White stated, “That’s not necessarily true. That’s the bullshit publicly that people believe, but that’s not the truth.” He elaborated on the generalisation surrounding profit-making in boxing, suggesting that it often requires the backing of wealthy investors, saying, “What makes it work? You need a Saudi f*king trillionaire to make f*king fights.”
White’s comments come in the wake of Ngannou’s performances against Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua, which were funded by Turki Alalshikh, the Chairman of the General Entertainment Authority of Saudi Arabia. The reports indicate that Ngannou made around $30 million from these two bouts, a sum distinctly larger than the $8 million he claimed the UFC offered him to face Jon Jones.
Despite these figures, White maintains that the UFC had better financial offers for Ngannou, asserting, “I know all the shit that you people don’t know, and I don’t care what everybody says. It doesn’t matter to me. But that’s a fact. He was offered more money because I know the real numbers.”
As you keep an eye on developments in the world of mixed martial arts, you might be intrigued to learn that Ngannou is set to make his return to MMA this month. He will face PFL heavyweight champion Renan Ferreira at the eagerly anticipated PFL: Battle of the Giants, scheduled for October 19 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
This ongoing discourse about Ngannou’s financial opportunities in boxing versus the UFC continues to raise eyebrows and stir debate within the community. As you follow Ngannou’s career, the contrasting opinions from figures like Dana White may influence how you perceive the financial realities of combat sports.
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