STWF Sports|Nov. 19, 2025 – The fractured relationship between Dana White and Francis Ngannou—once one of the UFC’s most dominant champions—continues to unravel publicly, with the UFC CEO now revealing the specific moments that convinced him the former heavyweight king was, in his words, a “bad guy.”
Ngannou, who departed the UFC in 2023 after a bitter contract dispute and later signed with the PFL, was once among the promotion’s marquee attractions. Yet behind the scenes, according to White, tensions had been simmering long before Ngannou exited the company. In a candid appearance on the Flagrant podcast, White gave his most detailed account yet of what caused their relationship to deteriorate so dramatically.
The Bonus Dispute That Turned Physical
One confrontation in particular stands out for White. The UFC boss alleges that during a disagreement about a missing $50,000 post-fight bonus, Ngannou physically placed his hands on him in his office—an incident White says revealed the fighter’s true temperament.
“He was pd off he didn’t get $50,000 in his last fight,” White said.
*“He’s in my office arguing with me. The conversation’s over and I’m starting to leave, and he grabs me by my shirt and pushes me back. I said, ‘Dude, get your f**g hands off me.’”
White claims that in that moment, he saw another side of Ngannou—one he didn’t trust.
“I could see in this guy’s face and in his eyes who this guy really f*****g is.”
The alleged altercation happened before Ngannou even entered negotiations with PFL, according to White, indicating that tensions had been building behind closed doors for quite some time.
Another Alleged Incident With the UFC’s Top Attorney
White didn’t stop there. He accused Ngannou of another physical confrontation—this time involving the UFC’s chief business officer, Hunter Campbell, the promotion’s lead negotiator and one of its most influential executives.
White claims Campbell and Ngannou had been discussing the same bonus-related issue when Campbell attempted to walk away from the argument.
“When Hunter started to walk away, Francis grabbed him by the back of his collar and pulled him back and said, ‘We’re not done talking yet,’” White said.
“This guy’s not a good f*****g guy. He’s a bad guy.”
White’s comments are among the harshest he has ever made publicly about Ngannou, escalating the feud to levels rarely seen between a promoter and former champion.
From Champion to Opponent: A Relationship in Ruins
Ngannou, who left the UFC after months of failed negotiations over pay, contractual freedom, and long-term opportunities, has repeatedly described White as a “bully” and accused the promotion of unfair treatment. Their split was acrimonious, with both sides exchanging public criticisms in interviews and on social media.
Even after Ngannou secured a landmark PFL contract—one that allowed both higher pay and the freedom to pursue lucrative boxing matches—White refused to congratulate him, instead downplaying his value and questioning whether the PFL deal was sustainable.
Last year, when asked directly how he felt about Ngannou as a person, White didn’t mince words.
“I don’t like Francis as a person,” he said.
Will White and Ngannou Ever Reconcile?
At this point, it appears highly unlikely. Both men remain entrenched in their positions and have shown no interest in repairing the relationship. Ngannou, who has since crossed over to high-profile boxing bouts against Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua, continues to carve out a new athletic identity outside the UFC structure.
White, meanwhile, has embraced a new era in the heavyweight division, spotlighting talents such as Jon Jones, Tom Aspinall, and Sergei Pavlovich—fighters he believes fit the UFC mold both competitively and professionally.
The fractures between the UFC’s most powerful executive and one of its most devastating punchers may be permanent. And as both men continue forward on separate paths, their feud remains one of the most contentious and personal in modern combat sports.
