Over the years, the fighting community has seen numerous intense feuds between promoters and fighters. One notable conflict is the ongoing dispute between former UFC champion Francis Ngannou and UFC CEO Dana White. Recently, even their mutual friend Joe Rogan shared his thoughts on the escalating back-and-forth between White and Ngannou.
In a recent episode of JRE, Rogan had an intriguing discussion about various current events. The UFC commentator also addressed the ongoing conflict between Francis Ngannou and Dana White. He expressed confusion over why these two prominent figures in the combat sports community criticized each other.
I love Francis (Ngannou), I love Dana (White). I don’t get it. I don’t know what happened between those two. They apparently have some sort of a personal thing with each other. Dana says, He’s not a good guy… Every interaction I had with him (Francis Ngannou), he’s a great guy. I really love talking to him.
Joe Rogan via JRE #2220
The recent conflict between the two began after the UFC CEO made derogatory comments about the former UFC champion. As such, White claimed that UFC executives pleaded not to terminate Ngannou’s contract. However, these remarks did not sit well with the ‘Predator.’ In retaliation, he made serious accusations against the UFC CEO, later supported by several other former UFC fighters.
Rogan, remaining neutral in the feud between White and Ngannou, was disappointed that two of his good friends were embroiled in such a long-standing conflict. The dispute between the UFC CEO and Ngannou began while the latter actively competed in the promotion. Despite their efforts to resolve their differences, they were unable to come to an agreement and Ngannou left the promotion.
When Joe Rogan was ‘bummed’ to see Francis Ngannou leave UFC
The combat sports community knows Francis Ngannou’s reputation as a fighter. His remarkable achievements in the UFC have significantly contributed to this acclaim. Ngannou made his UFC debut in 2015 and has since established himself as a formidable competitor. Throughout his illustrious UFC career, he has faced defeat only twice, highlighting his overall success in the promotion.
With his exceptional fight record, Ngannou also had some memorable knockout victories. Because of this, he has made a significant impact in the community, winning the admiration of many prominent figures. One notable supporter is UFC commentator Joe Rogan, who was inspired by Ngannou’s remarkable journey in the promotion. Therefore, he felt deeply sad when the Predator decided to leave the UFC.
I’m so bummed out, man. I do not like this whole thing. I do not like this at all. I do not like having the best guy in the world not being the champion…
Joe Rogan on Francis Ngannou’s UFC departure
Joe Rogan is “bummed out” by Francis Ngannou’s departure from UFC. 😔
Full story: pic.twitter.com/MGJQPv3nEr
— MMA Junkie (@MMAJunkie) January 21, 2023
After leaving the UFC, Ngannou did not achieve a successful record in boxing, but he earned substantial money during his time in the sport. After exploring boxing, he returned to MMA and made his debut for PFL. As such, Ngannou defeated former PFL champion Renan Ferreira with a powerful ground-and-pound knockout. He could return in the next year as he Predator vowed to keep fighting.
