“Everyone Said He Was an Idiot…”: Tyson Fury Hits Back at Dana White and Co. for Their Refutal of Francis Ngannou’s “Genius” Move of Quitting the UFC

Tyson Fury has once again fired back at UFC president Dana White, this time taking a dig at the American and his promotion in defense of his future opponent, Francis Ngannou. For those who may be unaware, Fury is all set to face Ngannou in a boxing match on October 28 as part of Riyadh Season, the annual entertainment and sports festival. This announcement comes after months of teasing fans with no specific date or venue.

The saga between the two titans began when Tyson Fury invited Ngannou into the ring after his knockout victory over Dillian Whyte at Wembley Stadium. Fury then challenged the Cameroonian to a boxing clash, referring to him as the ‘baddest man on the planet’. Now, after a year of this callout, the bout is finally set to take place in Saudi Arabia. However, before they trade blows in the boxing ring, it seems Fury has some words for the UFC.

Tyson Fury mocks ‘genius’ Francis Ngannou’s critics

Recently, Tyson Fury and Francis Ngannou appeared together in a press conference for their upcoming matchup. As expected, the two men exchanged some verbal shots, which is par for the course when the ‘Gypsy King’ is involved. However, Fury didn’t stop at Ngannou; he also took a jab at Dana White and the UFC for doubting ‘The Predator’s move to boxing.

In Fury’s own words: “Francis Ngannou here, you know, the UFC, former UFC; everyone said he was an idiot for walking away from the UFC, and now all of a sudden he’s a genius, and the guy is about to make ten million dollars. Come on! Egg on their face!” For those unaware, Ngannou left the UFC earlier this year following failed negotiations despite holding the UFC gold at the time of his departure. A move that drew criticisms from big names in the sports, including Dana White.

Read More: “When I Was in Prison He Used to …” – Mike Tyson Tells Francis Ngannou Why Tupac Will Always Be His Favorite

Nevertheless, unlike UFC, Ngannou’s current contract with PFL allows the heavyweight to pursue boxing matches. After months of anticipation, the dates and venue for his clash with the currently ranked number-one heavyweight boxer are finally fixed. The former UFC heavyweight champion will make around 10 million dollars for this fight. Much more than any of his paydays before with UFC.

Not the first of its kind, but maybe the biggest of its kind

While Fury vs. Ngannou is not the first of its kind in terms of a boxing-MMA crossover, it may well be the most significant. In the past, athletes from both sports have ventured into each other’s territory, with one of the most notable examples being Randy Couture‘s UFC 118 clash against James Toney. However, during that time, neither athlete was in their prime, and many deemed the matchup a “freak show.”

In contrast, both Ngannou and Fury are currently at the top of their game. Fury is currently ranked as the number one heavyweight in the world, while Ngannou was the UFC heavyweight champion at the time of his departure from the organization. Given their statuses, it’s safe to say that this matchup can be considered the best of its kind.

WATCH THIS STORY: Everything We Know So Far About Tyson Fury vs. Francis Ngannou