UFC CEO Dana White had sent a rumble in the MMA sphere with his recent comments about Francis Ngannou’s decision to leave the UFC for boxing. His claim? When asked by Kevin Iole if ‘The Predator’ had been more financially successful outside the UFC, White fired back by stating, “That’s not necessarily true… That’s that whole myth that makes everybody go, ‘Oh, let’s go to boxing!’”

However, Ngannou has a different take on the situation! Recently, during an interview with Mike Bohn, the former UFC champion was asked if he had any response to the UFC boss’s claim that the financial success he’s achieved in boxing was overstated. Not mincing his words, ‘The Predator’ bluntly responded, “I don’t take anything from Dana White as a credit. You know? I don’t give any importance because things that he said a lot of time cannot make sense. And, but just for the statement, I will say for everything that I left the UFC for, every single thing, I have had more, way more.”

But is Ngannou happy with his decision to leave the UFC behind? According to him, “Very. I fight today. This day, I fight because I love fighting. I don’t fight because I need to pay bills or because I need to pay debt, or I don’t fight because I need to make a living.”

The reactions by the fandom were swift as they flooded the comments with support for Francis Ngannou while taking jabs at the UFC boss. Here’s a look at what the netizens had to say.

Fans rally behind Francis Ngannou as he fires back at Dana White’s claims about his boxing success

Many sided with Francis Ngannou recognizing the former champion as a trailblazer for those seeking more autonomy in combat sports. When he became a free agent in 2023, in an interview on The MMA Hour, Ngannou revealed that his demands for a new contract included a request for health insurance for all fighters, “At this point, health insurance for me is not a problem, but how about the guys at the bottom, they can’t really afford health insurance. And I have been there, so it’s something I carry in my heart.” However, the organization wasn’t too keen on it.

“Happy for Francis!! He always stood up for fighters rights”

Others pointed out that for elite boxers, the paydays are significantly larger than those of UFC fighters. According to a report shared by Sporting News, Francis Ngannou secured a $10 million purse for his fight against Tyson Fury and $20 million for his bout against Anthony Joshua! Impressive, right? Even more so if you consider that for his last fight in the UFC against Ciryl Gane at UFC 270, ‘The Predator’ reportedly earned $640,000.

“Boxers at the top end get much more than UFC fighters. Francis had two fights headlining Saudi shows. These are spots every boxer wants. The notion that he would have made more in UFC for the same amount of fights is ridiculous.”

As such, the consensus from fans was clear as they claimed Dana White’s frustration seemed rooted in his inability to keep Ngannou under the UFC banner. In an interview with CBS Sports’ Shakiel Mahjouri, Ngannou also stated, “But for me, as the inside one that was receiving that money after leaving the UFC, and from what the UFC was proposing, it was just a trap. It wasn’t a solid contract as well…so that’s a lie.”

“Dana is a hater man. You couldn’t make a deal and he went where it was best for what he wanted. Dana can’t stand the idea of a place better then the UFC lol”

Ngannou’s story has also resonated with many fans. For them, his willingness to leave the UFC, a place many fighters consider the pinnacle of their careers, for something better, is a testament to his ambition.

“Francis could lose and retire next week but it’s undeniable that he found, at the very least, the financial success that Dana said wasn’t possible outside the UFC”

But there was also an intriguing contrast provided by one fan. Their claim? Francis Ngannou wouldn’t have been able to secure his boxing paydays and fights if he wasn’t a UFC champion when he walked away from the sport. 

“Most money he made was from boxin aj and tht wouldnt have happend if it wasnt for tht ufc fame”

In conclusion, while Dana White insists that Francis Ngannou’s financial success is overhyped, the fans haven’t exactly resonated with the UFC boss’s claims. As ‘The Predator’ indicated, he didn’t just step into boxing for a bigger paycheck; he did it for freedom, control, and love for the sport. While some argue his UFC legacy paved the way for his boxing opportunities, many others believe his determination and willingness to challenge the status quo would have led him to success, regardless of the path. Do you think Francis Ngannou would have reached such heights without his initial success in the UFC? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!