Francis Ngannou did something no other UFC fighter had done before him. The former UFC heavyweight champ left the promotion early last year, and in doing so became the first ever reigning champion to leave the Dana White-led promotion in its over three-decade history. White had claimed that this was because the Cameroonian wanted to get paid more but didn’t want to fight tough opponents, one of the worst things an MMA fighter could be accused of. Ngannou predictably disagrees completely with this and has yet again clarified the circumstances leading to his exit from the promotion.

On being asked whether the charges Dana White had levied on him were true, Francis Ngannou yet again cleared the record about him leaving the UFC. The Cameroonian felt that the UFC CEO, embarrassed at the then-heavyweight champ’s acrimonious exit, had said these things to try to lower Ngannou’s stock and prove him a coward in the MMA fanbase.

“I think the situation was a little bit embarrassing for him and then he was going to make it statement and find his way out [and try and make people have] less of an opinion [of me],” he said while speaking on the ‘The Diary of a CEO’. “He [Dana White] didn’t want to compromise. He didn’t want to change and I feel like that situation wasn’t good for me. And I tell myself if that’s the end, then let it be. In fact I had no guarantee that the boxing that I’ve been dreaming of doing I will have to do it,” ‘The Predator’ added.

For his part, Ngannou, as always, maintained that he fell out with Dana White and co. mainly over fighter pay. As his contract was coming to an end last year, ‘The Predator’ asked Dana White and co. to pay him what he felt he was worth. The UFC felt this number should be much lower than what Ngannou was demanding, which is par for the course in negotiations, right? Well, not in this case.

So incensed was Ngannou, as he felt the promotion was lowballing him that he decided he would, under no circumstances, agree to the UFC’s terms. Despite the promotion having a virtual monopoly of the sport and no other offers on the table. However, the Cameroonian was resolved that he wouldn’t take a penny less than what he felt was his true worth.

‘The Predator’ was willing to become a farmer rather than continue with the UFC

Ngannou also painted quite a nightmarish picture of his time in the UFC. In the same interview, ‘The Predator’ claimed that even when he was the heavyweight champ and one of the biggest names in the promotion, he was so underpaid that he was mostly broke. Of course, this put even more pressure on him to accept the UFC’s offer for his contract extension.

If anyone else in his position accepted the UFC terms, no one could have held them at fault. After all, having less money than the amount you think you are worth is far better than potentially having no money, right? Well, not for Ngannou. The former UFC champ, despite the circumstances, decided to turn down the UFC’s best and final offer, no matter the consequences. Francis Ngannou was even prepared to return to his hometown and start farming if he couldn’t secure a suitable deal!

“But I didn’t just want to comply and do thing that I’m not okay with just because they [the UFC] left me with that one option, to say yes with things that I don’t like. I was very aware that that could be it, but it has to be on my term, and even though it means like going back to Africa, you know, I love farming I always loved farming. And if that [turning down a UFC extension] means I had to go back and farm I was okay with it,” he added.

Ultimately, Ngannou secured a deal with the PFL, who agreed to almost everything he had been demanding from the UFC. It was because of the PFL’s generosity that the Cameroonian was able to go and box, earning him the two biggest paychecks of his career by far.

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