It has been nearly two years since former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou parted ways with the UFC because of contractual disputes. Since then, he has explored other combat possibilities like boxing while his latest venture led to his PFL debut last month. However, he has created animosity with UFC head honcho Dana White, which has persisted for more than a year. White has not backed down from what he considers a disrespectful move by ‘The Predator’ towards himself and his billion-dollar promotion.

This animosity peaked last month when Dana White labeled Ngannou “full of sh-t” and claimed that ‘The Predator’ owes him money. Amidst the chaos and back-and-forth controversy, the one person who kept tight-lipped on this situation was Joe Rogan, who is friends with both White and Ngannou. But how long will Joe Rogan keep his lips sealed? Well, that time has passed and in his latest podcast episode, Rogan has finally addressed this situation.

Joe Rogan’s take on Francis Ngannou despite friendship with Dana White

Well, Rogan finally discoursed this question, which involves both of his friends, in his latest podcast episode (#2220) with guest writer and stand-up comedian Francis Foster and Konstantin Kisin. When their political conversation shifted to the MMA realm, Foster opened up about his disappointment at never being able to see the most anticipated heavyweight clash between Francis Ngannou and Jon Jones, further explaining how he felt gutted about it.

However, Joe Rogan admitted his reluctance to speak openly about the situation, stating, “I love Francis, I love Dana. I don’t get it; I don’t know what happened between those two. They apparently have some sort of personal issue with each other. Dana says he’s not a good guy, but every interaction I’ve ever had with him—he’s a great guy. I really enjoy talking to him.”

Rogan further expressed his admiration for Francis Ngannou, acknowledging the struggles and hard work he has endured to achieve his current status. He added, “His story about making his way from Cameroon all the way to the coast and then getting sent back to the Sahara Desert like six times is a crazy story. You know, being homeless in France and walking into a gym, and then all of a sudden becoming the UFC heavyweight champion of the world,” stressing that it is deserving of a Hollywood biopic.

However, even with the Cameroonian’s struggles and achievements, many in the MMA community remain indifferent to White’s continued stance regarding the heavyweight king. Former UFC contender Ben Askren stands apart; he recently tried to counsel White to move on from the Ngannou situation, reminding him of his esteemed position in the UFC.

What is Ben Askren’s suggestion for Dana White?

Ben Askren is frustrated with Dana White’s attitude, which he seemed to have carried into his sixties, especially in how he immaturely handled the Francis Ngannou situation. Askren has recently criticized White for his harsh remarks about ‘The Predator’, accusing him of actions that White has never substantiated. He also questioned why White continues to disparage Ngannou while sitting on the throne as the head honcho of a billion-dollar enterprise.

In a recent X post, Askren reminded Dana White to be mindful of his words while holding the esteemed position of UFC president. Askren stated, “For all of his great qualities, I don’t see why Dana needs to sh*t on people who are not under the UFC banner. It’s really unnecessary and petty.”

What are your thoughts on Joe Rogan’s remarks? Do you think Rogan made the right choice by staying neutral in this situation, or should he have intervened to help resolve the conflict between his friends? Drop your opinion below.