CLEVELAND, OHIO: Francis Ngannou and UFC president Dana White are so bitter that they may never agree to collaborate.
White recently cleared the air during a press conference by discussing his thoughts on the Jones vs Ngannou bout.
He was against the PFL and its intention to co-promote the bout. Jake Paul, a former YouTuber who is now a boxer and has been vocal about fighters' rights and compensation, noticed this.
Jake Paul criticizes Dana White for not co-promoting with PFL
Paul recently voiced his opinion on Twitter, stating that $20 million would be made if Jon Jones and Francis Ngannou were to square off.
He went on to say that this sum is far more than what Ngannou earned in the UFC.
“It’s a shame. Jones vs Ngannou is way bigger now than it was while Francis fought for UFC. Both fighters would make $20M+. If you one can co-promote with Showtime to put on MayMac why not with PFL, where we share the same media partner? @francis_ngannou @JonnyBones @PFLMMA,” Jake Paul wrote.
Dana White was questioned by The Problem Child on why he isn't co-promoting with PFL.
He likened it to the 2017 promotion of the Conor McGregor vs Floyd Mayweather match by the UFC and Showtime together.
After this final co-promotional bout, White has never again given his approval to such an event.
Dana White is not 'interested' in Jon Jones vs Francis Ngannou
During a press conference following UFC 295, the UFC president was asked whether they might work with PFL to co-promote Jones vs Ngannou.
White didn't seem to like this question and expressed his lack of curiosity. He said that although he made an effort to get the match to materialize, he would no longer be interested if the boxers didn't agree.
“I’m not interested in that. We tried to make that fight. They didn’t want to do it. It’s done. He doesn’t fight here anymore. I’m not interested,” he said.
It will be fascinating to watch how things develop and whether Dana White's decision to stop co-promoting the fights alters anything.
It appears that the UFC president cannot be persuaded to agree to the same given their previous conflicts.
