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Dana White explains his absence from Francis Ngannou vs Ciryl Gane at UFC 270 | UFC Fan Q&A
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- Published on Jan 25, 2022
- Watch the full UFC Fan Q&A on ESPN+ es.pn/33MZSz3
UFC president Dana White reacts to Francis Ngannou’s win against Ciryl Gane at UFC 270, then addresses his absence from sitting Octagon-side during the fight.
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We all know if Gane had won then Dana would’ve teleported in to the octagon to put the belt on him 😂
Factz
@Pacino Reyes 😂😂
That's awesome 🤣
Who the fook Dana think he is fooling .😂😭
@K.B. ANDERSEN. 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
Worst excuses ever....
1. Wilder costume being too heavy
2. Costa getting drunk before the fight.
3. Dana White backstage issue.
😂🤣😂
@parthPatel_19_15
This always make me laugh to myself when I see Keith 😄😄
4. You to new to mma to know the Diaz bros
Haha what was he dealing with that one of the hundreds of others that work there couldn't deal with? That's what you call a lame excuse lol
🤣🤣🤣👌
When someone says “you idiots” you know that he’s guilty af
you don't want to be called an idiot right? So therefore you have to agree with le right??
“I shook his hand…I said hi to him” that’s it?? 😂😂 bro this is a terrible attempt at covering the disrespect up
Dana made this into a bigger deal by trying to run from it
He got an African friend!
"I don't know if anybody asked that" - literally the only question everybody has been asking..I'm pretty sure Dana has seen all the chatter by now
Of course he's seen the chatter lol.... someone from ESPN probably advised Dana to address this issue because it's everywhere
Dana is such a 🤡
Took the man 4 days to tell everyone that there was an "issue" backstage an issue that no one else heard about or reported. Think about that
@jonny yea Says the guy who is taking time out of his day to respond to the “emotional guy who doesn’t care.” What does that say about your emotions? Lol.
@Johnny Sanchez “who cares” *then proceeds to continually care by emotionally having arguments with random people on the internet😩
He should have said he went wash off his hair
@Johnny Sanchez truer words have never been spoken.
The fact that ESPN didnt ask Dana about Francis is laughable... anyone surprised at this third rate "journalism"?
He won't do interviews with real journalists
That chic is a man baby!!
It is disgusting to know we have been paying and contributing to this “company” to make whatever they want to our favorite fighters, people who have been sacrificing enough. Dana calling us stupids after saying he bets 1M in a single box fight is ridiculous. Is more than enough, he doesn't deserve anything more
Dana White explaining himself is just like me back in college, explaining to my professor why I wasnt able to take my mid term exam on purpose.
Those were the good old days especially the final exam lol 😂
How about suing Francis literally while he’s warming up backstage😂
@Darius Neidhart correct. His manager informed Francis while he was warming up.
It's Francis manager not Francis himself.
"I mean I shook his hand and acknowledged his existence and made eye contact with him once and breathed the same oxygen as him for like 10 minutes so I don't understand how anyone can think..."
Lmao
Dana heard a rumour that Conor was backstage. He spent the whole night trying to get an autograph
@Mystic Mac Conor fangirls used to be funny😂
Khabib didn’t get off the bus cause he was star struck by Conor like “😳 vy I no bring shirts for awtoebiograph” smh.
“We had an issue backstage, the Nelk Boys were a man short in beer pong.. it was an emergency” - Dana White
😂😂😂😂
If you keep up with the UFC you know Dana is so off in this interview. He can't admit his wrongdoings.
Nope never can, its like he did this interview JUST to justify what he has done, The interviewer didn’t even ask him about it HE brought it up and then ended the interview right after 😂😂😂 clown
Just because you shook his hand earlier in the week doesnt mean you werent upset he won the fight.
Anyone who has watched UFC for more than a second or two would know DW has no problem expressing himself without fear of reprisal...
@Darkhorse Purge Cope.
@Darkhorse Purge 100%
@Dan JC BMX I can't even thonk of anyone who could replace him. Scott Coker is the next best promoter in MMA but he's no Dana White.
@Darkhorse Purge true he's been grinding for years, crazy to think he still had hair at the beginning of all this 😅 I'm gunna be gutted when he's no longer at the pressers/weigh ins
Stop the cap! Dana is lying through his teeth 😂 he can’t stand to see Francis winning
His false teeth*
Dana must’ve forgot when he didn’t want to acknowledge Tyron Woodley finishing Darren Till at the presser cause he left
When Dana says “you idiots!” You know he es lying 🤥 and mad .
If Francis lost he would be rubbing it in his face about how much money he just lost and could have made by signing a contract earlier...no mention of his position now, strange.
"For anyone who is thinking that I was showing any type of disrespect toward Francis, I saw Francis ALL week, you idiots". - Dana White (Arms Crossed)
Yeah his statement just smacks of sincerity doesn't it.
Ah yes the whole “i saw him so i respect him” thing. Give it up dana, had Gane won, you would have been on your knees polishing the belt
@kimborampage “i mean what this guy is doing in this sport is incredible. This fight with him vs ngannou is trending so high. The numbers are looking amazing”
He also would’ve declared Gane the HW GOAT too.
That's a big lie Danny. We all know you and Ngannou have been having issues with his contract, this can only be due to your animosity towards him. If you missed putting the belt on him, you should at least appear at the press conference; this can't be a double coincidence.
Look at Laura’s face, lol. She’s too honest and her smile disappeared while listening to Dana’s meaningless words...
Dana had 30 years to think of an excuse for why he was absent. I even forget we had a ngannou fight at this point. Man took his time.
@Darkhorse Purge dana is the most honest person alive, just look at his track record
@Darkhorse Purge we have no proof that he's telling the truth either. we can pick a side lol
@DARKCLOUDNC why wasn’t he there voor the press conference then? Lmao
@Darkhorse Purge imagine a guy on the internet defending a known liar who his own mother wrote a book about him saying Dana is a scumbag! Dana White and the UFC make Don king look like a saint when it comes to fighter pay! How was it that Mike Tyson in his prime 30+ years ago was making millions a fight and its now 2022 and you have the main event of a PPV with guys making $500-600k? UFC made almost 1 billion in revenue last year which means they make money regardless if a PPV sells well or not on every event every week!
frig off
0:51 Folds his arms, looks down, stutters. This was the biggest heavyweight fight of all time, there is nothing going on backstage that can't be handled by other staff. Then you disrespect your fan base and call us "idiots." Tell us what was going on backstage that was more important than wrapping the belt around the most savage heavyweight of all time. Love Dana, but lost some respect for him here. Would have been better to just man up and admit he was salty and pay respect. He probably bet the house on Cyril knowing Francis' knee was blown. I hope he didn't send that text to Francis' agent.
biggest HW fight of all time? Not even top 10 😂 DC vs Stipe 2 or 3 would be my vote
@Tristin Mikes ok beta
@Hamad Al Shaqsi says the beta reacting
"I don't know this as a fact, but I guarantee you..." Dana White in a nutshell ladies and gentlemen
Dana's just trying to save his reputation. It wasn't a good look on his part and it looked even worse because Francis kept it classy throughout the whole thing.
Dana handled this really badly. I’m sure he has endeavor folks trying to tell him what to do but this was just an epic failure imo
Never had such issuse that only Dana can handle in the history of 20+ years.
It is disgusting to know we have been paying and contributing to this “company” to make whatever they want to our favorite fighters, people who have been sacrificing enough. Dana calling us stupids after saying he bets 1M in a single box fight is ridiculous. Is more than enough, he doesn't deserve anything more
@818Topnotch Same thing was sad with Randy.
Yeah, UFC has so much staff, they feel overstaffed. Dana delegates work most of the times. But now, when Francis has won and has some issues with Dana, he disappears and that too just for the main event. He has made a fool out of him, or his team that ordered him to do that. Idk, either way, UFC is losing some key situations lately.
Did you just confidently make that up just then? I don’t understand why everyone all of a sudden thinks they know Danas role during fight cards.. he’s spoken about how he runs the events from his private room before
It already happened with T Woodley.
What people don’t know is that Ngannou’s manager received racist text messages from a Vegas number on the morning of the fight and that they were also served with legal papers by the UFC on that morning - all to try and throw him off his game
Anyone who believes Dana White’s story here, I truly feel sorry for you I really do
the legal papers were sent on there way to the fight but i agree with what you are saying pretty low stuff
why not mention telling his team that he's being sued right before his fight🤔
He really let the suspense build though 😭🅿️❤️🔥
Dana answered being absent without asking. This shows he did it on purpose.
Dude I was thinking the same it's so weird no reporter ask him obout it.
That was a joke of an excuse, he should’ve apologised publicly to Francis
No chance the guy has a life and often things come up. The mma community and media have had lots of fun with this though lol.
By a joke of a man.
@Sean It's actually not his job to put the belt onIs the winner of a champion fight there's been Several times he hasn't been there to put the belt on the people hes the president of the UFC he works in marketing Media and executive decisions he is not required and multiple times has not been present when placing the belt on people do I think hes pissed yes I do but he is not required to be there Media and executive decisions he is not required and multiple times has not been present when placing the belt on people do I think hes pissed yes I do but he is not required to be there
Cmon Dana I would love to believe this as I have purchased every ppv but just say you don’t like being strong armed into a contract that will let Francis go and get mopped by fury. Francis had even said it’s not about money I’m sure they can agree on the $$ side it’s just his heavyweight champ boxing fury everyone knows how that fight would go same as if Tyson entered the octagon.
I wasn’t surprised he would wrestle, I thought he would because I remembered how he wrestled Stipe in their last fight.
Dana is full of it!
He's done this childish act countless times now
It's great to see dana fight thru some of these interviews, he battles the best he can but the Ariel clones are everywhere and their mission is tripping him and judo throw every chance they get. What does it matter who places the belt on the victor as long as it goes to the correct fighter.
Amazing how in the only other example he gave, he literally DID still put the belt on bisping in that example 😂
, next? I have the night off lol entertain me
@AlexNoelle420 Dana's a lottery winner the Fertita's did it all
@AlexNoelle420 the fighters are the reason ufc. Dana is no one.
@AlexNoelle420 Shut up and make me a sandwich. Extra cheese and dollop of mayo!!
Pre-fight DW : Ngannou is my friend we talked good.
Post-fight DW : MIA, I have something to take care of that only I and I alone, and no person in the entire UFC could handle.
Doesn't answer questions with regards to Ngannou fight until 4 days later.
Yeah ... "Ngannou is my friend, we talked good"
Totally believable bruh. 100% they must be beer pals.
Ufc/DW nuthuggers: who cares about Ngannou, let him leave. We’ll move on without him.
If Ufc doesn’t care about Ngannou, why leak lawsuit news and giving Gane interim belt 4months after Ngannou won the belt?
A rational person will tell you that Ufc is EXTREMELY concerned that Ngannou will lead to all Ufc contract structure being renegotiated and potentially all fighters having healthcare coverage and/or being treated like an “independent contractor” where they can do boxing.
He’s a Ali of MMA. Standing up for his rights and his beliefs.
Was the "stuff backstage" also the reason you didn't show up to the post-fight press conference?
Must have been some really serious issue going on back stage that it kept him out of the post fight press conference as well. The building was probably falling he had to hold it up.
Everything has to be dropped about Dana disprespect because he said HI to Francis after the fight🤣🤣🤣
Why won't Dana just give Ngannou his respect? 😔😔
Crazy how this backstage thing has only happened once the entire time he's been president, and it just so happened when Ngannou won.
“Was dealing with some stuff backstage” quickest excuse and cop out ever lol
Oh, so Dana doesn’t like it when the negative spotlight is on him? But all thru fight week Francis has been dealing with doubt of a new contract, people acting like he isn’t champ for a reason, and most of all being mentally stable thru an mcl tear.. hm we see who can stand the fire..
So what’s the excuse for not being at the press conference?
Trust if Francis had lost Dana would of been front and center with a big smile throwing dirt on his name
@Luke Murray No need to get rid of the evidence he'd just bring in Jeff Novitzky to testify that it wasn't coke
@Luke Murray .......
He was handling something backstage
Dana 🤡 white was absent and went to complex sneakers.
He placed a lawsuit against Francis's management. In court, it would look stupid for him to walk out there with the belt after he pulled that move. I wonder why the report did not bring the lawsuit situation up?🤔
Now that I’m watching Dana crumble before my eyes, all I can remember is watching his mother describe the type of person he is
Angriest excuse ever, and the best part was I said "Hi" to Francis? LOL
It’s still crazy to think that ngannou won while very injured
to come back from 2 down and win aswell. he's a mentality monster
"Look, there are many ways of saying you don't want to promote a fight, refusing to pay your Fighters is one of them. This Dana kid obviously doesn't want to promote, we'll see how this thing plays out."
@James Mannsfield yes they do
Shut up with this nonsense. The UFC changed his life, and he’s a millionaire by now. There would be no boxing, or even this kind of life without the UFC. This is the wort time to be screaming about pay. They can hardly even sell tickets fir a show right now. It’s embarrassing how all of you have acted towards Dana, and the UFC. Give me a break.
That's priceless
😂😂😂
Francis himself said they offered him millions but he wants to go to different sport so he didn't sign a new deal so why are people goin on bout him not getting paid it's different issue entirely
He just contradict himself right there give example of that one other time but he did show up to the press in that time unlike last weekend
And sending Nagano's manager a treating email right before the fight lol yeah his story is so believable lol
" I shook his hand before he won"
That great Dana. Good job
And the press conference after the event? Also in the back taking care of important stuff?
Fun Fact: *Uncle Dana was making ready the information for his absence soon after Ngannou won.*
You guys don't know how long it took for the UFC to actually convince the mma world that it had the best HW in the world. Francis leaving hurts that prestigious title.
Lmfao that is such BS from Dana he didn’t want to face the questions in the post fight presser let’s be real.
Then calls us idiots on top of that 💀
This is something my employees will say when calling the sick line on a Friday to go out with friends.
the exact same thing happened with silva and maia, because silva just embarrassed the ufc. there was no backstage issue with the silva or the ngannou fight, dana was just pissed both times
Does anybody have the link for the full interview
Must have been a big issue in the back to also miss the post fight press conference.
He's calling Francis an idiot also because Francis was also shocked he wasn't at the press conference. I don't believe Dana for one second. You didn't have an issue with him until after he won so the pre-fight respect is irrelevant.
You're like one of these reporters trying to twist things, Francis was shocked? Lmao. He couldn't care less.
It was well known that Francis had serious injuries and he was still fighting. Dana probably thought this would be an easy win for gane
If course... dana is reach and knows for sure the best killer in town .. I mean it's a very powerful man but how could he possibly disrespect ngannou pre fight ? Unless is willing to die 😂😂😂
Exactly which again shows he is lying.
Yeah, really convincing there Dana... 😂 That was a disgusting, despicable move.
Imagine being an Independent Contractor who's contractually obliged to give up their Independence.
"I said HI to him, I shook his hand" 😂🙄
So the issue he had to deal with extended from “not putting the belt in Francis” to “not showing up for the post fight press conference.” Hmmm that’s about 90 minutes.
"Guys, we were busy working on the lawsuit against Jake Paul and his manager and Francis and his manager for contractual interference. I love Francis. I would never do anything to disrespect him...other than pay him less than my personal chef, but that's the fight game."
LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOL
Dana, retire. For the good of the company leave. You're too old.
@spook show ?
@X. Black no draw.
@K.B. ANDERSEN. well that's fine, maybe he wants and deserves more. People are confused, I'm all for the fighter getting paid, you just don't go about it by starting a media beef.
Dana and Francis are cool Dana sent him a txt just before the fight and even emailed his manager 😂
Shame Dana! I think we all saw straight threw that BS answer!
Laura: "why wasn't you there?"
Dana: "I was there in spirit"
What you mean by in spirit is you left your whiskey there you was so annoyed right?
I'm kind of satisfied that he at least addressed it, but he didn't even mention what the business was all about. If it's personal business, then I'm fine with him not talking about it obviously, but if it's just regular work business..................then what was the issue that prevented you from never making it to do a press conference?? It's a rather hollow explanation.
I can almost Guarantee you it Was Personal bizzness
Reporter: "So why weren't you there?"
Dana: "I wasn't there to cut the umbilical cord on my son either, but you didn't hear him crying----oh wait..."
@positive thoughts I love the UFC, but I love MMA more. Fighters need to be respected.
If a promotion gets too big, they can do anything they want and feel people just have to accept it.
That's NEVER a good thing.
@positive thoughts Improvements can definitely be made.
For starters, let the fighters endorse their own business on their trunks.
Yea, they'd look horrible (I prefer the uniform look of the fight kits), but many fighters would make way more money.
It is disgusting to know we have been paying and contributing to this “company” to make whatever they want to our favorite fighters, people who have been sacrificing enough. Dana calling us stupids after saying he bets 1M in a single box fight is ridiculous. Is more than enough, he doesn't deserve anything more
😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
Very nice👍
Was probably busy trying to find ways to underpay his fighters
Love the fact sanko was the one to get this soundbite!
Dana is exactly the kind of man that would shake your hand a week ago and then a week later would be angry that you achieved something
Just because you shook his hand earlier in the week doesnt mean you werent upset he won the fight.
Boycott this dude. He folds his arms right before he answers because he's defensive. He showed respect all week until Francis won, which he was hoping he didn't. Real MMA fans know how spiteful Dana is, he's showed us several times. He has to go in order for fighters to get health benefits/paid more.
It's so dumb of him not to want Francis to win, if they continued to market him the way they were before the first stipe fight he'd be a big star
@SrulDog exactly he’s the president and spokesperson but not the CEO of the UFC. Nonetheless, pay the fighters more UFC!
@K.B. ANDERSEN. what is this ufc damage control
@K.B. ANDERSEN. bye bye you
Just because you shook his hand earlier in the week doesnt mean you werent upset he won the fight.
Just because you shook his hand earlier in the week doesnt mean you werent upset he won the fight.
See how the blincking with the eyes intensivice as soon as he starts explaining why he left. Extensive blincking with the eyes means lying.
This is what happens when you have to put the belt on a fighter, knowing that your intention is to strip him of the belt.
"Francis Ngannou was never my friend"- Dana White
Lmfao. Only the OGs will appreciate this comment
Lol, I was waiting for this. Never gets old
Why in these situations where Dana needs to prove a point he give an exclusive interview to Laura Sanko
Have been a fan of Dana for many years for bringing the UFC so far and making it big. But this Francis situation makes me feel he's a real bad man and nothing more than a "businessman" who just cares for profit. Absolutely nothing else.
I think that this is the begining of the end of UFC, as we know it.
"I don't know if anybody asked that" - literally the only question everybody has been asking..I'm pretty sure Dana has seen all the chatter by now
You can't even call these interviews anymore, they're public statements at this point
So many of the other channels are scared of losing their access so are all falling in line
Can’t stand the other shill Brett okamoto either it’s like watching cnn
@VinnyKicks KIM JONG WHITE?
What do you mean?? This is a clip part of a larger interview!
Kinda feels, dare I say, like a dictatorship.
You can tell he is lying the way he starts fumbling over the Silva vs Maia fight which he absolutely remembers
Are we all in agreement Dana skips purgatory and can head straight on down with no stops?…..
I was cool with Francis all fight week.....while I believed he would lose comfortably 😂
No way Dana missed the fight. It went the full distance too. I might believe him if it was a quick blink and you missed it performance
Hes full of it. He didnt just skip the belt presentation he skipped the post fight press conference as well.
@Bob Smith Pretty sure it’s cuz Don Frye chinned someone 😂
Yeah why he miss press conference too?
he wasnt there for the bisping rockhold fight because he was too busy threatening ariel helwani and trying/failing to ban him from the ufc for life
Exactly. And don't forget the last time he skipped a post fight press conference: UFC 220 and UFC 228, where the UFC was promoting the challenger (Francis Ngannou and Darren Till) over the defending champion (Stipe Miocic and Tyron Woodley) that Dana White doesn't really like. Sounds and looks familiar? UFC 220 was the beginning of this issue with Francis Ngannou, because Dana quickly threw him under the bus right after.
He had to deal with "some stuff" backstage 😂
I been waiting for this let’s hear his explanation
When you finally made it out from your crying hideout after 4 days.. 😂😂😂😂😂
Calm down guys, Dana said hi to Francis. Everything is fine.
LMAO your name
hahahaa😂😂😂😂👌🏾
It is disgusting to know we have been paying and contributing to this “company” to make whatever they want to our favorite fighters, people who have been sacrificing enough. Dana calling us stupids after saying he bets 1M in a single box fight is ridiculous. Is more than enough, he doesn't deserve anything more
Lol, lay off the trugs...
LMAO 🤣..You got me cracking on that one
Stuff behind backstage: UFC started suing Ngannou, needed to start that asap.
Or Jones popped again, and he needed to care of that.
It’s hilarious how literally zero people believe Dana.