TLDR
- Dana White claims Francis Ngannou grabbed him by the shirt in his office over a bonus dispute
- White alleges Ngannou also physically grabbed UFC executive Hunter Campbell
- Former UFC employee Anthony Evans accuses Ngannou of bullying staff members at the office
- White says Ngannou demanded a private plane to Paris before his first Stipe Miocic fight in 2018
- Ngannou left the UFC in 2023 and signed with the PFL
Dana White made serious allegations against former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou during a recent podcast appearance. The UFC CEO accused Ngannou of physically confronting him in his office. White also claimed the fighter grabbed another UFC executive by the collar.
The allegations emerged during White’s appearance on the Flagrant podcast with Andrew Schulz. White described an incident where Ngannou confronted him about not receiving a $50,000 Fight of the Night bonus. According to White, the conversation escalated when he tried to leave his office.
“He grabs me by my shirt and pushes me back in my office,” White said. “I said ‘dude, get your f**king hands off me.'” White claimed he could see Ngannou’s true character during the confrontation.
White also accused Ngannou of similar behavior toward Hunter Campbell, a UFC executive. He stated that Ngannou grabbed Campbell by the back of his collar and pulled him back. The UFC CEO said Ngannou told Campbell they weren’t done talking yet.
The podcast appearance included another story from 2018. White claimed Ngannou approached him before the first Stipe Miocic fight at UFC 220. According to White, Ngannou demanded a private plane to Paris after the fight.
Dana White claims Francis Ngannou physically accosted him over a post-fight bonus
📰 https://t.co/ey69BeTJLD pic.twitter.com/Xpp4rx0Qj7
— MMA Fighting (@MMAFighting) November 18, 2025
“He comes over to me and he grabs me and he says ‘Let me tell you what’s going to happen,'” White recalled. “‘When this fight’s over, you’re going to book me a private plane to Paris.'” Miocic defeated Ngannou in that fight by unanimous decision.
White disputed the public perception of Ngannou having a language barrier. The UFC CEO said Ngannou’s English is excellent. White suggested Ngannou uses a language barrier as part of his public image.
Former Employee Adds to Allegations
Anthony Evans, a former UFC employee, responded to White’s comments on social media. Evans said he worked at the UFC office during Ngannou’s time with the promotion. He described Ngannou as “a terror at the UFC office.”
Evans wrote that Ngannou would show up repeatedly at the office. He said the fighter walked around and stood over people’s desks. According to Evans, this behavior made staff members uncomfortable.
Evans acknowledged some behavior might stem from cultural differences. He noted Ngannou is a large man from a different culture speaking English as a third language. However, Evans said what he witnessed felt like intimidation.
Evans provided a specific example from his time at the UFC. He described seeing Ngannou standing over a female employee who designed key art for the promotion. Evans said Ngannou was demanding changes to her work.
“He’s a big scary dude and he had no business standing over people’s desks telling them what he wanted,” Evans wrote. He clarified that Ngannou never put his hands on anyone during these interactions.
Background on Ngannou’s UFC Career
Ngannou joined the UFC in late 2015. He quickly became known for his knockout power and finished his first six opponents. He fought Miocic for the heavyweight title at UFC 220 in January 2018 but lost by decision.
White said he wanted to cut Ngannou early in his career. The UFC CEO claimed his matchmakers convinced him otherwise. White said he should have followed his instincts about the fighter.
Evans described Ngannou’s behavior during fight week as particularly difficult. He said most fighters are difficult during fight week due to pressure and weight cuts. However, Evans claimed Ngannou was especially obnoxious to staff members.
Dana White says Francis Ngannou put his hands on him in a meeting once 😳
“Francis Ngannou is a bad guy.
After the press conference he comes over to me and grabs me and he says ‘When this fight is over, you’re gonna book me a private plane to Paris.’…
He was pissed off that… pic.twitter.com/pcrubfklzc
— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) November 18, 2025
White also mentioned Ngannou’s use of the UFC Performance Institute. The facility provides free access to signed athletes for training and meals. White said Ngannou was practically living at the facility.
Ngannou eventually won the heavyweight title from Miocic in March 2021. He defended it once against Ciryl Gane in January 2022. Ngannou and the UFC failed to reach a new contract agreement in early 2023.
The UFC waived its one-year matching rights clause. This made Ngannou an unrestricted free agent. He signed with the Professional Fighters League a few months later in May 2023.
