UFC CEO Dana White is beyond shocked at the recent performance by Francis Ngannou.
Ngannou, a former UFC heavyweight champion, parted ways with White’s company late last year – and the breakup had a lot of tension.
Ngannou became a free agent and secured a tremendous payday to make his professional boxing debut last month in Saudi Arabia against WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury.
While most expected a complete mismatch, Ngannou would stun most experts with his performance.
He dropped Fury in the third round and then took the unbeaten champion the full distance in a very competitive fight.
Fury edged the victory with a razor-close ten round split decision win. Two judges favored Fury with tallies of 95-94 and 96-93, while the third had Ngannou the victor with a tally of 95-94.
White didn’t watch the fight, but appeared stunned that Ngannou was able to make it to the finish line.
“I didn’t see the fight, but the fact that he went 10 rounds with Tyson Fury is crazy,” White said. “So, if you look at, he just went 10 rounds with Tyson Fury, Conor made it nine or 10 with Floyd, Anthony Pettis just beat Roy Jones Jr., I know Roy’s freakin’ 60 years old or whatever, but I mean I don’t know what the hell is going on. It’s crazy. I didn’t see the fight, but the fact that he went 10 rounds is unbelievable.”
White is not concerned that Ngannou’s departure will influence more fighters to leave the UFC to pursue other ventures.
“I don’t care,” White said. “Listen, these guys, at some point everybody’s gonna move on and everybody has to do what’s right for them and make money for their families. So, whatever they gotta do, they gotta do.”
However, White still believes his company’s current heavyweight champion is the best fighter in the world.
“The best fighter in the world and the best fighter ever is Jon Jones,” White said.
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