MMA

DANA WHITE has had his say on Francis Ngannou’s upcoming showdown with Tyson Fury.The former UFC heavyweight champion finalised a lucrative exhibition bout with The Gypsy King last month – six months after his departure from the promotion.
Francis Ngannou will face Tyson Fury in a boxing match on October 28Credit: REX
Dana White wasn’t keen on making the fight while Ngannou was still under contract with the UFC
The veteran promoter has finally broken his silence on the fight
Ngannou – who has never boxed professionally – will bid to become the first man to defeat WBC heavyweight king Fury.
UFC supremo White was one of the most vocal critics of a potential Fury vs Ngannou clash following their impromptu Wembley face-off last May.
But he’s seemingly happy the promotion’s former heavyweight king has secured the biggest payday of his career.
During the UFC 293 post-fight press conference, he said: “Good for him.”
READ MORE IN MMA
White blasted the fight after the pair went head to head on ESPN – the UFC’s broadcast partners – last May.
He told thePat McAfee Show: “I don’t love the crossover fights. I don’t love ’em.
“‘Cause they’re f*****g’ stupid, f*****g’ waste of time, energy, and money. … It’s silly, but I get it.
“Boxing is a massive advantage for Tyson Fury. Ngannou just wrestled Ciryl Gane.
Most read in Boxing
CASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERS
“If you know anything about fighting, it’s a silly conversation.”
Ngannou’s seven-year stint in the UFC came to an end in December after he failed to agree a new contract with the promotion.
The Cameroonian clubber has since signed a lucrative contract with the Professional Fighters League, who are allowing him to take part in his crossover clash with Fury.
White, 54, was left stunned by Ngannou’s contract with the fast-rising promotion.
He said: “Based on what I know about the deal, which is not much, it makes no sense to me.

“You’re going to pay a guy not to fight for a year, and it’s already been like [14] months.
“He’s fought three times in the last three years. It’s just not what we do here. It’s not what we do.
“And the day that we released him, I knew exactly what was going to happen.
READ MORE SUN STORIES
“Francis wants to take zero risks, doesn’t want to take any chances, and he obviously didn’t want to take a chance with Jon Jones — and after we saw what happened with Ciryl Gane, I don’t blame him.
“I think the outcome would’ve been exactly the same, and I’m sure most of you do and I’m sure Francis does too.” More

TYSON FURY has laid out his two-fight plan for after his clash with Francis Ngannou – and it involves dipping his toes into the mixed martial arts world.The Gypsy King locks horns with the UFC heavyweight champion in a controversial crossover clash with Suadi Arabia next month.
Tyson Fury faces Francis Ngannou in Saudi Arabia next monthCredit: PA
Boxing fans are hoping Fury faces Oleksandr Usyk in an undisputed bout next yearCredit: REX
Fury has aspirations of rematching Ngannou in MMA before facing UFC star Jon JonesCredit: Getty
Fury has taken pelters for fighting boxing novice Ngannou instead of taking part in an undisputed title fight with Oleksandr Usyk, who many expect him to face next year.
But the WBC heavyweight champion’s sights are seemingly set on cage clashes with Ngannou and current UFC heavyweight king Jon Jones.
Fury, 35, said: “I’d like to fight Ngannou in the cage, I think I can beat him for sure.
“He’s not a good wrestler, he’s known for striking and I’m a better striker than him.
READ MORE IN BOXING
“In little gloves, I’d knock him out in seconds… I’d fight Jon Jones also in the cage, if the money was right.”
Fury recently revealed he’d received an offer from the UFC to lock horns with mixed martial arts legend Jones – who is set to retire from MMA in November – in an exclusive interview with SunSport.
He said: “That’s 100 per cent true [that I received an offer to fight Jones].
“I’ve had an offer from the UFC, from [WME] IMG, to fight Jon Jones.
Most read in Boxing
CASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERS
“Frank Warren knows about it, my team knows about it.
“It’s still ongoing and we’re looking to move forward on that for sure.
“Me and Jon have even spoke about it, ” It’s definitely a real thing.”
Before he can think about fighting in MMA, Fury must first see off the challenge of Ngannou in their Saudi showdown – the primary motivator of which was a once-in-a-lifetime payday.
He said: “Obviously I’m getting paid a hell of a lot of money.
“And I get millions of people from MMA and boxing who are gonna watch it.
“Whether they like that I’m doing it or not, guess what they’re gonna do? Still watch it.”
Tyson Fury says money motivated him to take his Saudi showdown with Francis NgannouCredit: PA More

TYSON FURY claims he received a sensational “offer” from the UFC to enter the cage for a crossover clash with heavyweight champion Jon Jones.The Wythenshawe warrior is gearing up to make his ring return against the MMA promotion’s former 265lb king Francis Ngannou in a much-maligned Saudi showdown on October 28.
Tyson Fury was recently in a war of words with UFC heavyweight champion Jon JonesCredit: GETTY
The row erupted after UFC commentator Joe Rogan ruled out Fury’s chances in a no-holds-barred clash with JonesCredit: GETTY
UFC president Dana White publicly entertained having Fury fight in the octagonCredit: GETTY
Gypsy King Fury claims the UFC’s parent company offered him the chance to face JonesCredit: Reuters
Fury, 35, was embroiled in a public spat with Jones – MMA’s controversial but beloved former pound-for-pound king – before the finalisation of his ten-round exhibition with Ngannou.
UFC kingpin Dana White publicly entertained the clash, which the WBC heavyweight champ claims was put on the table by the promotion’s parent company WME-IMG.
The undefeated Brit told SunSport in an exclusive interview: “That’s 100 per cent true [that I received an offer to fight Jones].
“I’ve had an offer from the UFC, from [WME] IMG, to fight Jon Jones.”
READ MORE IN BOXING
Fury has received pelters for welcoming boxing novice Ngannou to the professional ranks for his first outing since his one-sided beatdown of a battle-weathered Derek Chisora last December.
But that won’t stop him from entering the dangerous world of mixed martial arts should the UFC’s offer still be on the table after his desert dust-up with Ngannou.
The former unified heavyweight champion said: “Frank Warren knows about it, my team knows about it.
“It’s still ongoing and we’re looking to move forward on that for sure.”
Most read in Boxing
FREE BETS – BEST BETTING OFFERS AND BONUSES NEW CUSTOMERS
Tyson Fury has tried his hand at mixed martial arts training with fellow Brit Darren TillCredit: YOUTUBE@IFLTV
Fury and Jones even went back and forth with one another via text to try and make the shock showdown come to fruition.
“Me and Jon have even spoke about it,” Fury said.” It’s definitely a real thing.”
A potential clash between Fury and Jones became the talk of the combat sports world in May after UFC commentator Joe Rogan ruled out Fury’s chances in a no-holds-barred straightener with Jones.
Fury reacted angrily to that notion, saying in one of his many Instagram story rants: “Here’s a thought.
“How about this? How about I fight Jon Jones and Francis Ngannou on the same night?
“How about that? That’s how much I value them two bums. Get up! Let’s go, boys.”
UFC Hall of Famer Jones is set to call time on his legendary career after what will be his first defence of the heavyweight title.
The former long-reigning light-heavyweight champion will defend the 265lb throne against former champion Stipe Miocic on the promotion’s 30th anniversary card – UFC 295 – at Madison Square Garden on November 11.
Jon Jones defend his heavyweight title against Stipe Miocic at UFC 295 on November 11Credit: UFC More