UFC Explains Francis Ngannou’s Removal from „Countdown“ Episode

A recent episode of UFC’s „Countdown“ program sparked controversy when references to former heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou appeared to be edited out. This decision led to speculation and debate within the MMA community, particularly after fighter Israel Adesanya highlighted the omission. UFC President Dana White has now addressed the situation, offering his perspective on how and why the change was made.

The „Three Kings“ Controversy Unfolds

The issue came to light during the UFC 305 press conference, where a segment discussing three prominent African fighters, often referred to as the „three kings,“ notably excluded Ngannou. Israel Adesanya, one of the fighters featured, expressed his surprise and disagreement with the edit, emphasizing that Ngannou’s significant contributions to the UFC, including his heavyweight title reign, should not be erased. Ngannou, who was born in Cameroon, held the UFC heavyweight championship before parting ways with the organization due to contract disputes. His departure was reportedly met with dissatisfaction from UFC leadership, who accused him of avoiding a title fight against Jon Jones.

Dana White Denies Direct Involvement

Dana White has firmly stated that he did not personally order Francis Ngannou’s removal from the „Countdown“ episode. Speaking to MMA Junkie and other reporters, White claimed ignorance of the specific edit, asserting that if it was indeed a decision made by the company, it came from someone else within the organization. He emphasized his usual directness, suggesting that if he had been behind the decision, he would have openly admitted it and explained his reasoning. White reiterated that he was unaware of the situation until it was brought to his attention and that no one had consulted him about it.

Taking Responsibility for Production Decisions

Despite denying direct instruction, Dana White ultimately accepts responsibility for the content that airs under the UFC banner. He acknowledged that his production team, whom he described as highly skilled, might have made the edit based on their interpretation of his wishes or the company’s overall direction. White explained that he sometimes creates challenging situations for his team with his strong opinions and that the editor likely believed they were making the right call by aligning with what they perceived he wanted. However, he clarified that this was not his explicit instruction and that he would not have approved the edit if he had known about it beforehand, placing the final accountability squarely on his shoulders as the head of the organization.