Francis Ngannou Refutes Dana White's Claim That He Has An Ego Problem

Francis Ngannou has moved to refute Dana White’s claims that he has an ego problem.

Following Ngannou’s loss to Derrick Lewis in Las Vegas two weeks ago, White blasted Ngannou in the UFC 226 post fight press conference.

“I think that he had a pretty quick rise here and obviously the fight over Alistair Overeem catapulted him,” White said. “Everybody was talking about him. I thought he was going to be the next guy. I think his ego ran away with him. Big time. I can tell you that his ego absolutely did run away. The minute that happens to you in the fight game you see what happens – you start to fall apart.

“I had some personal encounters with him, as did other people in the organization and this guy’s ego was so out of control. Before the Stipe fight he took off and went to France. Didn’t even really train for that fight. And you see the results. Well, then he comes back and he did train, but the ego is what hurt Francis Ngannou.”

Ngannou kept quiet in the immediate aftermath of the fight, but broke his silence yesterday on Ariel Helwani’s MMA Show.

“I don’t exactly know what he means by that, I don’t know who he means,” Ngannou said. “If someone has an issue with you and doesn’t tell you, how would you [respond to them], if you have not seen him or talked with them? if you have an issue, tell me.”

The former UFC heavyweight title challenger then explained his attitude and stated that he believes confidence is important for all fighters. He denied however, that his ego would’ve ever affected those around him.

“We are all human,” Ngannou said. “I don’t necessarily agree I have an ego. I’m never one to stay down when I fall down. you have to have that ego when you’re a fighter. You have to stand there and believe you’re number one. That’s ego, but not the one to hurt the people around me.”

Despite White’s criticism, Ngannou is still yet to speak with the UFC president following his latest loss. By the sounds of it, he won’t be raising the issue with White unless the UFC boss comes to him to engage in a conversation.