Ariel Helwani Blasts Dana White for Not Showing up After Francis Ngannou’s Win

Ariel Helwani, the eleven times MMA Journalist of the Year, showed support for Francis Ngannou and disapproved of Dana White’s move to not put the belt around Ngannou’s waist and not show up to the press conference.

Francis Ngannou on Saturday unified the UFC HW championship, the fight was his last fight on his current contract. Ngannou didn’t sign a new contract with the UFC for the past two years and waited for his contract expiration at the end of this year.

Dana White, who was there throughout the event, sitting octagon side, was missing when the Predator won. Mick Maynard showed up and put the belt around Ngannou’s waist. White didn’t show up to the post-fight press conference.

Ariel Helwani, on his show MMA Hour, appreciated Ngannou for the way he handled this situation. Helwani was critical of White not presenting the belt to Ngannou. He said, “Didn’t put the belt around his waist, didn’t show up to the press conference. You want to give the benefit of the doubt, may be something happened, what are the chances, sitting there the whole time, leaves before, not in sight, Mick Maynard has to do it”

Helwani admired Ngannou and said, “If you are Francis Ngannou and you see all of a sudden that it’s Mick Maynard putting the belt around your waist and then you find out at the press conference that no one from the UFC showed up and you handle it with that kind of class and grace, much respect man because I don’t know if lot of people with do that”

Related Article – “I’m about to ask that too”- Francis Ngannou demands to know why Dana White didn’t present him his heavyweight belt

Coach Eric Nicksick told Ariel Helwani, he wanted Dana White to take the high road

Earlier, Eric Nicksick, Francis Ngannou’s coach, shared his thoughts about the debacle and expressed that he would’ve wanted White to do the right thing and come inside the octagon and put the belt around Ngannou’s waist. It would make things easier between them going into the negotiations.

Dana White has previously not shown up at press conferences, but most of the times someone from UFC comes to the press conference on behalf of UFC. It was a surprise to see no one from UFC showing up in the post-fight press conference.

White has been stubborn with negotiations in the past, and he never likes to be cornered. Even though Ngannou has the leverage with the undisputed UFC HW championship, it does not guarantee that the UFC will keep him. The UFC already booked an interim title fight, three months after Ngannou won it.

Ngannou has a full year to go before he becomes a free agent and in this span, UFC can book another interim title if he refuses to fight. Also, they have the power to strip the champion as well or they may try to lure him to fight Jon Jones. Nothing is sure about the future of the UFC HW champion of the world and we might have some clarity when we hear from president Dana White.

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