Dana White announces Jon Jones vs. Ciryl Gane; Releases Francis Ngannou from UFC 

Aw, man. Really wanted to see Ngannou vs Jones, but I didn’t think it was going to happen.

I think this is actually a pretty unfortunate happening. Francis Vs Jones would’ve been a huge giant PPV and main event fight. Gane Vs Jones is big too but everyone knows what everyone wanted here.

Reportor: “did Gane receive the same offer that Francis was going to get?” Dana’s Hearing Aid: *turns off* 😂

Sad that we’re not gonna see Jones vs Ngannou but just seeing Jones fight again is going to be class

Im actually pretty hyped for Jones vs Gane

Gane is a hell of a test for Jones first fight

Being paid as the highest heavyweight ever isn't saying much compared to what he can make somewhere else. Good job Francis.

How in the hell did a prime drink make it on a UFC press conference

Dana wasn’t joking when he said “This is not a career, this is an opportunity”... Jones vs Gane is a sick matchup tho 🙌

Lmao, when the reporter asked if Gane was offered the same deal to fight jones 😂. Dana all of a sudden couldnt hear

Lmfao I honestly love when Dana says back "what should my punishment be?" And it's always just dead silent😂😂😂

think this is actually a pretty unfortunate happening. Francis Vs Jones would’ve been a huge giant PPV and main event fight. Gane Vs Jones is big too but everyone knows what everyone wanted here

If you watched Francis talk about his release, his rationale makes complete sense. He wanted health insurance in one of the most grueling dangerous sports there is and to take fights outside the UFC. The UFC really skews the line of paid employee vs independent contractor. You're a paid employee who doesn't have health insurance, but also unlike an independent contractor where its more normalized to not offer health insurance, you also can't work outside the organization. Make it make sense, Dana.

He's actually taking shots at Francis Ngannou, like he chickened out 😂

Actually a very interesting match up as Ciryl is one of the more nimble HWs and is technically sound. Win or lose this is a real challenge for Jon specially with the layoff!

Slick move by uncle Dana, he knew that making that announcement would completely take heat off his ass

Brett Okamoto asking those Helwani questions 🔥🔥

I am actually super stoked about this match. If any heavyweight other than Ngannou can out strike Jones its Cyril...

Stylistically you can’t get any better than Jones vs Gane. This will be a banger 🔥

13:16 The reason Francis was released. 💔

Wow ! I was waiting for this moment, Francis wasn’t happy and u could obviously tell

Fair play to JJ . I thought he was all talk , but he's going in against the top HW right now. Very dangerous fight for him if he can't get it to the ground imo.

This is the quietest Jones has been in years. Finally a new, exciting challenge for him & he's been training his ass off. We might see something truly special.

As others have said, I won’t believe it till I see both JJ and Gane touch gloves, cage door firmly locked, and the bell rings. And if the event is being held in Vegas, Jones is going to struggle not to get arrested within the first few hours of his arrival.

Dana says "good question" to groom his reporters, it's like the teacher giving stickers to the students

I don't think Francis is scared of anyone. I think it's the relationship he has with the UFC that made him not want to sign, even more so with the options of big boxing matches. Props to Francis. Gonna miss him but go do you. Get that easy paper.

I love the match up on blueprint....but I have this deep fear that both will be overly careful and it will be a boring fight. Just after Jon's last fights I'm curious how he will approach this one especially after this much time off

Dana - Used to say JJ was scared of Francis and now that he left. Dana now says Francis is scared of JJ because he left 😂

For some reason i get the feeling the reporter that asked about the professional and personal repercussions at the end isn't going to be at the next press conference

Okamoto with the Icey questions! Love it!! Good on you Brett

If Francis took down Gane ...imagine what Jones gonna do

The biggest news for me was realizing that Stipe is still apart of this 😂 thought he retired for some reason.

Hey does anyone know how espn plus ufc ppv? I'm thinking of buying it for gane vs jones... so is it 75 dollars for the first time you buy it then 60 after that??

I've never seen Dana White at a fight night post press conference, has anyone else? If so which fight night was it?

I don’t know what’s more crazy.. Francis is released or Dana is drinking Prime on camera 😱🤣

I love how Dana is subliminally calling Francis a chicken shit hahahaha

Its crazy how Dana is trying to create the narrative that Francis ducked Jon.

Dude love him or hate him, Dana has handled himself pretty well admits the drama. He seems a bit humbled here and I think he may change his demeanor moving forward.

Jon Jones is always ready, he's straight up a dangerous fighter.

I wanna see Dana vs his wife in a 5 round for the BMF belt

Dana for sure made it sound like Francis was tired of competition. That’s insane.

And Mojahed(UFC Annimator) made a video about this announcement before Dana Planned about it..

He said “about what?” 😂 5:22

So stoked for JJ to be back in the mix. Really interesting to see how he moves, performs, conditioning, style after a really long layoff and different body.

Dope fight but I’m gonna miss Francis. Hope he does extremely well elsewhere.

Are the UFC fighters employees or independent contractors?

Respect Brett for asking those questions in his position

0:30 when dana said “guess the first question gotta be about” I genuinely thought he was gonna mention the slap 😂😂

Dana White when asked if his feelings had changed regarding the slap league after his slap incident: “No. We’re going to start hitting it hard tomorrow.” 👀 😂

I like how somebody brought up the new years occurance😄 and calling him out on the at&t arena " mistake". You know they meant to put up the fight ad

The UFC will go on without Francis. Would have been an incredible lead up if the Jones fight had happened, but Jones vs. Gane is a stylistic matchup from the Gods. Unbelievable fight ahead, folks!!!

I literally would of given a arm and leg to see Ngannou vs Jones.

Dana pretty much is saying Francis didn’t want the smoke with Jon Jones

How are there people who get media passes who ask questions like “Did Ciryl get the same type of offer as Francis to fight Jon”.

Francis always wanted to be a boxer. Good for him for pursuing his real dream.

Francis saw what happened to usman and adesanya and wanted no part in it 😭

Dana been listening to some drill he said at beginning “what up gang” 😂

Is that a prime bottle at the start

I hope things work out for Francis in PFL or wherever he goes but damn does it suck seeing him leave 😢

And just like that Marc Raimondi became the #1 guy at ESPN, never expecting to see Brett and Dana in the same room again unless it's a public presser after those questions 😂

After this fight JBJ may bounce to PFL and fight Francis. But we will see.

" What's up GANG" 😂😂😂

Bro Dana framing this as “Francis doesn’t want to go in there against the Best Ever” is such bs, you’re deciding to offer him less than the market is willing to pay, it’s embarrassing that the PFL can outbid the UFC for their heavyweight champion, just by paying him his fair share

About time we get a heavyweight title fight

Definitely a good PR move to Bring in JJ to take the heat off The personal life

It goes to show how an organization like the UFC uses there Champion extremely under paid fighters to gain massive capital but when it comes to appreciating and fairness is nil

Francis turned down his highest payed offer of 600 bucks, 20 bucks of Vegas chips, a bottle of Modelo and Bologna pie.

That's really unfortunate. I think all Francis wanted was a clause in his contract that would allow him to box and that's what they didn't give him

Ngannou was the fight we wanted but this is also a great fight imo and I think it will be fun to watch.

Most of you didn’t want Francis to fight Jones bc y’all knew Francis wouldn’t have a shot. Stop acting like y’all sad about it. 🤡

Gaethje and fiziev is a great matchup🔥

Sad to see him go but it’s the best for both parties involved

What alternate dimension is this w where Brett is coming at Dana with the hardest hitting questions at the conference?

Brett was on fire this interview

Brett's got a big pair, asking actual hard questions. Respect the integrity. It surprises me how many doubted that Jon was serious about fighting at HW, as if he'd go through all that training just to keep up appearances.

Ngannou said it was about money, but also he wanted to box. Ngannou wasn't ducking anyone. I like how White is trying to spin it that way.

Anything about Khazmat ?

This will be a better fight for me personally, the 2 most technical, fastest, biggest dudes on the roster. I did really wanna see ngannou vs jones though

Dana : We have released Francis. Stipe : 🧐

I'll believe it when they're in the octagon

John v Cyril will be sick! Ngannou doesn’t want that smoke at this point in his career! It’s amazing that jon is still looking for that smoke! It’s gonna be a banger!!! Can’t wait! Everyone’s watching this!!! Let’s go Jon!!!

Bummer, that would have been one hell of a fight.

JOHN GOT A NEW 8-FIGHT DEAL HOLY FUCK 🤤🎉❤

Did he just say "whats up gang"? Oml

Maclife give me that interview

He definitely knew what he wanted to say when Dana asked what should be the repercussions. Guess you gotta make sure you keep your access to the press events

I think the Gane vs Jones fight will be tremendous. Even though that fight is fast approaching, part of me feels like this is still a bluff to keep Francis. Likely not. Either way, glad to see Jon finally fighting HWs

Yeah I checked out from Francis awhile ago. I can't say I expected this outcome but I didn't care if he fought again. I'll be happy to watch him crush cans somewhere else but I'm not pressed about it.

Look people, Francis did the right thing for himself. Dana offered him a contract that would have made him the highest paid heavyweight ever...which probably still doesn't compare anywhere near to boxing, golf, basketball, American football, Soccer etc... To give an example - Christiano Ronaldo, has just turned his back on all the major soccer leagues to join the Saudi league... for $200 million a year ( three year contract worth $600 million) - he is way past his prime and is 37 years old!!! Francis would have signed for the UFC had Dana allowed him a boxing clause, which would let him fight an exhibition fight with Tyson Fury or Wilder...which Dana refused. There would also be restrictions on image rights, other commercial opportunities, no health insurance etc...basically UFC would own Francis and pay him peanuts in the process (probably $ 1 or 2 million per fight). So Francis thought sod that...I can make way more money in less taxing exhibition fights, and get way more press coverage globally fighting Fury or Wilder... I don't blame him - he has the X Factor ( punching power and size)which people want to see and pay for - against the likes of Fury / Wilder. He can also explore other commercial opportunities without the UFC holding him by his balls... I wish him the best and hope he makes a shed load of money outside the UFC.

It’s hilarious that Dana is saying Francis is scared to fight Jon 🤣😭

wow. Brett Okamoto actually asking good questions. more of this please.

I love how there a prime just chilling

More than Lesner was getting paid in 2011. WOW over 10 years ago.

I’m about ready to see another Khamzat fight. Hopefully we get to see a JJ and Stipe fight. The greatest HW vs the Goat.

Two of the most technical, high-fight IQ fighters we've ever seen when it comes to the bigger guys. Gonna be a chess match.

Damn Dana White looked pissed off in the end

Dana handling the domestic abuse questions like a professional power slap champion

HOLY F@#K.....NEVER thought Francis would actually vacate. That's CRAZY!!

Dana probably leaked the fight to take the heat off himself

Love the transparency in UFC nothing like nba and other sports