White Apologizes for Ngannou Omission in UFC Video
A UFC 305 promotional video cut Francis Ngannou’s name from Israel Adesanya’s reference to three African champions, prompting Adesanya to criticize the edit. Dana White later said he had not known about the change, but accepted responsibility as the person in charge of production and apologized to Adesanya.
What the edit removed
In the original pre-sale press conference, Adesanya spoke about himself, Kamaru Usman and Ngannou as the “three kings” of African UFC champions. The Countdown segment retained part of Adesanya’s remarks but cut the references to Ngannou and the trio. The difference was highlighted online before UFC 305.
Adesanya called the omission a mistake and said Ngannou’s contribution to UFC history could not be erased. Ngannou had left the promotion after contract negotiations broke down and later signed with the PFL. The edit prompted criticism because it omitted a former UFC heavyweight champion from a clip discussing the promotion’s African champions.
White accepted responsibility
At a Dana White’s Contender Series press conference, White initially said he had not known about the edit and would look into it. He later told reporters that someone on the production team had made a conscious editing choice, believing it reflected what the UFC wanted. White said that was not his intention, that he would not have authorized it, and that the decision ultimately fell on him as head of production.
White said he had called and apologized to Adesanya. His comments clarified responsibility for the production decision, but did not establish why the editor removed Ngannou’s name. Adesanya’s objection centered on acknowledging a shared chapter of UFC history despite Ngannou’s departure to a rival promotion.
The episode was a brief promotional edit with a larger symbolic impact: it renewed debate about how the UFC presents former champions who leave on difficult terms. The public record of Ngannou’s championship reign remains, but Adesanya argued that the organization should not omit his role when recounting that era.
Sources: MMA Fighting on White’s response and apology; MMA Fighting on Adesanya’s criticism; CBS Sports on the edit and White’s comments.
Sources
Tags: MMA
