The announcement that an interim heavyweight title is being introduced at UFC 265 just three months after Francis Ngannou became champion led to a heated exchange between Ngannouās agent and UFC president Dana White.
The disagreement on social media occurred after Derrick Lewis was booked against Ciryl Gane with an interim title on the line in the UFC 265 main event on Aug. 7. Originally, the UFC wanted to book Lewis vs. Ngannou on that date but the current heavyweight champion took time off following his second-round knockout over Stipe Miocic to return home to visit friends and family in Cameroon.
In reaction to the news, Ngannouās agent Marquel Martin released a statement saying he was āshockedā by the UFCās decision to introduce an interim title, which then prompted the response from White.
āThis dude is so full of sh*t!ā White wrote on ESPN reporter Brett Okamotoās Instagram. āHe knows exactly whatās going on and isnāt āshockedā at all. Because we told him several times this was coming. His management is incompetent and hopefully Francis starts taking a look at new people to help his career.ā
That led to Martin firing back at White with a much longer message speaking to the issues surrounding this interim title fight being announced after an attempt was made to book Ngannou against Lewis in September.
Martin, who works for powerhouse talent agency CAA, offered to reveal all of the relevant information regarding this situation after the initial message received from White.
āComplete shock with your decision after we said September was good for us,ā Martin said. āComplete shock that you guys made threats after less than three months after you all were aware. Complete shock after you knew why Francis needed more time. That is correct. I know youāre passionate but you are trying to discredit by integrity when Iāve been nothing but respectful to you, Hunter [Campbell] and your entire staff? Speaks more about you than it does me. Iām not even mad, Iām actually impressed that Iāve gotten your attention.
āIncompetent management? I think weāve done a damn good job. I think you really donāt like the fact that Francis is being represented by not only me but an entire agency, one which you canāt control. Hence why you have people tryin to rep him all the time to your benefit. [Laughing crying emoji.] I tell you what, letās disclose everything for people to see. Emails, calls, texts, everything. Deal? Cause Iām ready to get blackballed by the UFC. Iām not defined by it, you or anyone else for that matter. Howās that sound? Sincerely, your old employee, Marquel Martin.ā
White has never been shy about calling out a fighter or their representation in a public format but it appears Martin was ready to go to war with the UFC president over this situation.
While the UFC is crowning an interim champion in August, Ngannou is still holding onto his heavyweight title with the expectation that heāll face the winner of Lewis vs. Gane in his next fight.
I donāt like the interim belt situation but Martinās response was absolutely stupid. It didnāt help Francis, was self serving and sounded like a teenager who was lashing out at his parents.
If I was Francis, Iād find someone new. His management ultimately failed him.
Thisā¦he didnāt do Francis any favors here
I don`t know whats going on.Maybe they think that a title vs title fight is bigger than Ngannou vs Jon Jones.
3 months after a fight is awful early to have interim title fight.Something must have happened if Ngannou isn`t hurt or retiring.
I donāt know who that man is but it seams a little wrong for Dana to interfere with a fighter and his manager like that especially publicly. With Monopoly claims etc I am not a lawyer but it seems to me Dana shouldnāt do that publicly.
The thing about Ngannou is he isnāt drawing. Shills like Rogan are screeching about how heās going to be the biggest superstar in combat sportsā¦No. that isnāt going to happen.
A foreign born fighter is not going to become a superstar here. It happens occasionally. Anderson became a star only after years of dominance as champion. GSP was fortunate to have come along during the beginning of the TUF era.
Donāt even bring up Latinos with in boxing cuz thatās a completely different thing.
Ok I will bring up Khabib Nurmagomedov being a superstar.
Thereās some Irish guy that Iāve been hearing people talk about.
Meanwhile Jon Jones slips further into limbo.
They donāt want Nunes to carry the card so they created a fake belt for promotion purposes only. Itās transparent.
Ngannouās manager should understand that and not be āshockedā. It will not taint Ngannouās belt in the slightest.
I still hate the way Dana lashes out to anyone who disagrees with him and how the bully fighters behind closed doors.
Danaās comments just gave merit to Martinās claims concerning Dana allegedly trying to interfere with Martinās managerial agreement with Francis and set Dana up for a possible interference with a contractual relationship claim. Dana is going to learn sometime soon that Hunter Campbell isnāt Don Campbell and that the UFC canāt exert influence over courts in other states the way that they do in Nevada. Endeavor is likely going to realize at some point that Dana is a liability and that he is far too stupid, petty & vain to be the face of a major sports company.
I didn`t think of that aspect.It makes sense.
Bad look. Why go to war publicly with Dana. Youāre a manager. You should take shit for your fighterā¦ you need a thick skinā¦ part of being a manager is getting yelled at by various parties who are pissed off. Donāt make it personal, itās business. He just looks like a little baby here. Bad look.