Former heavyweight Brendan Schaub has stepped into the conversation surrounding the newest friction between UFC president Dana White and former heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou. White recently claimed that Ngannou “put his hands on” him in a disagreement related to bonuses. Ngannou has not replied publicly, but Schaub offered context built from his own years in the promotion.
Brendan Schaub Explains Why Tension With UFC Officials Can Boil Over
Schaub addressed the story on his podcast and spoke about the environment fighters often face behind closed doors. He shared all of his remarks in one connected statement:
“Listen, Dana calling Francis Ngannou a ‘bad guy’ is like a spade calling a spade. I don’t think Dana’s a bad guy. I don’t think Francis is a bad guy. I’m not defending putting your hands on anybody, but I will say that over the entire course of the UFC, as long as it has been around, there are no bigger bullies – depending on what your definition of bullying is – there is no bigger bullies than the UFC brass. The disrespect, behind the scenes, to managers, to fighters directly, including myself. The texts I got from UFC brass, after a fight, would make anybody so upset. When the toughest men on the planet, who fight for a living, feel disrespected, their way of communicating is through physical action, and this is a by-product of that. This is the underbelly of professional cage fighting at the highest level.”
Francis put hands on Dana White. Not exactly shocking, considering the state of the fight world. It’s cutthroat from top to bottom. It’s just how it goes. pic.twitter.com/h7o2QzwXDN
— Brendan Schaub (@BrendanSchaub) November 24, 2025
Schaub said he does not excuse violence but understands how fighters under constant pressure may respond when they feel disrespected by the people running the company.
Former welterweight champion Kamaru Usman spoke in support of Francis Ngannou after White shared his version of events. Although Usman maintains a positive relationship with White, he has long been close with Ngannou and defended him soon after the comments surfaced.
The exchange adds another chapter to the lengthy tension between Ngannou and UFC leadership. Schaub believes the issue White described is only one outcome of an environment where many athletes feel undervalued or dismissed.
