The UFC vs. Francis Ngannou battle is bigger than the promotion vs. Ngannou and his representation. The UFC is using Ngannou, who holds the UFC heavyweight title and Creative Artists Agency (CAA) to send a message to every fighter on the roster and their management. That message? Play nice.
Ngannou has been seeking, as he said on the MMA Hour in October, “better terms on my contract, and obviously (to get) paid what I deserve.”
In response to Ngannou’s desire to work out a better deal with the UFC via his representative at CAA, Marquel Martin, the promotion’s president, Dana White, has railed against Martin.