Did the UFC announce Dustin Poirier vs. Benoit Saint-Denis prematurely in an try to screw over Francis Ngannou? Based on Saint-Denis’ supervisor, that’s precisely what he thinks occurred.
Poirier vs. Saint-Denis was introduced by UFC CEO Dana White on January seventh, simply two days after a Francis Ngannou vs. Anthony Joshua boxing bout in Saudi Arabia was revealed. In a brand new interview with GONG Gi Or No Gi, “God of Struggle” supervisor Guillaume Peltier detailed how he had been pushing for a Poirier match-up, however wasn’t getting anyplace … till the Ngannou information broke.
“So what occurred — I feel, in response to me, I’ve no affirmation, I’m speaking to you with an open coronary heart — issues accelerated because of Ngannou,” Peltier mentioned. “I feel the UFC wished to counter-attack [news of Ngannou vs. Joshua] and make this information flop just a little bit in France.”
“To me, I feel they mentioned to themselves ‘Now we have Cyril Gane or Benoit Saint-Denis, and we now have to react instantly to Ngannou’s announcement to make sure it goes by the wayside and nobody talks about it.’ And I don’t know if you happen to agree with me, however ultimately we talked little or no concerning the Ngannou battle, lastly, with the announcement of Benoit Saint-Denis [vs. Dustin Poirier]. The counter-attack succeeded.”
Earlier than the Ngannou announcement, Peltier mentioned the Poirier reserving was being repeatedly turned down by matchmaker Sean Shelby and UFC CBO Hunter Campbell. They had been suggesting BSD vs. Beneil Dariush, after which the whole lot all of a sudden modified.
Peltier additionally confirms what we’d heard beforehand (and what Dana White denied): that UFC introduced the battle earlier than confirming with both fighter. He was on a aircraft when White revealed the reserving on Instagram, and it took a number of hours of negotiating after touchdown earlier than phrases had been agreed to.
Issues had been left hanging for much longer with Dustin Poirier, who would briefly declare the battle off weeks later when the UFC didn’t reply to his phrases. Just a few hours later, Poirier introduced that the whole lot had been sorted out and the UFC 299 battle was again on.
So … would the UFC rush their very own battle announcement simply to try to harm Francis Ngannou’s hype in France? Positive. Is that what occurred right here? As Peltier mentioned, there’s no affirmation, however that’s how he learn the state of affairs.
And simply look again to previous Ngannou information days: the UFC introduced Jon Jones vs. Stipe Miocic at UFC 295 on the identical day Ngannou vs. Fury was introduced. And when Large Fran signed with PFL? The UFC introduced Justin Gaethje vs. Dustin Poirier for the BMF belt at UFC 291.
What do you suppose, Maniacs? Coincidence or conspiracy?
