Dana White shows no mercy when asked about Joshua's knockout win against Ngannou

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Dana White was very clear on what he felt about UFC fighters crossing over to boxing (Image: Louis Grasse/PxImages/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Dana White was very clear on what he felt about UFC fighters crossing over to boxing (Image: Louis Grasse/PxImages/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

UFC boss Dana White had a sharp seven-word response when asked about Francis Ngannou's defeat to Anthony Joshua.

Former heavyweight champion Joshua didn't waste any time in Saudi Arabia, knocking out ex-UFC star Ngannou in the second round on Friday. Despite Ngannou's strong performance against Tyson Fury in his boxing debut last year, he couldn't trouble AJ.

Joshua managed to knock down Ngannou in the first round and kept his cool, waiting for the right moment to finish the fight in the second round. When questioned about the fight's outcome, White made his feelings clear about crossover fights in boxing.

"That's how they end - just like that," White told reporters after UFC 299 on Saturday.

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Ngannou is just one of many combat stars who have traded the octagon for the ring. In 2017, UFC superstar Conor McGregor fought undefeated Floyd Mayweather and lasted until the 10th round before the referee ended the match.

McGregor, who hasn't fought in the UFC, wants to return to the boxing ring - this time to fight Manny Pacquiao. Additionally, Sean O'Malley, who defended his bantamweight title by beating Marlon Vera at UFC 299, is eager to fight lightweight boxer Ryan Garcia.

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It's still uncertain whether there will be more crossovers into boxing after Joshua's powerful performance against Ngannou. This was a crucial win for AJ, as he continues his journey towards another chance at becoming heavyweight champion.

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Dana White shows no mercy when asked about Joshua's knockout win against NgannouAnthony Joshua knocked out Francis Ngannou on Friday (Getty Images)

He has now won four fights in a row and if Fury wins his unification title bout with Oleksandr Usyk in May, AJ and the Gypsy King could finally have their long-awaited clash. Speaking to Sky Sports, Joshua said he wasn't satisfied with his victory and is already thinking about his next fight.

"The heavyweight division is one of the toughest in the world, it is what it is," he said. "People can question me, I do my best every time but I'm not even buzzing about the win. Onto the next, let's go. I'm going back to my cage and when they let me out, I'll fight again.

"When I saw the fight with Tyson Fury I thought 'I want some of that'. (Ngannou) is a great champion and this doesn't take anything away from his capabilities. I told him not to leave boxing. He's two fights in and he's fought the best."

Francis Ngannou has vowed to return to boxing despite suffering a defeat to Anthony Joshua. "He did what Tyson Fury couldn’t," he said. "It wasn’t my day and (Joshua) was just way better than me today. But you can be sure that I’m not done here."

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* An AI tool was used to add an extra layer to the editing process for this story.

Liam Llewellyn

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