Dana White Shuts the Door on Ngannou’s UFC Return

Dana White Shuts the Door on Ngannou’s UFC Return

UFC CEO Dana White has cast fresh doubt on Francis Ngannou’s chances of returning to the promotion after ruling out the possibility of doing business with the former heavyweight champion.

The latest development has renewed attention on the long-running disagreement between White and Ngannou, who left the UFC in January 2023 following a contract dispute.

Ngannou departed the organisation as its reigning heavyweight champion after successfully defending his title against Ciryl Gane at UFC 270 in January 2022. The UFC subsequently stripped him of the championship and moved ahead with a vacant-title fight between Jon Jones and Gane at UFC 285 in March 2023.

The strained relationship between White and Ngannou came back into focus during White’s appearance on Nightcap on Thursday. He was asked about the possibility of a highly anticipated fight between Ngannou and former UFC heavyweight champion Jon Jones.

White dismissed the prospect of working with Ngannou again, describing the Cameroonian-born fighter as a “bad guy” and placing him on what he called his “Oscar De La Hoya list” of people he does not want to do business with.

The comments appear to have further reduced the chances of Ngannou making a return to the UFC, although they do not constitute a formal lifetime ban from the organisation.

Ngannou, widely known as “The Predator,” left the UFC after disagreements over contract terms and his future with the promotion. He later signed with the Professional Fighters League in 2023, securing opportunities to compete in boxing while remaining involved in mixed martial arts.

The former champion made headlines in boxing after facing Tyson Fury in October 2023 and Anthony Joshua in March 2024. He has also remained a prominent figure in combat sports outside the UFC.

A fight between Ngannou and Jones has long been discussed by fans, particularly because of the fighters’ reputations as two of the most formidable heavyweights of their era. However, Jones’ retirement and White’s latest comments make the possibility of the matchup even more uncertain.

For now, Ngannou’s return to the UFC appears highly unlikely, with White showing no indication that he wants to reopen the relationship.

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