UFC CEO Dana White has emphatically shut down any prospect of Francis Ngannou returning to the octagon, placing the former heavyweight champion on what he calls his 'Oscar De La Hoya list' of people he refuses to work with. White cited Ngannou's track record with other organizations as evidence of character issues, saying he has reached a point in his life where he simply will not do business with 'bad guys'. The comments came when White was asked whether a long-discussed matchup between Ngannou and retired pound-for-pound great Jon Jones could still be made.
UFC CEO Dana White has slammed the door shut on any possibility of Francis Ngannou returning to the promotion, making clear in blunt terms that the former heavyweight champion has no future inside the octagon under his watch.
White placed Ngannou alongside boxing promoter Oscar De La Hoya on what he described as a personal list of people he refuses to do business with. He cited Ngannou's conduct with other organizations as evidence of deeper character problems, and said he has reached a stage in life where working with people he considers "bad guys" is simply not something he will do. The comments came in response to a direct question about whether the long-discussed matchup between Ngannou and retired pound-for-pound great Jon Jones could ever be made.
Ngannou, 40, holds a professional record of 17-3-0 and stood at six-foot-four with an 83-inch reach during his time as the UFC's most feared heavyweight. The Frenchman landed 2.33 significant strikes per minute during his UFC tenure and carried knockout power that made him one of the most dangerous fighters the division has ever seen. He departed the promotion after his contract expired in early 2023.
Jones, also six-foot-four and 39 years old, owns a record of 28-1-0 and boasts an extraordinary 84-inch reach. During his career he landed 4.38 significant strikes per minute at 58 percent accuracy while also averaging 1.89 takedowns per 15 minutes, a combination of skills that defined him as arguably the most complete fighter in UFC history. He has been inactive since capturing the heavyweight title.
Why it matters
- White's comments appear to permanently close the door on a Ngannou UFC comeback, ending years of speculation about his return.
- The Jones versus Ngannou matchup, one of the most requested fights in recent memory, now looks dead in the water as far as the UFC is concerned.
- Ngannou's path to any high-profile heavyweight clash may be limited entirely to organizations outside the UFC going forward.
