No UFC Return
UFC CEO Dana White Permanently Rules Out Future Return for Francis Ngannou
Anonymous
Key Points
1
Ngannou left the UFC after defeating Ciryl Gane at UFC 270, declining a contract that Dana White said would have made him the highest-paid heavyweight in the promotion.
2
Ngannou’s most recent reported MMA appearance was a first-round knockout of Philipe Lins at an MVP MMA event in May, and he has won eight consecutive MMA fights dating to 2018, including victories over Ciryl Gane, Stipe Miocic and Curtis Blaydes.
3
In his two professional boxing bouts, Ngannou lost a controversial split decision to Tyson Fury before suffering a knockout loss to Anthony Joshua.
4
The UFC stripped Ngannou of its heavyweight championship when he parted ways with the promotion in January 2023.
5
White’s comments came while he was promoting the boxing event headlined by Ryan Garcia and Conor Benn on the Nightcap podcast, rather than during a UFC event or official UFC news conference.
UFC CEO Dana White has ruled out any future business with Francis Ngannou, calling the former heavyweight champion a "bad guy" and shutting the door on a potential UFC return or long-awaited fight with Jon Jones. Middle Easy reports that White made the comments while promoting a boxing event on the Nightcap podcast, rejecting what would have been one of combat sports' biggest matchups. Ngannou fired back, stating he has no interest in working with White either.
The feud stems from Ngannou's departure from the UFC in early 2023 after a contract dispute. MMA Sucka notes that Ngannou, a two-time heavyweight title holder, left the promotion following his victory over Ciryl Gane at UFC 270, then pursued boxing and eventually joined the PFL before departing that organization as well. Despite his exit, Ngannou remains a major draw with an eight-fight winning streak in MMA dating back to 2018.
The Contract Dispute That Started It All
Ngannou and White clashed over heavyweight pay in late 2022. White offered what he claimed would be the highest pay for a heavyweight in UFC history, but Ngannou rejected the deal. Yahoo Sports reported that Ngannou, fresh off his dominant knockout win over Gane, wanted better terms than the UFC was willing to provide. The heavyweight champion walked away rather than accept White's offer.
The UFC responded by stripping Ngannou of his heavyweight title in January 2023. The fighter then pursued opportunities outside the promotion, signing with the PFL and taking high-profile boxing matches against Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua. He lost both boxing bouts — a controversial split decision to Fury and a knockout loss to Joshua — before eventually departing the PFL after just one MMA fight.
White's Criticism Draws Hypocrisy Questions
White's "bad guy" label has drawn scrutiny from observers. The UFC boss continues working with Jon Jones, who has faced numerous legal troubles and controversies over his career. Conor McGregor, another top UFC draw, also has a documented history of serious incidents. Critics point out the inconsistency in White's moral standard for fighters based on their business dealings versus their personal conduct.
White cited Ngannou's involvement with other organizations as justification for the split. However, many view the dispute as rooted purely in business — White wanted Ngannou on his terms, and Ngannou refused. The fighter's decision to explore boxing and other MMA promotions appears to have made him permanently unwelcome in the UFC under White's leadership.
Ngannou's Future: Boxing or Another MMA Promotion
Despite White's door closing, Ngannou remains a major attraction. His most recent reported MMA fight was a first-round knockout of Philipe Lins at an MVP MMA event in May. With an eight-fight winning streak in MMA since 2018, Ngannou has the credentials and fan appeal to draw significant interest from rival promotions like Bellator or new upstart organizations looking to build marquee events.
Ngannou's boxing record stands at 0-2, with losses to established heavyweights Fury and Joshua. He could pursue another boxing match to rebuild credibility in that sport, or return to MMA with a rival promotion seeking to compete with the UFC. His response to White — telling the CEO to "take that loss" — signals Ngannou has no regrets about his decision to leave, and he will pursue his career elsewhere.
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