Dana White rules out UFC return for Francis Ngannou

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UFC CEO Dana White has ruled out doing business with former heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou, seemingly ending any possibility of the Cameroonian-born fighter returning to the organisation.

Ngannou parted ways with the UFC in January 2023 after a prolonged dispute with White over his future with the promotion, with the heavyweight title stripped from him following his departure.

The long-running feud between the pair resurfaced during White’s appearance on Nightcap on Thursday, when he was asked whether a potential fight between Ngannou and retired former UFC champion Jon Jones could still happen.

“Listen, Ngannou is on my Oscar De La Hoya list.

“Look at the history of Francis Ngannou and the other companies he’s been with. He’s a bad guy and I’m at a point in my life where I just don’t want to do business with bad guys. I just don’t,” White said, as reported by Yahoo News on Friday.

Ngannou joined the Professional Fighters League after leaving the UFC, signing not only to compete for the promotion but also to serve as chairman of PFL Africa.

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However, he competed only once for the PFL, defeating Renan Ferreira in 2024, before leaving the organisation in March 2026.

The former UFC champion has since featured prominently in boxing, facing former heavyweight world champions Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua.

A return to the UFC has remained unlikely amid his strained relationship with White, while Jones, who is widely regarded as one of the greatest mixed martial artists of all time, has retired.

White also praised Jones while describing the fighter in similarly intense terms.

“Jon Jones is the baddest dude to ever walk the face of the earth.

“People always bust my balls when I say it, Jon Jones is not just a stone cold killer—That guy’s dark. He’s dark,” White said.

Tosin Oyediran is a journalist at Punch Newspapers with over eight years of professional experience in reporting and storytelling. He is known for conducting incisive interviews and producing compelling human-angle stories that bring clarity and depth to the news. Tosin covers a broad range of beats including politics, health, advocacy, sports, and entertainment, with a strong focus on people-centred reporting. His work reflects firsthand newsroom experience, editorial insight, and a commitment to accurate, engaging, and trustworthy journalism.

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