UFC President Dana White isn`t interested in discussing a hypothetical fight between Tom Aspinall and Francis Ngannou, nor does he want to speculate on how it might unfold.
The prolonged stagnation at the pinnacle of the heavyweight division began when Ngannou chose not to re-sign with the UFC after his title defense against Ciryl Gane in January 2022. He held the championship for a year before seeking opportunities elsewhere, paving the way for Jon Jones to capture the vacant title.
However, Jones defended his belt just once, causing interim champion Tom Aspinall to face a lengthy wait before Jones`s eventual retirement allowed Aspinall to become the undisputed champion this past weekend. Despite a potential cross-promotion bout with PFL being a possibly massive fight, White expressed zero interest.
Dana White Dismisses Tom Aspinall vs. Francis Ngannou Superfight Concept
Since confirming Jon Jones`s retirement on Saturday night, Dana White has been fielding questions regarding the future landscape of the heavyweight division. Tom Aspinall plans to defend his title this year and aims for a more active championship reign compared to the two preceding titleholders.
Francis Ngannou`s name frequently comes up in conversations about a possible UFC comeback, even though he is currently under an exclusive contract with the PFL. There is speculation that PFL might be willing to co-promote, a practice the UFC has famously never engaged in.
Speaking to select media, including Bloody Elbow, at Fanatics Fest in New York City on Sunday, Dana White made it clear he isn`t interested in Ngannou returning. “Francis Ngannou? I`m not a fan,” he reiterated. Regarding a fight with Aspinall, he added, “You`ll have to play that one out in your head because I don`t see that one happening!
Francis Ngannou`s Coach Hopes for a UFC Return
Since leaving the UFC, Ngannou has participated in two boxing matches against former world champions Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua, as well as one MMA bout under the PFL banner. He had some success in boxing, including knocking down then-lineal champion Fury before losing a split decision. However, he suffered a quick knockout loss to Anthony Joshua.
His MMA return in the PFL resulted in a swift defeat to Renan Ferreira in Riyadh. Nevertheless, coach Eric Nicksick suggests that returning to the UFC octagon could be the optimal strategy for `The Predator` to compete against top-tier opponents.
“Enough time has passed,” Nicksick told Home of Fight. “I would love to see them reconcile and have him compete in the UFC again. I think it’s more about business than it is about ego, at least on Francis’ part.”
“Where does his motivation come from now? It’s not about money; it`s about competition. And the premier competition resides in the UFC.”
Gareth Pendleton