Dana White Dismisses Francis Ngannou UFC Comeback Hopes Amid Jon Jones Super-Fight Talks
So, there’s been a lot of buzz lately about Francis Ngannou possibly making a return to the UFC, especially after Jon Jones threw out a call for a mega “super-fight” between the two champions. But if you’re hoping to see Ngannou back in the Octagon anytime soon, UFC President Dana White’s latest comments make it pretty clear that’s not happening.
Ngannou, who left the UFC as the heavyweight champ back in early 2023 after some tough contract negotiations, has since been focusing on boxing and competing in the Professional Fighters League (PFL). He’s fought high-profile boxing matches against Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua and has only had one MMA fight in PFL since leaving UFC. Despite his success elsewhere, the UFC brass seems firmly set against welcoming him back.
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Jon Jones, meanwhile, is stirring up the conversation. He recently mentioned on social media that he’d be interested in a fight with Ngannou instead of facing interim UFC heavyweight champ Tom Aspinall, calling it a “real super-fight” — a clash of true champions and legacies, not just hype. That got a lot of fans excited, thinking maybe the two MMA legends could finally meet in the cage.
However, Dana White shot down the idea quickly and bluntly. At the UFC 316 post-fight press conference, when asked about the possibility of Ngannou returning to fight Jones, White said simply, “Probably not. No.” He emphasized that the fight with Aspinall is what the UFC is focused on and that it’s Aspinall’s fight to make. White also made it clear that if Jones doesn’t want to fight, the UFC can’t force him, though they’ll try to motivate him.
Adding fuel to the fire, Ngannou’s coach Eric Nicksick hinted that Ngannou might be interested in a UFC comeback, sparking speculation. The PFL’s founder Donn Davis even suggested the idea of a “winner-takes-all” cross-promotion event between the UFC and PFL for a Ngannou-Jones showdown, which would be a huge deal since co-promotions between MMA organizations are rare.
There’s also talk about a potential trade deal similar to the one the UFC did with ONE Championship years ago. Former Bellator analyst Josh Thomson pointed out that the PFL might not be able to keep Ngannou inactive for much longer, especially with his high payday and lack of suitable opponents in their heavyweight roster. A trade deal could allow Ngannou to return to the UFC while giving the PFL some fresh fighters in return.
For now, though, it seems the UFC is sticking to its guns — Aspinall vs. Jones remains the priority, and Ngannou’s comeback isn’t on the immediate horizon. Fans will have to keep watching closely to see if negotiations heat up or if Ngannou will continue his career outside the UFC. Either way, the prospect of Ngannou vs. Jones remains one of the most tantalizing “what ifs” in MMA right now.
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