UFC President Dana White has expressed zero interest in a potential clash between Tom Aspinall and Francis Ngannou, not even wanting to speculate on how such a fight might unfold.
The heavyweight division experienced a prolonged standstill after Ngannou chose not to re-sign with the UFC following his title defense against Ciryl Gane in January 2022. He held the championship for a year before leaving for other ventures, which subsequently allowed Jon Jones to claim the vacant belt.
However, Jones defended his title only once. This forced interim champion Tom Aspinall to endure a significant wait before Jones`s recent retirement paved the way for Aspinall to become the undisputed champion this past weekend. Despite a cross-promotional bout between Aspinall and Ngannou being a major potential event, White stated he is not interested in collaborating with the PFL.
Dana White Dismisses Aspinall vs Ngannou Super-Fight Talk
Since confirming Jon Jones`s retirement on Saturday night, Dana White has been answering questions regarding the future of the heavyweight landscape. He expects Tom Aspinall to defend his title this year and anticipates a more active championship reign compared to the two previous titleholders.
Francis Ngannou`s name frequently surfaces in comeback discussions, even though he is under an exclusive contract with the PFL. Some speculation exists that the PFL might be open to a co-promotion, an arrangement the UFC has notably avoided throughout its history.
Speaking to select media, including Bloody Elbow, at Fanatics Fest in New York City on Sunday, Dana White made it clear he isn`t keen on an Ngannou return. He reiterated, “Francis Ngannou? I`m not a fan… You`ll have to play that one out in your head because I don`t see that one happening!”
Ngannou`s Coach Hopes for UFC Return
Since his departure from the UFC, Ngannou has competed in two boxing matches against former world champions Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua, in addition to one PFL MMA bout. He saw some success in boxing, even knocking down Tyson Fury (then considered the lineal champion), but ultimately lost that fight via split decision before suffering a quick knockout loss to Anthony Joshua.
His PFL debut in MMA was a significant success, resulting in a rapid finish over Renan Ferreira in Riyadh. However, his coach, Eric Nicksick, now believes a return to the UFC octagon might be the best path for `The Predator` to face the highest level of competition.
“Enough time has passed,” Nicksick told Home of Fight. “I would love to see them mend these fences and get back to competing in the UFC. I think it’s more about business than it is about ego, at least it is from Francis’ side.
“Now where does his motivations come from? It’s not about money, it’s about competition. And the best competition is in the UFC.”
