UFC CEO, Dana White, has ruled out a potential return to the organisation for former heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou, citing his strained relationship with the Cameroonian-born fighter.
Ngannou left the UFC in January 2023 following a prolonged dispute with White over his future with the promotion.
His heavyweight title was subsequently stripped after his departure.
The possibility of Ngannou returning to the UFC resurfaced when White appeared on Nightcap on Thursday and was asked about the prospect of a fight between Ngannou and retired former UFC champion Jon Jones.
“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, where he was also appointed chairman of PFL Africa.
He competed only once for the promotion, defeating Renan Ferreira in 2024, before leaving in March 2026.
Since then, the former UFC champion has focused on boxing, taking on former heavyweight world champions Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua.
His return to the UFC had already appeared unlikely because of his relationship with White, while Jones has since retired from MMA.
White also spoke highly of Jones, describing the former champion in equally emphatic 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.
