Dana White Again Rips Ngannou Amid Jones Fight Talk

Dana White shut down any notion of a Jon Jones vs. Francis Ngannou fight happening inside the UFC, telling Nightcap that Ngannou is "a bad guy" he does not want to do business with.

Asked directly about the potential superfight, White did not budge from the position he has held since Ngannou walked away from the UFC in early 2022 still holding the heavyweight title. Ngannou left after beating Ciryl Gane and repeatedly turned down new contract offers, with the promotion ultimately declaring him too difficult to work with and releasing him from any exclusive negotiating window.

Why Does Dana White Keep Calling Francis Ngannou a "Bad Guy"?

White has never laid out a specific incident to justify the label, but he has kept the line going for years now, and he leaned on it again this week. "He's a bad guy, man. 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, you know what I mean? I just don't," White said. He also grouped Ngannou in with Oscar De La Hoya as a figure he is simply done dealing with. Past comments from White have hinted at tense in-person negotiations and even a physical altercation, though nothing has been confirmed or detailed publicly, and it remains a mismatch with the image most fans have of the soft-spoken Cameroonian heavyweight.

What Has Francis Ngannou Done Since Leaving the UFC?

Since exiting the UFC, Ngannou has fought exclusively outside the promotion, taking two high-profile boxing matches, a PFL MMA bout, and most recently an MVP MMA fight. At 40 years old, he is no longer in the prime years of his career, but he remains a legitimate knockout threat every time he steps in with either gloves or gloves on the ground. With Jake Paul's MVP promotion pushing further into MMA, Ngannou figures to stay one of the biggest names the company leans on to raise its profile, which means White's public shots at him are unlikely to stop anytime soon.

For bettors, this is less about a live betting market and more about eliminating a matchup fans have wanted priced for years. A Jones vs. Ngannou fight inside the UFC has never had real odds attached to it precisely because White has refused to book it, and that stance shows no signs of changing. Anyone hoping to eventually wager on that fight should not expect a line to materialize through the UFC. If it ever happens, it would have to come through MVP or another outside promotion.

Frequently Asked Questions

Did Dana White say Jon Jones will fight Francis Ngannou?

No. Dana White shot down the idea, calling Francis Ngannou 'a bad guy' he does not want to do business with, signaling the fight will not happen inside the UFC.

Why did Francis Ngannou leave the UFC?

Francis Ngannou left the UFC in early 2022 after beating Ciryl Gane while still champion, turning down new contract offers before the promotion released him from exclusive negotiations.

What has Francis Ngannou done since leaving the UFC?

Francis Ngannou has fought in two boxing matches, one PFL bout, and one MVP MMA fight since departing the UFC.