UFC President Dana White was recently asked if he would be open to former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou returning to the promotion. White held the line. He is not open to it and he pointed to a personal preference against working with the combat sports star ever again. White said, “I just don’t want to do business with bad guys.” He went as far as to say, “Ngannou is on my Oscar De La Hoya list.”

White pointed to Ngannou’s history with other companies.

“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.”

The Question Was Not About a Comeback in the Abstract

White was on the Nightcap podcast with Shannon Sharpe, promoting Saturday’s Ryan Garcia and Conor Benn card, when the question came. Sharpe did not ask whether Ngannou might return someday. He asked about Jon Jones against Ngannou . That is the fight White was turning down, and Jones has said publicly he wants it, which makes this a decision about two fighters rather than one.

Every Reason White Has Given

Where Ngannou Has Fought Since Leaving

While fighters have pointed a finger at White in the past, the face of the UFC isn’t completely off base with his characterization of Ngannou. Other organizations, including the PFL , have had rumored issues working with Ngannou . Where’s the truth? It’s probably somewhere in the middle and it is likely both men have a point.

However, at this stage of Ngannou’s career, (he turned 40 on September 5), if he wants to have meaningful MMA fights, he needs the UFC more than they need him. The one thing Ngannou has that the UFC might covet is the claim to the lineal MMA heavyweight title. I believe that’s part of the reason White worked so hard to build Jon Jones’ case as the G.O.A.T during his reign. It helped to erase the legitimacy concerns when Ngannou pulled a CM Punk and left the promotion holding the title.

This was an easier sell for White because Jones might very well be the G.O.A.T, so White’s claims weren’t out of left field. In any case, it seems any dream fights between Ngannou and fighters under contract with the UFC will never happen.

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