UFC president Dana White does not appear interested in any future dealings with former heavyweight champion and current free agent Francis Ngannou.
In a media scrum following the UFC 285 ceremonial weigh-ins, White was asked if it was possible for the promotion to revisit negotiations with Ngannou to face the winner between Jon Jones and Ciryl Gane.
“No,” White told reporters (via ESPN). “No. We negotiated with him for years. It’s over, that’s over. He’ll never be in the UFC again.”
White reinforced his decision on Ngannou leaving the UFC saying “Yeah, I never say never, but I’ll give you a never on that one.”
Ngannou was released in January and is free to fight elsewhere, ending his run with the promotion that began in 2016.
Ngannou is currently focused on landing a big boxing match with the likes of Tyson Fury or Deontay Wilder. He has said a return to MMA was always a part of his plan, although it appears the UFC is no longer interested in his services.
