UFC CEO Dana White no longer wants the Jon Jones vs. Francis Ngannou fight. Even more, he doesn’t think he needs to co-promote such a fight with rival company PFL as “they can’t sell a f*cking gate.”
White answered the question at the UFC 295 post-fight news conference when asked about pushing the fight and collaborating with PFL to make it happen. To recall, the bout was put into plan while Ngannou was still with UFC as the heavyweight champion. However, this immediately ended when Ngannou signed a deal with PFL in May.
White clearly doesn’t like the move and expressed this in his answer to an MMA Junkie reporter last weekend.
“I’m not interested in that,” White said. “We tried to make that fight. They didn’t want to do it. It’s done. He doesn’t fight here anymore. I’m not interested.”
On the other hand, it seems Ngannou isn’t the only one that pisses White off. Even the idea of working with PFL or Bellator is something that offends the executive. In response, White called the query “the dumb question of the night” and reiterated that it is unnecessary as UFC made the effort.
“Should I (co-promote with PFL)?” White said. “We’ve got 1, 2 and 3 (in MSG history). They can’t sell a f*cking gate. It’s a stupid question, but go ahead. Talk to me. Why would I do that?”
Aside from having zero interest in working with PFL, White’s sour attitude toward the question probably comes from UFC’s final plans for Jones, which the CEO doesn’t want to ruin. Currently, Jones has to recover from his torn pectoral tendon injury. After this, UFC is expected to reschedule his fight against Stipe Miocic. Current Interim UFC Heavyweight Champion Tom Aspinall repeatedly stresses his intention to fight Jones, but the legend seems firm in his decision to retire after his bout against Miocic.
