Dana White stated that he is not interested in co-promoting a fight between Francis Ngannou and Jon Jones with the PFL, emphasizing that if Ngannou wanted to fight Jones, it should have been in the UFC, and that there is no reason for the UFC to co-promote with a rival MMA organization.
In a recent interview, UFC CEO Dana White made it clear that the organization is not interested in co-promoting a fight between Francis Ngannou and Jon Jones. White stated, “I’m not interested in that. 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.” Despite PFL executives pushing for the fight after Ngannou’s boxing debut against Tyson Fury, White emphasized that the UFC has no need to co-promote with another organization in order to turn a profit, citing recent lucrative deals with Bud Light and broadcast rights.
White’s stance on co-promotion was firm, as he dismissed the idea of working with PFL or any other rival MMA organization. He questioned the notion of why the UFC would need to co-promote with an organization that is unable to sell a gate, referring to the success of the UFC’s own events. White also confirmed that Jones is expected to face former UFC heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic upon his return, reiterating that he had previously attempted to make the fight with Ngannou in the UFC.
As for Ngannou, his options for viable opposition within the PFL remain limited. The focus for Ngannou is now on exploring potential boxing matches, including the possibility of a rematch with Tyson Fury. White also mentioned that Ngannou’s desire to fight Jones in the UFC is no longer a realistic option, effectively crossing Jones off the list of potential opponents for his next fight. With the UFC’s strong position in the market, White made it clear that co-promotion with PFL or any other organization is not on the table.