The idea of a Francis Ngannou vs. Tom Aspinall showdown practically writes itself—two of the most explosive heavyweights in the world, with radically different journeys and styles, clashing in what would be a blockbuster event for fans. But don’t hold your breath. UFC President Dana White doesn’t just think the fight is unlikely—he won’t even entertain the fantasy of it when he was asked about it.
Ngannou’s departure from the UFC in early 2022 was the first domino to fall in what has become a drawn-out game of limbo for the heavyweight division. After defending his title against Ciryl Gane, Ngannou chose not to re-sign, leaving the belt behind and the UFC scrambling for a new face of the division.
Enter Tom Aspinall, who has waited in the wings far longer than his talent or momentum ever warranted. Now finally crowned the undisputed champion, Aspinall has made it clear: he plans to be active, aggressive, and visible—everything the division has lacked in recent years. Yet despite the timing, talent, and fan interest, Dana White has no plans to revisit the Ngannou conversation.
White wouldn’t even entertain the thought during a scrum with reporters:
Meanwhile, Ngannou’s journey post-UFC has been anything but quiet. He went toe-to-toe with boxing royalty—first nearly shocking the world against Tyson Fury, then suffering a sobering knockout at the hands of Anthony Joshua. Yet in MMA, he remains a force. His decimation of Renan Ferreira was a reminder that “The Predator” hasn’t lost his edge in the cage.
Ngannou’s coach, Eric Nicksick, believes the time is right to return—not for fame or fortune, but for the sake of legacy. “The best competition is in the UFC,” he said. But whether the UFC agrees is another matter.
