DANA WHITE hit out at a “dumb question” after being probed on cross-promoting a fight between Jon Jones and Francis Ngannou.
White attempted to make the heavyweight super-fight only for Ngannou to walk out on the UFC.
He went on to sign for rivals the Professional Fighters League while also making a switch to boxing to fight Tyson Fury.
But with the UFC and PFL both on ESPN – meaning there would be no networking conflict – the idea of a cross-promotion was put to White.
He responded: “I’m not interested. We tried to make that fight. They didn’t want to do it. It’s done. He doesn’t fight here any more. I’m not interested.”
White added: “It’s a stupid question, but go ahead talk to me. Why would I do that?
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“I tried to make the fight here, they didn’t want to do it but I should co-promote with like a Bellator or a PFL? Why should I do that? Talk to me.
“Because of ESPN? You win the dumb question of the night, congratulations, sir.”
Ngannou left the UFC after being denied the chance to box like Conor McGregor was allowed to do in 2017 against Floyd Mayweather.
He eventually faced Fury, 35, in Saudi Arabia and dropped the world champion, with many feeling he was unfortunate to lose on points.
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Ngannou, 37, now wants to rematch Fury and will wait till after the undisputed title fight against Oleksandr Usyk, 36, in February.
Meanwhile Jones, 36, was due to fight Stipe Miocic, 41, at UFC 295 but the bout has been postponed due to an injury he suffered.
Brit Tom Aspinall, 30, filled in on two weeks’ notice and knocked out Sergei Pavlovich, 31, in round one for the UFC interim heavyweight title.
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Jack Figg
