Dana White unconvinced by Francis Ngannou & Tyson Fury hybrid MMA fight speculation

We’ve been there before, so if current UFC Heavyweight Champion Francis Ngannou and reigning WBC Heavyweight Boxing Champion Tyson Fury get their own way, we’ll be there again. Just ask previous crossover combatants Conor McGregor and Floyd Mayweather, when their 2017 bout in Las Vegas became a license to print money.

Indeed, that will inevitably be the biggest motivation for both Ngannou and Fury, should the two get it on in the ring for a crossover encounter, as the best of MMA takes on arguably the top heavyweight boxer in the world. But when asked if it can and even should happen, UFC supremo Dana White believes it’s a “silly” idea.

Due to contractual obligations, Ngannou would of course need to seek backing from the UFC and White, although that doesn’t seem to be something the latter is willing to provide. During his appearance on the Pat McAfee Show which airs online at YouTube, White was pretty damning of the whole idea.

“F*cking waste of time, energy, and money,” said White of any proposed boxing match between Ngannou and Fury. “It’s silly, but I get it,” added the boss of UFC, clear that both fighters would only be in this for the money. This is quite a stark difference of opinion compared to 2017, when former two-division UFC champion Connor McGregor and boxing icon Floyd Mayweather were about to fight, accompanied with his own blessing.

What started all the recent speculation was the recent fight between Tyson Fury and Dillian Whyte, hosted at a packed Wembley Stadium on 23 April 2022. What was otherwise a dull bout ended with Fury knocking out Whyte in the sixth round, then amidst his celebrations, Fury invited watching Ngannou up from the audience and into the ring. Both seemed genuinely serious about some kind of hybrid fight.

“This is going to be one very special fight, like never before seen in the history of our sport,” enthused Fury. “It’s going to be an explosive fight when it happens,” insisted the British boxer with an air of apparent certainty. “It’ll be a hybrid fight with different type of rules, MMA gloves in the ring, kind of like mix-up. A little different,” added Ngannou. Later that evening, UFC star Ngannou said it would definitely happen sometime in 2023.

Even before these comments, the duo had regularly traded virtual blows and verbal shots via social networks, often speaking about a potential fight wearing four-ounce MMA gloves, as mmafighting.com recently highlighted. This is made all the more interesting due to Fury seemingly being done with boxing, while Ngannou has vented his frustration about his pay conditions in the UFC.

Now that Fury and Ngannou seem set on getting this idea organized for real, UFC boss White knows the bumper payday they could expect is the key motivation, although he doesn’t believe there would be the same interest as Mayweather versus McGregor in 2017. “The thing was, the Floyd-Conor fight took on a life of its own,” he pointed out. “I mean, everywhere I went that’s all people were asking me about.”

“Definitely sometime next year. 2023. That fight will happen!”

“Tyson Fury vs. Francis Ngannou in Africa. The Rumble in the Jungle 2!”@francis_ngannou is adamant the @Tyson_Fury fight will happen! 👀#FuryWhyte pic.twitter.com/h4wuQGGsvO

— UFC on BT Sport (@btsportufc) April 23, 2022

“It got to a point where fans wanted to see that fight and the media wanted to see that fight, and you know me,” admitted the shrewd business voice of White, acknowledging the huge media and financial interest which surrounded the Mayweather matchup with McGregor. However, there just isn’t the same feeling from White this time around. “People aren’t knocking our door down for this fight,” he underlined.

Despite the comments from White seeming to pour cold water over the whole idea, it does appear there is a steadily growing interest in Fury taking on Ngannou, whatever the terms of the contest and wherever it might be hosted. Incredibly, some sportsbooks in the United States have even started quoting odds, even without anything officially agreed or confirmed between the two fighters, with Fury tipped as the clear favourite to beat Ngannou.

Wherever this leads in the end is anyone’s guess right now, even amidst the utmost enthusiasm coming from Fury and Ngannou, given the complications of organizing such a venture. But if it does eventually happen, you can bank on the best boxing betting sites offering up markets, via trusted reviews from Arabian Betting, who always pack a punch with their honest reviews and guides to finding the best promotions.

All we can do now is wait and see what happens. Many boxing fans would rather see Fury bide his time and challenge to become undisputed heavyweight champion of the world, going for all four main titles instead of just the one he currently holds. As for Ngannou, he is currently recovering from injury and while there is friction with UFC boss White, it only seems natural he is looking at options for bigger pay days.