Francis Ngannou vs. Tyson Fury & 4 other fantasy matchups that didn't happen because of Dana White
Dana White is the preeminent authority figure in MMA. While he may not officially be the UFC's most powerful executive, he's the public face of the promotion and someone that UFC fighters, past and present, are accustomed to dealing with. Thus, any proposed matchups that involve fighters from different divisions, and especially different sports, must be approved by Dana White himself.
In the past, the UFC president has made exceptions to specific rules he once had immutable stances over. The most high-profile example was his approval of Floyd Mayweather Jr.'s boxing match with Conor McGregor. Before and after the bout, however, Dana White maintained his usual approach to such situations, recently cooling down talk of a potential boxing match involving Francis Ngannou and Tyson Fury.
What is curious, though, is that even the dream matchups White himself once sought to schedule ultimately collapsed due to his approach to the negotiations. This list examines five fantasy matchups that didn't happen because of Dana White.
#5. Ronda Rousey vs. Cris Cyborg
The biggest dream match in the history of women's MMA is undoubtedly Ronda Rousey vs. Cris Cyborg. The two are among the most dominant WMMA fighters the world has ever seen, and while they've been signed to the same promotion on two separate occassions, a bout between the two never came to fruition.
Both women were Strikeforce champions, with Cyborg fighting in the division above Rousey's. Unfortunately, when the UFC came into ownership of all Strikeforce contracts, the Brazilian bruiser was not among the wave of Strikeforce fighters who made the move to the UFC, as there was no weight class that could accommodate her.
Cyborg could drop no further than 145 pounds, as the cut to bantamweight came with serious health risks. So, when calls for a matchup between Rousey and her Brazilian rival reached Dana White's ears, it was believed that the bout could only take place at featherweight: a weight class Rousey had little experience in. W
White was adamant that if Cyborg wanted the fight, she'd have to make the impossible cut down to bantamweight. The UFC president's decision not to seriously pursue the matchup while simultaneously disparaging Cyborg delayed her signing with the UFC for years.
Even when Cyborg eventually signed with the promotion prior to Rousey's return bout with Amanda Nunes, White never made a serious attempt at booking what would have easily been the biggest fight in women's MMA history.