Dana White’s UFC Matchmaking Plans For 2024 Prompt Fan Reactions: “Francis & AJ Got Him That Scared?”
In the upcoming new year, UFC fans wait with bated breaths, holding their edges, to see how 2024 may influence what happens inside the octagon. Leading this enthusiasm is none other than the vociferous Dana White, CEO of Ultimate Fighting Championship, who not too long ago took to Instagram and teased his subsequent thoughts on match-ups.
During his vacation in Bali, White showed enthusiasm for the forthcoming year in an Instagram story. He hinted at the brewing storm of creativity within him, accompanied by a quote from legendary producer Rick Rubin. The quote, “Maybe the best idea is one you’re going to think of this evening,” made fans wonder what White was secretly hiding.
After spending some time meditating on the magnificent Indonesian island, White declared that he had a host of great ideas during his holiday break. The 54-year-old UFC head honcho could not wait to implement these ideas and announced, “I am going home now so that I can destroy January and 2024.”.
Almost immediately, the MMA community addressed White’s ambiguous yet hopeful message. One prominent theory indicated that White’s enthusiasm was fueled by the recent declaration of a heavyweight bout between Francis Ngannou and boxing sensation Anthony Joshua.
One surprised fan posed the question, “Francis and ‘AJ’, got him really scared?” The implication here is that this might just be the trigger for White’s major plans. The concept of two over-athletes clashing inside the ring, one from the UFC and another outside, apparently appeared to be kindling a spark for White.
Spicing up on the speculations, another fan humorously hinted that White was getting ready to introduce a second slap-fighting league. Although clearly a joke, this remark reflected the imaginative nature of MMA fans, who are always prepared for something unforeseen.
The last fuel was added to the speculative fire with recent announcements made by MMA journalist Ariel Helwani. Per Helwani, former UFC heavyweight champ Francis Ngannou will return to the boxing ring in 2024. His opponent? No one other than the famous British heavyweight, Anthony Joshua. 10 rounds of this titanic clash will take place in the luxurious setting of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Joshua suggested a possible date in another tweet and marked the calendar for March 8–20. ” This revelation only increased the noise on Ngannou’s return to the boxing ring.
So far, Ngannou’s journey after leaving the UFC due to a contract dispute following his final bout at UFC 270 in January has been full of surprises. In October 2022, the French-Cameroonian welterweight took everyone by surprise when he stepped into a ring for his very first match against none other than Tyson Fury, one of boxing’s superstar heavyweights.
Ngannou also displayed his ability to adapt in the fight against Fury, facing very stiff competition. Fury, 37 years old, ultimately won the fight by split decision, but many in the combat sports world believe that Ngannou should have been given victory. The knockdown Ngannou delivered against ‘The Gipsy King’ provided one more dimension to his journey into boxing.
With fans wondering what Ngannou’s return to boxing signifies, one thing is for certain: 2024 will see a massive change in the UFC scene. Whether it’s the cross-sport attraction of a Ngannou vs. 2015, 2015 will be an excit2015year, either from the perspective of the Joshua showdown or White’s mystical dating proposition ideas for fans of MMA.
Dana White, the President of the UFC, promises to “DESTROY January and 2024,” creating a feeling of anticipation in fans all over the globe waiting for drama to unfold inside an octagon. In anticipation of a year that is sure to shake the MMA world, it seems like there are surprises at every turn as the UFC and boxing collide in high-profile matchups. It would take time before we could understand the details of White’s great designs and their relationship with an ever-changing landscape in combat sports.