After being 'done,' Dana White says light heavyweight Misha Cirkunov now back in the UFC

UFC President Dana White apparently isn’t “done” with light heavyweight Misha Cirkunov.

White today told TSN in Canada that after a positive meeting, Cirkunov (13-2 MMA, 4-0 UFC) is back in the fold with a new contract.

“We got a deal done,” White told the station. “He and his wife flew down to Las Vegas and had dinner with me. (I) liked them both – nice guy, tough guy.

“We had come to terms on a deal. I had thought he sort of went MIA on me. I honestly don’t know what happened. He came back around, we got the deal done and I’m happy about it. I’m glad we did, and I look forward to seeing him fight again.”

The last time White met Cirkunov and his wife, things didn’t look so rosy. Just three weeks ago, the UFC executive described a positive meeting that ended with the fighter “really flaking out” on a contract offer.

“So I’m not interested,” White said. “I’m done. He knows I’m done. I made it very clear I’m done.”

But now, Cirkunov is not done. The shift is all the better for the struggling light heavyweight division, which has seen stars age, retire or run into trouble outside the octagon. No. 10 in the latest USA TODAY Sports/MMAjunkie MMA light heavyweight rankings, Cirkunov has won four straight fights in the octagon, most recently submitting Nikita Krylov in the first round at UFC 206, which served as the last fight on his previous deal.

A date for Cirkunov’s return fight is to be announced.

For more on the UFC’s upcoming schedule, stay tuned to the UFC Rumors section of the site.