Video: Francis Ngannou Open to Fight UFC's Jon Jones to Settle Top Heavyweight Debate
Joseph Zucker@@JosephZucker
Featured Columnist IVNovember 24, 2024
Francis Ngannou challenged UFC star Jon Jones to a fight that would determine the top heavyweight fighter in MMA.
"We both want this fight, for sure," Ngannou said in an interview with TMZ Sports. "It would be a good fight for us."
Jones successfully defended the UFC heavyweight title with his third-round TKO of Stipe Miocic at UFC 309 on Nov. 16. He originally captured the gold in March 2023, beating Ciryl Gane, after the belt was vacated due Ngannou's contract standoff with the promotion.
Ngannou, meanwhile, knocked out Renan Ferreira in his PFL debut. It was his first MMA fight in more than two years, and he showed fans he remains a heavyweight to be feared.
There's still no love lost between Ngannou and UFC president Dana White, with the PFL star asserting that White is "only guy standing in the way" of an encounter with Jones.
Those comments came after White downplayed Ngannou's victory and said the 38-year-old is "all about the money" while arguing he ducked a prospective Jones bout.
Ben Fowlkes @benfowlkesMMAIn this short clip he claims:<br><br>1. Francis is all about the money and that's why he left the UFC.<br><br>2. Francis would have made more money if he'd stayed in the UFC. <br><br>My good man do you not see that your arguments are in direct conflict with each other? <a href="https://t.co/IftJOVpiYA">https://t.co/IftJOVpiYA</a>
As long as they're fighting in separate companies, Jones vs. Ngannou will remain a pipe dream despite whatever stances they take publicly.
