Francis Ngannou and Jon Jones may never actually cross paths inside the cage, but that hasn’t “The Predator” from hyping up the fantasy match.
PFL heavyweight superfights champ Ngannou (18-3) was once in a position to be able to face Jones (27-1 MMA, 21-1 UFC) when they were both in the UFC. Unfortunately, during Jones’ three-year transition from light heavyweight to heavyweight, Ngannou left the promotion to join the PFL after he could not come to terms on a new deal with the UFC.
Although they are now under different promotions and the UFC is unwilling to cross-promote, Ngannou and Jones have continued to discuss the potential fight, most famously during an impromptu faceoff last year at a PFL event in Atlanta.
Jones, the current UFC heavyweight champion, is coming off his first title defense at UFC 309, where he stopped Stipe Miocic. Leading into the fight and coming out of it, Jones has been labeled a “duck” for being dismissive of interim champion Tom Aspinall.
“Crazy how being called a ‘duck’ pays better than most of you Internet tough guys will make in a lifetime,” Jones wrote on X (formerly Twitter). Two fights in four years and still one of the biggest names in the sport? that’s not ducking, that’s winning. God’s blessings hit different, stay mad.”
Ngannou took the opportunity to reply to Jones’ message with a clever call out, keeping the conversation of the fantasy fight between the two alive.
“Blessings make haters uncomfortable, but they can’t change it,” Ngannou wrote on X. “There’s only one fight, the right fight that will multiply your blessings. #NgannouVSJones”
Blessings make haters uncomfortable, but they can’t change it.
There’s only one fight, the right fight that will multiply your blessings.#NgannouVSJones https://t.co/7HhNDM4OD6— Francis Ngannou (@francis_ngannou) November 30, 2024
PFL execs Donn Davis and Peter Murray have often spoken supportively about a potential cross promotion fight between Ngannou and Jones, urging the UFC to play ball. UFC CEO Dana White has shut it down the idea, reiterating that business is not conducted in that manner for the Las Vegas-based promotion.
