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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Sport
Ben Davies

Jon Jones offers verdict on Francis Ngannou vs Ciryl Gane UFC title fight

Jon Jones has refused to commit to an official prediction for the clash between Francis Ngannou and Cyril Gane.

Reigning heavyweight champion Ngannou will take on rising French star Gane in a heavyweight title clash at UFC 270.

The main event will be closely followed by Jones who is hoping to make a UFC return in a new division later this year.

Jones has admitted he is excited to learn more about the heavyweight pair, tweeting: "Really have no clue who’s going to win, I’m just excited to watch the fight. Going to learn so much about the both of them no matter how it goes down."

Jones has talked up a potential clash with Ngannou throughout his comeback preparations and is eyeing the winner of the clash.

The Cameroon star has previously spoken of his desire to face Jones who had a hugely successful campaign at light-heavyweight.

However is seems increasingly unlikely with Ngannou embroiled in a contract row with just his upcoming fight remaining on his UFC deal

Jones is planning to fight in either April or July with two venues proposed for his hotly-anticipated heavyweight debut.

Ngannou expected to fight Jones after conquering Stipe Miocic in a rematch as opposed to defending his title against Gane.

He has since claimed that he "doesn't care" about any bumper clash and hit out at Jones for his lack of clarification regarding a potential meeting.

“Personally I don’t really care about that anymore,” Ngannou told MMA Junkie. “There is a lot of talk about Jon Jones.

"He says a lot of things, yet we are still here. I wasn’t even expecting to fight someone other than Jon Jones after the Stipe (Miocic) fight, but here I am.

Who do you think will win at UFC 270 - Francis Ngannou or Cyril Gane? Let us know in the comments section below

'It’s almost 10 months away, I’m going to fight Ciryl Gane which wasn’t in the picture, in the landscape at that moment at all.

“What Jon Jones says and what Jon Jones does is two different things and I can’t bet on that. I can’t put my money on that. I just do what I’m going to do and we don’t know what the future holds for us. It’s not something that I’m running against anymore.”

The build-up to the fight between Gane and Ngannou has been heated with the Cameroon star snubbing a handshake when the pair met backstage at UFC 267.

Tensions have been raised largely due to Ngannou's exchanges with former coach Fernand Lopez who he has branded "evil" ahead of their reunion.

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