Francis Ngannou has outlined the steps required to finally make his long-anticipated heavyweight grudge match against Jon Jones a reality.
Legendary two-division world champion Jon Jones recently challenged Ngannou after his coach, Eric Nicksick, hinted at a potential return to the UFC. The former UFC champion is currently signed with the PFL, where he holds both fighting and executive/ambassadorial roles.
However, the PFL has previously shown willingness to allow Ngannou to compete elsewhere, notably permitting him to box against Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua without co-promotion. This flexibility suggests they could be open to facilitating a historic heavyweight showdown.
Ngannou Accepts Jones` Challenge
Although not a frequent user of X (formerly Twitter), Francis Ngannou responded directly to Jon Jones` challenge, breaking his social media silence. He essentially accepted the call, indicating that each fighter would need to navigate their respective promotional agreements.
Jones had initially posted on X: “I’m hearing Francis Ngannou is still interested… now we’re talking. That’s a real super fight. A clash of champions, not just hype. He held the UFC belt, I’ve defended mine for over a decade. Two kings from different roads. Not just one legend facing a mouth that’s hot right now, but two real legacies colliding. That’s the kind of fight that actually adds something special to my story. At least from my point of view.”
Ngannou replied: “You take care of the UFC, I’ll take care of the PFL. And we’ll finally find out who’s the KING OF THE HEAVYWEIGHT.” This response appeared to acknowledge the need for both fighters to secure agreement from their promotions.
While PFL executives like Donn Davis and Peter Murray have openly expressed enthusiasm for this fight, getting UFC CEO Dana White on board might be more challenging. White has vowed never to work with Ngannou again following a contentious departure from the UFC in 2023 when Ngannou still held the belt.
The Tom Aspinall Factor
A significant issue surrounding such a fight is the status of interim heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall. The British fighter has been pushing for an undisputed title bout with Jones for years but seems increasingly far from making it happen.
It now appears he could be pushed out of the title picture in favor of Ngannou, who technically never lost the undisputed belt in competition. In fact, with considerable debate over the legitimate champion between Jones and Aspinall, it is often argued that Ngannou holds the lineal championship status.
Ngannou has indeed presented himself as the lineal champion during his boxing matches and his single PFL appearance last October. He has become a regular participant in high-profile events in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, a location known for facilitating major deals, even bringing together boxing promoters who were previously unwilling to cooperate.
However, persuading Dana White to reunite with Ngannou, particularly given reported tensions between the UFC CEO and Saudi advisor Turki Alalshikh, seems improbable at this time.
Jones has faced considerable criticism from fans accusing him of avoiding Aspinall. He responded on X by stating: “You clowns thinking, Francis would be that much easier because of the ground game. Tom has no ground game either. In English black belt is like getting a participation ribbon.”
Jack Thornley