Current UFC heavyweight champion Jon Jones has recently taken to social media, expressing interest in a potential showdown with the former UFC heavyweight king and present PFL SuperFight titleholder, Francis Ngannou.
Ngannou`s head coach, Eric Nicksick, recently indicated that Francis would “100 percent” consider returning to the UFC down the line. Ngannou`s departure from the UFC stemmed from feeling undervalued and mistreated while holding the heavyweight belt, leading him to vacate the title and sign with PFL, where he holds roles as both a fighter and an ambassador for PFL Africa. Following Ngannou`s exit, Jones captured the vacant UFC title, while Ngannou has pursued lucrative opportunities in both professional boxing and within the PFL SmartCage.
The exchange was sparked on Friday when Jones tweeted that a fight against Ngannou would be a significant motivator for him to compete again, unlike a bout with interim champion Tom Aspinall. Ngannou issued his reply less than 24 hours later.
On Twitter, Ngannou responded, “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 potential matchup between Jones and Ngannou has been anticipated for years, particularly since Jones`s move up to the heavyweight division after vacating his light heavyweight title. However, the fight never materialized under the UFC banner, with UFC CEO Dana White citing Jones`s demand for compensation comparable to boxing star Deontay Wilder as the obstacle.
Since then, White has repeatedly stated he has no interest in re-engaging with Ngannou professionally. Conversely, PFL founder Donn Davis has publicly expressed his enthusiasm for facilitating a fight between Jones and Ngannou, ideally through a co-promotional effort with the UFC.
Regarding their recent fight history, Jon Jones successfully defended his heavyweight title against Stipe Miocic at UFC 309 in November. A month prior, Francis Ngannou made a dominant debut in the PFL, securing a first-round TKO victory over Renan Ferreira.
Marcus Blakely