A Battle of Heavyweights: The Unlikely Jon Jones vs. Francis Ngannou Showdown
The anticipation surrounding a potential “super” fight between UFC stalwarts Jon Jones and Francis Ngannou may be premature. Despite both fighters operating under the ESPN umbrella, through Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) and Professional Fighter’s League (PFL) respectively, UFC President Dana White remains unconvinced that such a clash would be feasible.
“It Wouldn’t Work” – Dana White Quashes Superfight Speculation
During a recent interaction with Pat McAffee, White dismissed the likelihood of the Heavyweight titans going head-to-head in the octagon. This denial roots itself in a complicated history preventing a match between Jones and Ngannou under the UFC banner. Jones, after relinquishing his Light Heavyweight title and a three-year hiatus from active competition, wanted to step into the Heavyweight realm. However, the UFC’s reluctance to renegotiate obstructed his potential bout with “The Predator”, Ngannou.
The Legacy of Unfulfilled Clashes: The Ngannou vs. Jones Saga Continues
Ngannou, dissatisfied with the quantity of his fights and the restrictive terms of his contract, decided to let his contract run out and depart from UFC. Even in his exit, he was willing to negotiate a one-off fight with Jones, an opportunity UFC passed on. Ngannou’s recent retort to White’s comments encapsulates the situation: “No Pat, Jonny was on vacation for 3 years while I sat there waiting.” As the narrative evolves, it seems that we are looking at another legendary fight that, unfortunately, may never see the light of day.