Francis Ngannou is over all of the Jon Jones discuss.
A matchup between Ngannou and Jones has been a dream for MMA followers for the previous few years, with Ngannou turning into probably the most feared heavyweights in UFC historical past throughout his time with the promotion from 2015-2022 and Jones all the time having one eye on that division at the same time as he dominated over the sunshine heavyweight roster. Even after Ngannou jumped from UFC to PFL in 2023, the 2 have continued to reply questions on preventing each other, and it feels like Ngannou has had sufficient.
Chatting with Seconds Out, Ngannou praised Jones for his win over Stipe Miocic at UFC 309, however dismissed discuss of them ever crossing promotions and assembly within the cage.
“It’s been 4 years that I’ve been saying it, I’m confused that individuals preserve asking me this query,” Ngannou mentioned. “It’s been 4 years. That’s not my drawback, I don’t care about it anymore. If it occurs, sure, if it doesn’t, f*ck it.”
When Ngannou and Jones had been each underneath UFC contract, the fighters had been considering a champion vs. champion battle, however it by no means materialized for numerous causes. In 2021, UFC CEO Dana White and Jones disagreed over how a lot Jones ought to be paid for the matchup, with Jones fuming over White making it sound like he didn’t wish to face Ngannou. White has since tried to vary the narrative, blaming Ngannou for the battle by no means taking place.
Since Ngannou parted methods with the UFC, he’s competed in a pair of boxing matches towards heavyweight stars Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua, and made a profitable return to MMA with a knockout of Renan Ferreira this previous October. He’s presently not considering dealing with Joshua once more after the British slugger viciously knocked him out—alluding to points surrounding the battle affecting his efficiency—however he nonetheless needs one other shot at Fury after shedding a controversial break up resolution to “The Gypsy King.”
“The rematch with Joshua, to be sincere, I felt very off and never very comfy in that battle,” Ngannou mentioned. “It’s one thing that might occur, however what I do know for positive is that I desire a rematch with Fury. Once more, I’m not a conspiracy theorist, however I didn’t just like the Joshua battle. I believe issues wasn’t proper, nothing wasn’t proper, and if it’s going to be the identical situation, I’m not . One thing unfair undoubtedly occurred.”
“I don’t have the complete image, however I’ve seen some [things] myself that wasn’t proper,” Ngannou continued. “I used to be within the locker room for nearly 4 hours, for instance, which isn’t one thing that occurs in a battle, so simply from there. To not [mention] all the week.”
Ought to he get to commerce punches with Fury once more, Ngannou doesn’t count on to vary his technique a lot. All he is aware of is the consequence received’t be the identical.
“In another way, I don’t know,” Ngannou mentioned. “Simply making an attempt to do the identical factor that I did, however higher.”
