Francis Ngannou: 'I claim that title' of best MMA heavyweight in the world

Former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou did not lose his title to an opponent inside the octagon.  He was stripped of the title after failing to come to contractual terms with the fight promotion.

While negotiations with Ngannou were still ongoing, UFC matchmakers booked an interim title fight between Ciryl Gane and Derrick Lewis to headline UFC 265.  Gane stopped Lewis late in the third round to capture the interim title.  

Former light heavyweight champion Jon Jones returned after three years to take on Gane for the undisputed championship at UFC 285 in March 2023.  It took Jones two minutes to become a two-division UFC champion.  Jones successfully defended the belt at UFC 309 earlier this month against former two-time titleholder Stipe Miocic.

Ngannou watched Jones stop Miocic in the third round.  He was in talks to face Jones when negotiations failed with the UFC.  It's a matchup Ngannou has envisioned.          

"There's always that thought about a fight possibility when it's your division.  It's a thing, you think about everybody, like, how would I handle this person," Ngannou told TMZ Sports.  "Everybody at that level has something, especially someone like Jones.  Then you have to, what if it was me?  What would I do?"

Ngannou has thought about how he'd mesh with Jones in a fight.  While he considers Jones potentially the greatest fighter to grace the octagon, Ngannou asserted that he's the best heavyweight in MMA at the moment.  

"It would be a good fight for us.  There's more into this, like legacy and everything.  I mean, I can finish my career at some point, but it will always be great to know that, okay, you faced that guy, that guy which is like, which is the best in this sport, to ever do this sport," Ngannou said.  

"Besides the fact that I still believe I'd beat him, I still believe Jon is the great fighter.  As far as fighting is concerned, I think he's the best fighter," Ngannou continued.  

"Even though Jon, like for me, be the best fighter overall, I personally can't classify him as the best heavyweight of all time.  Come on, man.  He's established as a fighter, but not as a heavyweight," Ngannou added.

"I claim that title (of best MMA heavyweight in the world).  I claim that title.  And there's an opportunity to settle that.  We can settle that once and for all."