Francis Ngannou's Blunt Reaction to Potential Fight vs. Jon Jones

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Antonio G Losada | Last updated Dec 22, 2024 6:42 AM ET

Francis Ngannou, the PFL Heavyweight Super Fights champion, expressed his frustration over ongoing speculation about a potential fight against UFC's reigning heavyweight champion Jon Jones.

During an interview with "Seconds Out" in Saudi Arabia ahead of the second fight between Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk, Ngannou made it clear that he is tired of addressing the topic, which has followed him for years.

“It’s been four years that I’ve been saying it,” Ngannou said. “I’m confused that people keep asking me this question.”

Right after that, Ngannou appeared to distance himself further from the possibility when asked if the fight could still happen.

“It's been four years," Ngannou said. That’s not my problem (if there is a possibility he will eventually fight Jones), I don’t care about it anymore.

“If it happens, yes, if it doesn’t, (expletive) it.”

The Cameroonian fighter defeated Renan Ferreira last October to win the PFL title and has long been linked to a possible clash with Jones.

Ngannou never truly had a chance to fight Jones in the UFC as he left the promotion in Jan. 2023 before Jones moved up in weight class to compete in the heavyweight division, winning the title vacated by Ngannou in Mar. 2023 and not relinquishing it since.

With Ngannou now fully into boxing and competing in the PFL and Jones confirmed to fight interim champion Tom Aspinall in a unification bout at some point in 2025, the likelihood of a showdown between Ngannou and Jones seems remote.

UFC President Dana White hinted at a fight that fans will "never see coming" getting close to being confirmed during his last press conference of the year, but it's hard to believe it'd be related to Jones, let alone facing Ngannou, considering the breakup between the latter and the promotion and the fight involving Aspinall expected to happen.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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