Jones Vs. Ngannou Worth $50 Million

Donn Davis, the PFL Chairman, says Jon Jones can make $50 million by fighting Francis Ngannou.  

The demand for the fight has resurfaced following Ngannou’s first-round KO win over Renan Ferreira on his PFL debut. The win showed that Ngannou is still one of the best heavyweights around since he had not fought in MMA following his KO win over Ciryl Gane at UFC 270 in 2022. Jones defended his UFC Heavyweight Title against Stipe Miocic at UFC 309 via a stoppage win.

It was his first defense of the belt, which he acquired after submitting Ciryl Gane last year at UFC 285. Jones is expected to fight UFC Interim Heavyweight Champion Tom Aspinall next. Aspinall earned the title shot after stopping Curtis Blaydes in his last fight at UFC 304. White is on record, saying he is very confident that the fight will happen. 

“It’s going to happen. It’s done, but it’s not done. Not done enough to sit right here now and announce it and give you a date. But fight’s going to happen. It’s just a matter of getting it signed now. “If we pull this off and actually make the fight, announce it and start leading up to it, this will be the biggest heavyweight fight in UFC history,” White said 

Dana White has ruled out a co-promotion with the PFL. The UFC sells significantly more tickets than the PFL, giving it less of a reason to work together with the PFL. Meanwhile, White also said he won’t work with Ngannou again after his UFC departure was on bad terms. Contract talks broke down after suggestions that Ngannou was worried that his rights as an independent contractor would not be protected. Ngannou and White have also had different narratives over why the Jones fight never happened. They accused each other of ducking, as fans missed out on the bout. 

Jones Vs. Ngannou

“(Ngannou) didn’t want that fight (with Jones). He could have stayed and took that fight. He didn’t want that fight. Tom Aspinall deserves that fight. I was all about Francis in the beginning, and then I found out who Francis was. I told the two guys who asked me not to cut Francis, ‘When somebody shows you who they are, believe them.’ Believe me: I have no sleepless nights over Francis leaving. I didn’t like Francis as a person – wasn’t a guy I wanted to do business with. I didn’t like Francis. My boys were telling me he’s misunderstood, and I told them when somebody shows you who they are, believe them,” White stated 

However, the Saudis staged the PFL vs. Bellator Champs card and sponsored UFC 306, showing their willingness to work with the PFL and the UFC. Davis still held hope that the fight would happen.  

“I know one way [Jon Jones] earns $50 million. Francis Ngannou. To decide the true MMA heavyweight champion and the real [pound-for-pound] #1. That would be THE fight of the decade for MMA fans,” Davis said