Fists fly, and reputations are forged in blood and sweat in MMA, but sometimes words can land the hardest punches. Francis Ngannou, the man with arguably the most feared hands in combat sports, has just thrown a verbal haymaker at UFC CEO Dana White and the enigmatic Jon Jones.
The former UFC heavyweight champion has reignited the debate surrounding his highly anticipated fight with Jon Jones. The Cameroonian powerhouse recently challenged White’s version of events, claiming that it was Jones who shied away from the matchup.
“As far as I’m concerned, it was Jon Jones who didn’t want a fight with me, according to them. So many times we sat down in a meeting and they were like: ‘Oh it can’t happen. Jon Jones doesn’t want to fight anymore.’… I think the guy who controls the narrative can say whatever he wants,” said Ngannou at the PFL Press conference.
Ngannou went on to describe multiple meetings where he was told Jones wasn’t interested in the fight. The former champion’s frustration was palpable as he discussed the situation. This war of words adds another layer to the already complex relationship between Ngannou and the UFC.
If true, Ngannou’s claims paint a different picture of the much-hyped potential matchup with Jones. For years, fight fans salivated at the prospect of these two titans clashing in the octagon. The Cameroonian’s power and Jones’ technical brilliance seemed like a recipe for an instant classic. However, contract disputes and conflicting narratives prevented the dream fight from materializing.
Jake Paul wants the winner of Renan Ferreira and Francis Ngannou to fight Jon Jones
The YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul has once again stirred the pot in the world of combat sports. This time, he’s set his sights on a potential mega-fight involving Francis Ngannou, Renan Ferreira, and Jon Jones.
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Paul’s latest comments came during a discussion about the upcoming PFL heavyweight title bout between Ngannou and Ferreira. The social media star didn’t mince words when addressing the possibility of the winner facing UFC heavyweight champion Jon Jones. However, he remained skeptical about this happening.
“Well I think Dana [White] is scared to make it happen. I think he doesn’t want to lose his horse in Jon Jones…Francis is one of the baddest if not the baddest man on the planet…So, don’t think he would want to do that, but the MMA fans want that,” said Jake Paul at the PFL press conference.
Now signed with the PFL, ‘The Predator‘ is set to face Ferreira in a highly anticipated bout. The winner could potentially stake a claim as the world’s best heavyweight fighter. As such, the YouTuber’s comments highlight the ongoing debate about cross-promotion in MMA.
