Francis Ngannou claims the proposed fight with Jon Jones was never genuine, describing it as 'bait' for UFC negotiations. He believes the UFC was never truly interested in making the matchup happen.
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ATLANTA, GA - JUNE 17: Jon Jones has words with Francis Ngannou during PFL 2023 week 5 at OTE Arena on June 17, 2023 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Francis Ngannou has always been interested in a fight with Jon Jones. He doesn’t think the UFC ever felt the same way.
During Ngannou’s reign as UFC heavyweight champion from March 2021 to January 2023, the possibility of fighting Jones became a hot topic for fans with the light heavyweight legend teasing a move up a division. Ngannou and Jones publicly lobbied to face one another, though contracts were never sent and UFC CEO Dana White has blamed both fighters at various times for the matchup never happening.
After Ngannou successfully defended the heavyweight title at UFC 270 in January 2022, he looked to negotiate a new contract, hoping not just for a big pay day and potential Jones fight, but to have the leverage to book boxing bouts. The two sides could not come to an agreement and Ngannou was granted free agency a year later.
Ngannou feels the only reason UFC executives ever mentioned Jones to him was to convince him to come back.
“Disappoint me? No,” Ngannou told ESPN when asked about missing out on a Jones fight. “It was never really on the table, so I don’t have to be disappointed. The only time that he seems like a possibility was when he was used as bait, something to bait me.”
Jones eventually made a successful move up to heavyweight and became UFC champion in a second division, while Ngannou moved on to the PFL where he competed just once. He parted ways with PFL in March and is now set to return to action when he fights Philipe Lins at the Rousey vs. Carano event on Netflix on May 16.
Ngannou is presumably free to negotiate again after his next fight, and a UFC return seems unlikely, though he hasn’t shut the door on that reunion as long as it makes sense for all parties involved.
Francis Ngannou stated that the fight was merely 'bait' for negotiations with the UFC and that he felt the organization was never genuinely interested in making the matchup.
Ngannou sought a new contract after defending his heavyweight title, aiming for a significant payday and the opportunity to fight Jones, but the UFC and Ngannou could not reach an agreement.
Francis Ngannou was granted free agency in January 2023, a year after failing to negotiate a new contract with the UFC.
Dana White has blamed both Francis Ngannou and Jon Jones at different times for the failure to make the fight happen.
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“Listen, I have no problem with contracts,” Ngannou said. “I have a problem with the way that the contract is being used. I still sign a contract, even if it’s not fighting. I’m a businessman, so I understand the concept of contract, which is an agreement between two people that have to assure they deliver something. Now, if we both deliver whatever is agreed on in the contract, I see no reason for us to keep doing business. In fact, when you sign a good contract, you want to get your partner happy, to maybe re-sign. Like, OK, this has been such a good partnership, why not re-sign? Why not re-do this? We are winning together, why not continue?
“So I really don’t have a problem with a contract itself. When I sign a contract, I make sure that I deliver. I honor my part of the contract. So I don’t have problem with the contract. Bring me the contract, I look at it. If it’s right, I sign. It has to be right and fair, that’s all that I’m saying.”
Still, if by some chance Ngannou and Jones end up under the same promotional roof again, that matchup is still one Ngannou wants to have on his résumé before he calls it a career.
“Jon Jones is the fight that I really want to have before my retirement,” Ngannou said. “But other than that, it could be anybody, I don’t care. As long as it’s a fight.”
“I’m not saying it’s a fight that would define my career or something, but if I had to pick, OK let’s do this one and go home, then it would be Jon Jones,” he added.