Francis Ngannou knows a thing or two about negotiating big money with the Ultimate Fighting Championship.
Ngannou parted ways with the UFC in 2023 after failing to agree to a new contract with the Las Vegas-based promotion. Since then, he has secured big-money boxing matches against Tyson Fury (who he almost won) and Anthony Joshua, as well as signed a contract with the Professional Fighters League that offers many of the freedoms and perks he wanted. also signed. When he was still in the UFC, his showdown with current heavyweight champion Jon Jones was a hot topic. The explanation currently being offered by the UFC is that Ngannou quit the promotion because he didn’t want to face Jones. But when Bones went on a three-year hiatus and Ngannou was the reigning UFC champion, the story took on a completely different framework.
Jones returned to action at UFC 309 and successfully defended his heavyweight title by stopping Stipe Miocic in three rounds on November 16 at Madison Square Garden in New York. ‘Bones’ has been accused of avoiding a match with the interim heavyweight champion. Tom Aspinall, but in the aftermath of his recent win, Jones has indicated he may be open to a fight if the price is right. A little more than three years ago, Jones tweeted “Show me the money” regarding a potential matchup with Ngannou after the Cameroon-born Frenchman defeated Miocic in 2021. At the time, Ngannou understood why Jones wanted more compensation. A move to heavyweight, even if UFC CEO Dana White doesn’t.
Fast forward to the present day, and while White is currently being hounded by Jones, many in the MMA community are fed up with his firing of Aspinall. But Ngannou offers a different perspective on what’s happening behind the scenes.
“I think the negotiation situation here has something to do with not knowing all the ups and downs,” Ngannou told TMZ Sports. “We all know the situations where they’re used in negotiations to say, ‘Oh, he doesn’t want to fight this guy, he’s scared.’ And that’s how the machine works.
“he [Jones] As he said, he is in a position to claim what he wants. He said, “Aspinall needs that fight.” There’s no need. ‘And if you look at it, it’s mostly true. He has nothing to gain from this match other than money. But for Aspinall, who has come to the division and is trying to solidify his path, that will be all there is to it. ”
With legacy in mind, Jones suggested that a bout with current UFC light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira might be more appealing than a title unification bout with Aspinall. Ngannou admits that Pereira may be a better fit for Jones stylistically, but it’s also important to have fights that motivate him.
“Honestly, I’d like to see him play against whoever he wants to play against,” Ngannou said. “I think Aspinall will be a more challenging fight because Aspinall can handle the ground fight better than Pereira. I think Aspinall will react better than Pereira in wrestling.
“[Jones] He can do whatever he wants. It’s his phone. Once you get to that point, you only fight if you want to fight. And it’s better to have a fight you want or a good cause. ”
Jones vs. Ngannou remains arguably the heavyweight division’s biggest dream matchup, but “The Predator” takes a realistic view of its chances.
“Right now, the only option is to [PFL] The roster, that’s just what it is…that’s not what I want or what I want to get,” he said. “It doesn’t really matter. The reality is, we both certainly want this fight, and it’s going to be a good fight for us. This includes legacy and other things. I mean, you’re going to end your career at some point, but yeah, it’s always nice to know that you played against the best in the sport.”
Ngannou respects Jones as the MMA GOAT, but thinks it’s too early to declare the UFC champion the greatest heavyweight of all time. After all, Jones has only won against Cyril Gane and Miocic since moving up from 205 pounds.
“Even if Stipe loses the fight, you can’t ignore what he’s done as a heavyweight. People forget quickly,” Ngannou said. “For me, John might be the best fighter overall, but I personally wouldn’t classify him as the greatest heavyweight of all time. Come on, dude. He’s an established fighter. But he’s not established as a heavyweight. That’s my opinion.”
