Francis Ngannou Opens the Door for Jon Jones Showdown as PFL CEO Challenges UFC

Francis Ngannou and Jon Jones

Francis Ngannou continues to stoke excitement for a potential mega-fight against Jon Jones, a clash that fans and the PFL are eager to see materialize. The heavyweight superstar reignited discussions on Saturday when he responded to a tweet from Jones, in which the UFC heavyweight champion addressed criticism about avoiding Tom Aspinall.

Ngannou seemed to back Jones while pointing to an even bigger challenge that could elevate both fighters’ legacies.

“Blessings make haters uncomfortable, but they can’t change it,” Ngannou wrote. “There’s only one fight, the right fight that will multiply your blessings.” He punctuated his message with the hashtag #NgannouvsJones.

The sentiment is shared by PFL CEO Peter Murray, who spoke about the possibility of the blockbuster bout during the 2024 PFL World Championships in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Murray emphasized the enthusiasm surrounding the matchup and put the ball squarely in the UFC’s court.

“The fighters want the fight, Jon Jones wants the fight, Francis wants the fight, we want the fight, our partners here in Saudi want the fight,” Murray said. “It really comes down to does UFC wants to step up to it or not. Period.”

While the UFC has historically avoided cross-promotion, there’s precedent for collaboration, as seen in the Floyd Mayweather vs. Conor McGregor boxing event in 2017. That bout generated enormous profits, partly due to UFC’s involvement. However, a fight between Ngannou and Jones may not promise the same financial returns, hindering the UFC’s willingness to partner with the PFL.

Ngannou, the reigning PFL heavyweight champion, has had a momentous run since leaving the UFC in 2023. His contract with PFL allows for high-profile boxing matches, and he rebounded from a loss to Anthony Joshua with a devastating knockout of Renan Ferreira in October. The fight came amid personal tragedy for Ngannou, who lost his infant son Kobe earlier in the year.

“He’s just an incredible human and a tremendous fighter,” Murray said. “That fight against Renan Ferreira, it was really, in Francis’s words, more than a fight for him.”

As Ngannou eyes a showdown with Jones, the MMA world waits to see if the UFC will rise to the occasion and deliver the fight fans crave.