Once the UFC stripped him of his heavyweight title due to contract disputes, Francis Ngannou lost his championship without stepping into the octagon. Instead, the UFC arranged an interim title fight between Ciryl Gane and Derrick Lewis at UFC 265, which Gane won by defeating Lewis in the final moments of the third round.
In UFC 285, Jon Jones, the former light heavyweight champion, returned after a three-year absence to challenge Gane for the undisputed title and claimed victory within just two minutes. Following this win, Jones successfully defended his title against Stipe Miocic at UFC 309.
Ngannou had been in talks to face Jones, and while those negotiations fell through, he watched Jones defeat Miocic in the third round. Ngannou has always envisioned a showdown with Jones.
Ngannou has contemplated facing Jones and views him as one of the greatest fighters in MMA history. However, he confidently asserts his position as the top heavyweight in the sport currently.
Reflecting on a potential fight with Jones, Ngannou expressed the significance such a bout would hold in terms of legacy and competition. He believes it would be a meaningful fight regardless of the outcome.
While acknowledging Jones’s exceptional talent, Ngannou believes he would emerge victorious against him. Even though Jones is recognized as one of the best overall fighters, Ngannou maintains that Jones hasn’t proven himself in the heavyweight division.
Ngannou boldly proclaims himself as the best MMA heavyweight in the world and sees the opportunity to settle this claim definitively in a bout against Jones.
