With all his focus directed on the 10-round boxing match with Tyson Fury (33-0-1) on October 28 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, it is surprising that there is any other fight on Francis Ngannou’s mind at this time, but Jon Jones is not just ‘any other fight’.
In a recent podcast episode of The Joe Rogan Experience, Ngannou sat down with the comedian and UFC commentator to discuss some topics that everyone is wondering about.
Following his most recent successful UFC heavyweight title defense versus Ciryl Gane (12-2), in January 2022, Ngannou (17-3) opted to not renew his contract with the leading organization, and eventually decided to sign with the PFL. Meanwhile, Jon Jones (27-1) made his return to the UFC in March and took out Gane in a matter of minutes at UFC 285 to claim the vacant heavyweight title.
THE GREATEST OF ALL TIME IS NOW THE HEAVYWEIGHT WORLD CHAMP 🏆
JON JONES SUBMITS CIRYL GANE!! #UFC285 pic.twitter.com/JOiAnweVJ5
— UFC (@ufc) March 5, 2023
With Ngannou’s UFC departure, followed by Jones’ return, many fans were left wondering what will come of the hype surrounding a fight between the pair, and if they will ever get to see it.
Ngannou expressed that the PFL would be interested in cross promoting a match between the two heavyweight superstars once he is done with the Tyson Fury fight, but it is unlikely that the UFC would be interested in that. Rogan also raised an important red flag on the situation and asked what would happen in a cross promotion scenario in which Ngannou won the UFC title.
Ngannou acknowledged that would be a problem, but explained that the fight with Jon Jones is not about the title for him.
“I don’t know, maybe it’ll be a special fight – a special belt or something, maybe not like a UFC belt, To be honest, I don’t worry about the title. The title is not what I worry about. I worry about that fight, that challenge.
“I wouldn’t care if it was a fight without a title. In my mind, I don’t need a UFC title. That fight is bigger than a title. The fight is bigger than a title. Deep inside me, I still have a little bit of hope, even though I know it’s going to be hard. But, you never know.”
Despite the interest in this possible super fight, the two are currently focused on their individual upcoming bouts. Of course, Ngannou will make his boxing debut versus WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury on October 28th, and Jon Jones will face the legendary Stipe Miocic (20-4) in the main event of UFC 295 on November 11th, in an attempt to defend his heavyweight title for the first time.