Among the many dream matchups in MMA, Francis Ngannou vs. Jon Jones stands out as one of the biggest “what-ifs.” When Jones announced his move to heavyweight in 2020, Ngannou held the title, setting the stage for a blockbuster showdown. However, that clash never materialized. Before Jones was ready to make his heavyweight debut, the Cameroonian powerhouse parted ways with the UFC on bitter terms in early 2023, leaving fans to wonder what could have been.
Although the former UFC champion is now competing in the PFL, fans remain hopeful that a showdown between these two heavyweight titans will happen someday. In fairness to Ngannou, Jon Jones took three years to bulk up for his move to the heavyweight division. Adding to the tension, Jones reportedly demanded “Deontay Wilder money” to fight Ngannou—prompting Dana White to suggest that ‘Bones’ was avoiding the clash. Meanwhile, the former UFC champion grew increasingly frustrated with the UFC’s contract offers, which ultimately led to his departure. However, Chael Sonnen has a different take on it.
‘The American Gangster’ took to his YouTube channel and gave his honest update on why the fight never happened. He said, “Francis had his reasons [to not fight Jones]. Like I’m not going as far as to tell you that he ducked or avoided Jon Jones. But I could. I would be operating within the confines of reality if I did. Francis’s next fight in the UFC was to be against Jon Jones. Francis was under contract with the UFC which Dana had already said will draw him into Jon Jones.”
Sonnen further added, “Francis got out of the contract and went somewhere other than the UFC, and it didn’t involve Jon Jones. Like that’s the reality. The organization wanted to make the fight. Jon said, ‘Okay.’ Francis did not.”
Sonnen appears to suggest that Ngannou should have stayed in the UFC solely for the Jones fight, but that perspective seems a bit unfair. At the end of the day, Ngannou has to prioritize his own future and financial security rather than relying on a single matchup to define his career. In the realm of “what-if” matchups, Stipe Miocic, who has faced both fighters, shared his thoughts on the dream bout. Offering his expert perspective, the former 2-time heavyweight champion weighed in on the potential clash, giving fans valuable insight into what could unfold if the two titans ever stepped into the cage together.
Stipe Miocic finds it tough to pick the winner between Jones and Ngannou
Having battled both Ngannou and Jones, Stipe Miocic has a unique understanding of how each fighter approaches the game. There’s no questioning the raw power of Ngannou, something Miocic felt firsthand. However, after facing Jones, Miocic believes the long list of legends ‘Bones’ has defeated over the years speaks volumes about his greatness inside the Octagon. That said, Miocic also acknowledges that a single misstep against Ngannou could have devastating consequences for Jones.
While speaking to The Schmo he said, “Well, Francis, yeah, you know, he’s got great power. He’s getting better every fight. With Jones, you know, he’s good as one of the best of all time if not the best of all time.” However, he failed to pick a favorite between the fighters and further added, “That’s a tough fight, you know. I think Jon would keep his distance, do well, get him down on the ground. But if Francis connects, you know, [it’s] all over,”.
Both fighters are currently working towards different goals in their career. However, Ngannou’s current employer, PFL’s Donn Davis, wanted to book a cross-promotional fight between his promotion and the UFC. Unfortunately for the fans, UFC CEO Dana White turned down the idea completely.
Do you think the pair will ever fight against each other? If so, who will emerge victorious—Jon Jones or Francis Ngannou? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
The post “Jon Said Okay” – Chael Sonnen Slaps a Reality Check on Francis Ngannou’s Bold Jon Jones Fight Claims appeared first on EssentiallySports.
