Francis Ngannou Finally Claims He’s Ready for Jon Jones, but Has One Serious Condition for the Fight to Take Place

Francis Ngannou is still willing to fight Jon Jones despite being no longer a part of the UFC. In a recent interview with Shannon Sharpe on his show, ‘Club Shay Shay’ on YouTube, the former UFC heavyweight champion spoke about the proposed clash between him and the current undisputed heavyweight champion, ‘Bones’.

Ngannou left the UFC earlier this year after disputes over his contract and his dreams to pursue boxing fights. The friction between the organization and the fighter led to Ngannou signing with the PFL for a significant sum and the freedom to pursue cross-sport bouts. ‘The Predator’ confessed to Sharpe that he will fight Jon Jones, but the UFC and Dana White must agree to the fight on his terms! Let’s take a look at what he had to say!

Francis Ngannou sets forth conditions for Jon Jones fight 

After his exit from the UFC, Ngannou stayed as a free agent for a while before PFL offered him a contract that agreed to all the conditions he had put forth. In an appearance on the MMA Hour with Ariel Helwani after his UFC exit, Ngannou revealed, “I am not free, I have no power” when speaking about why he didn’t stick with the promotion.

In the interview with Shannon Sharpe, Francis Ngannou expressed openness to a potential mega-fight with Jon Jones, similar to Conor McGregor and Floyd Mayweather’s bout. Ngannou, currently with the PFL, suggested that he is interested but the UFC will have to agree to his terms for him to sign on.  

Ngannou emphasized the PFL’s involvement, and when asked about the possibility of excluding the PFL, he stated, “Well, I’ve been claiming this fight, I’m in the PFL, they can, we can do the same thing as they did with Floyd, but at this moment, the PFL needs to involved.” ‘The Predator’ also reiterated his willingness to face Jon Jones, provided a suitable arrangement is found. However, he emphasized, “I’m willing to do that fight, but not to go back to the UFC.”

The discussion revolved around the potential financial implications of a Ngannou vs. Jones fight and the need for collaboration between organizations. Ngannou’s statements indicate that the UFC and CEO Dana White will have to find a way to promote the ‘super fight’ with the PFL involved in the process.

And the terms for the Jon Jones fight aren’t the only thing Ngannou revealed in the conversation as he shared an update that has put Dana White on notice!

Dana White gets a response from Ngannou

Francis Ngannou has responded to Dana White’s criticism by embracing independence and launching his fight promotion, GIMIK. The name is a reference to White slamming Ngannou’s exit from the UFC as he claimed the fighter was chasing, “gimmick fights”!

Ngannou, at 37, parted ways with the UFC but secured a significant bout against Tyson Fury, winning public approval. Expressing self-sufficiency, Ngannou emphasized not needing traditional promoters in the interview with Shannon Sharpe. Despite joining the PFL, he clarified, “I don’t need a promoter. GIMIK fight promotion. I can go promote with whoever has a fighter and wants to put on a fight. I don’t need a promotion.”

Read More: Post UFC 295, Dana White Accused of Stalling Jon Jones vs. Francis Ngannou in Co-Promotion With PFL Despite Several Trials

Ngannou is now looking ahead to a potential rematch with Fury after Fury’s bout against Oleksandr Usyk. His MMA “Super Fight” debut with PFL on pay-per-view is also anticipated by the fans, but it remains contingent on finding an opponent intriguing to both fans and Ngannou. The fighter’s journey reflects a shift away from conventional promotional structures and this stands to speak out for his freedom.

Should the UFC consider co-promoting the Jon Jones Vs Francis Ngannou fight soon? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

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