With the new year just around the corner, excitement is building over a possible heavyweight title unification clash between Tom Aspinall and Jon Jones. The rumored matchup has fans buzzing, especially after both fighters dropped hints on social media. Jones added more fuel to the fire earlier this week, confirming, “We’re in negotiations.”

Meanwhile, talk of another big heavyweight showdown is making the rounds, with new rumors surfacing about a potential fight between Francis Ngannou and Jon Jones. However, the Cameroonian fighter’s coach made it clear that he was waiting for the fight to happen three years back. He also clarified that the former UFC heavyweight champion wasn’t at all scared of ‘Bones’.

Francis Ngannou was confident that he could have beaten Jon Jones in their clash

Two years ago, the Jon Jones vs. Francis Ngannou fight was billed as a dream matchup in MMA. However, Jones’ injury and Ngannou’s departure from the UFC hit the nail in the coffin. Despite these setbacks, the hype around the fight never faded. Now, with Saudi Arabia’s General Entertainment Authority (GEA), spearheaded by Turki Al-Sheikh, collaborating with both the UFC and PFL – the fight appears closer to reality than ever. While fans wait for an official announcement his coach Dewey Cooper has been dreaming of the fight for quite some time now.

“We were excited about it, you know, because guys, even though we were coaches, you know, we’ve been doing this s–t a long time, we are still fans of this s–t. We want to see the greatest matchups. We wanted to see the Pacquiao-Mayweather [fight] when it’s time, not five years later. We wanted the Jon Jones-Francis fight three years ago.”, Cooper said to XCouture MMA coach Eric Nicksick. When Ngannou negotiated for higher pay, and even when he left the promotion, fans, and Jones himself, leveled accusations that the Cameroonian MMA champion was afraid to fight the two-weight UFC champ.

Commenting on that aspect, Dewey Cooper continued, “I can say for sure Francis wasn’t scared [of Jones] and we weren’t afraid of the moment. We wanted the moment, we were like embellishing the opportunity to beat the person [and dethrone] the GOAT Jon Jones. You know that’s for sure.” 

The rivalry began brewing when Jones announced his move to heavyweight, setting his sights on the division’s top contenders. Ngannou, holding the belt at the time, seemed like the natural opponent. However, disagreements over contracts and pay led Ngannou to part ways with the UFC and sign with the PFL, leaving their potential showdown in limbo. Another factor for the delay in the fight was that ‘Bones’ wanted some time to bulk up in size and adjust to the new weight before fully jumping into the heavyweight division.

The potential showdown between Ngannou and Jones has been marked by missed chances and changing focus. But it’s not just a matter of timing – UFC president Dana White’s position on the fight plays a significant role. Whatever may be the reason, Eric Nicksick feels this was the fight both fighters wanted to be a part of.

Francis Ngannou vs Jon Jones is the biggest ‘what if ‘ feels coach Nicksick

What happens when one of MMA’s biggest dream fights gets tangled in contract disputes, pride, and promotional roadblocks? The idea of Francis Ngannou facing Jon Jones is one that fans refuse to forget – and it’s easy to see why. Jones continues to build his legacy after defending his title at UFC 309, while Ngannou makes waves in the PFL and boxing. As the hype grows, the heavyweight division’s biggest “what if” hovers over Dana White, who remains hesitant to make it happen. After months of nonstop rumors surrounding the potential mega-fight, Francis Ngannou’s team has finally spoken out about the possibility that it may never happen.

Speaking on the possibility of a showdown, coach Eric Nicksick said, “I’ve said this time and time again, I think Jon Jones is the greatest to ever do it. As a competitor, you want that challenge, but unfortunately, unless something changes, you just have to let it go. It’s always gonna hurt a little bit,”.  For now, it seems like the only action between the two heavyweights will happen in the form of words. The slim chance of this fight happening rests on Riyadh Season and Turki Alalshikh persuading Dana White to agree to a cross-promotional event – but even that feels far from likely.

Do you think the pair will fight outside the UFC or will that matchup remain a pipedream for fans? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.