‘I Don’t Think Jon Jones is Tough as Stipe Miocic’- Francis Ngannou Makes a Big Statement

Newly minted UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou spoke to Jimmy Smith on Sirius XM Radio following his UFC 260 win. Ngannou is now on a five-fight KO streak after obliterating Stipe Miocic with a second-round KO. Francis Ngannou’s win has given a new look to the heavyweight division, and there’s plenty of anticipation about his reign.

‘The Predator’ shut down any attempt made by Miocic to claw his way back into the contest. With Miocic’s half-hearted takedown stuffed, the writing was on the wall that called for a new champion. Ngannou now has several options ahead of him for his next match-up inside the octagon. Chiefly, Jon Jones is the front runner amongst these names based solely on the implications of his heavyweight debut.

Also Read: Marvin Vettori is a Nightmare Match-Up for Kevin Holland- Here’s Why?

Francis Ngannou compares his past and possible future opponents

While talking to Jimmy Smith, Ngannou was asked to lay-out the main points of variation that exist between Stipe Miocic and Jon Jones. While the bout against Miocic is fresh, ‘Bones’ Jones has been hovering around the divisional landscape. ‘The Predator’ reviewed Miocic as an opponent and also dissected Jon Jones’ overall game.

“It [Preparation for Jones] won’t be very different. I mean, Jon Jones has a lot of skillsets just as Stipe but listen man, Stipe is tough and we know that Jon Jones is tough too but I don’t think he’s tough as Stipe. That was something that was very important in this fight. Rather than the first time I was just there to take his head off, this time I knew that he’s tough, he’s going to take me.”

“I have to break him down in order to maybe finish him…But as far as Jon Jones, I think it’s going to be the same thing because when you approach the fight, there are basically two different approach. Jon Jones has a lot of kicks, way more different than Stipe. But Stipe have a very good striking and takedown defense and Jon Jones also, yeah. I think it’s going to be almost the same thing.”

Francis Ngannou vs Jon Jones is undoubtedly the biggest fight that the UFC can make at the moment. However, negotiations with Jones have traditionally been an uphill task and things seem to be dicey. A rubber match against Miocic or a fight against Derrick Lewis may be next for Ngannou if a deal with ‘Bones’ falls through.