Fight fans are eagerly anticipating the return of former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou to MMA after nearly two years away, during which he focused on refining his boxing skills. Although the Cameroonian faced defeats in both of his boxing bouts, he returns with a lucrative payday and is now prepared to take on the Brazilian juggernaut Renan Ferreira. The duo will be competing for the inaugural PFL heavyweight super fight championship at the upcoming PFL event in Saudi Arabia, titled the ‘Battle of Giants.‘

The event’s title draws inspiration from the immense physical stature of both fighters, with Ferreira towering over Ngannou. Ferreira’s significant size advantage has led many to question Francis Ngannou’s chances in the upcoming showdown. Even UFC legend Jon Jones has weighed in on Ferreira’s imposing build, casting further doubt on ‘Predator’s’ ability to overcome the challenge, as recently revealed by Chael Sonnen.

Chael Sonnen unveils Jon Jones’ prediction for Francis Ngannou’s upcoming showdown

Jon Jones is currently preparing for his return to the octagon at the upcoming UFC 309 PPV at Madison Square Garden next month, where he’ll face Stipe Miocic for the undisputed heavyweight gold. Upon hearing about his former potential rival Francis Ngannou’s upcoming fight, Jones became intrigued, as he wasn’t initially familiar with Renan Ferreira. However, after learning about Ferreira’s capabilities, Jones leaned towards predicting Ferreira would claim victory, as recently mentioned by fighter-turned-analyst Chael Sonnen on his YouTube channel.

Sonnen recalled his conversation with Jones, where he inquired about his thoughts on Ngannou vs. Ferreira. Sonnen revealed, “I had a chance to ask Jon what he thought about Francis versus Ferreira. Jon had never seen Ferreira fight before; he didn’t know who Ferreira was, just like most of you. But Jon told me Ferreira would beat him. I remember I had my back to him and stopped. I said, ‘What?’ That wasn’t the answer I was expecting. Jon then gave me a full analysis.”

Sonnen further explained that Jones didn’t explicitly predict Ferreira would defeat Francis Ngannou but leaned toward Ferreira due to his considerable size. Sonnen added, “He talked about how powerful Ferreira is and how he managed to land one of his punches on Ryan Bader, who’s as tough as they come.”

Jones thoughtfully conveyed his expectations to ‘The American Gangster’ regarding the upcoming ‘Battle of Giants’ fight card. Nevertheless, this is only a chapter in Francis Ngannou’s journey, as his win or loss will not dictate the course of his career, which he has already mapped out for himself.

‘Predator’ opens up about his retirement plans to Joe Rogan

For 38-year-old Francis Ngannou, life hasn’t gone well in recent years. First, he parted ways with the UFC, where he was the division king, due to contract issues, and subsequently signed a fight deal with PFL. In no hurry, ‘The Predator’ wanted to fulfill his long-desired goal of trying his hand at boxing, where he also lost both his outings.

This summer, he faced another heartbreaking setback when he lost his 18-month-old son, Kobe, to brain malformation. Despite these numerous challenges, Francis Ngannou believes in taking action. He made his first public appearance on Joe Rogan’s MMA Show #160 in July, a few months after losing his son. When Rogan asked about his future in boxing, Ngannou acknowledged the reality of the situation regarding any desired opponents.

Ngannou opened up about his plans, stating, “Because my expectation, as you were asking me earlier, like how many fights do I think I can do in MMA or boxing? I think I get to have a good four-fight plan in boxing; I think that could be good. You know, you get a good four fights, and then you build, like, know who should be next. That could be my potential retirement plan.”

What are your thoughts on Jon Jones’ remarks regarding Francis Ngannou vs. Renan Ferreira? Do you believe that, considering Ferreira’s height advantage, ‘Predator’s’ striking will be less effective? Drop your opinion below.