Jon Jones has stated that his priority is to exit his UFC contract, a move he believes is essential to make a fight with Francis Ngannou a reality. This declaration came shortly after Ngannou’s decisive first-round knockout victory over Philipe Lins at MVP’s Netflix event on Saturday night.
Jones, who was part of the broadcast team for the Rousey vs. Carano card, acknowledged during a discussion that arranging the highly anticipated bout would be challenging unless he is no longer bound by his UFC obligations. Ngannou’s impressive win over Lins has reignited interest in a potential matchup with Jones. Following his victory, Ngannou reiterated his desire to fight Jones, suggesting that the former UFC champion needs to grasp the business aspects of combat sports and that the fight could still materialize before either fighter retires.
However, Jones expressed a pragmatic outlook on the significant hurdle. He speculated that UFC President Dana White might not be inclined to engage in business with Ngannou, which led him to consider Most Valuable Promotions (MVP) as a potential platform for the fight. Jones emphasized that securing his release from his current UFC contract would be the most difficult aspect, but indicated that if successful, “that would be great.”
Jones’ comments followed Ngannou’s reminder of his formidable presence in the cage. Ngannou’s return to mixed martial arts under the MVP banner provided the combat sports world with renewed impetus to discuss the long-speculated fight with Jones. Jones’ presence on the broadcast, offering his real-time reactions, added a unique dimension to the narrative.
Ngannou joined the PFL after departing the UFC, where he had previously won the heavyweight championship in 2021 and defended it in 2022. His MMA career post-UFC included one fight with PFL and two boxing matches, including a loss to Anthony Joshua and a near-upset of Tyson Fury. After Ngannou’s exit from the UFC, Jon Jones relinquished his light heavyweight title to move up and claim the heavyweight championship.
Currently, the potential fight appears more dependent on promotional politics than pure sporting dynamics. While both fighters are prominent heavyweight contenders, Jones remains under contract with the UFC, and Ngannou operates outside the organization. This complex situation means the matchup hinges on unconventional business arrangements rather than a straightforward booking.
