Fresh off a second round knockout win over Stipe Miocic in their heavyweight title rematch at UFC 260, Francis Ngannou is eyeing a super fight with Jon Jones in Africa.
Ahead of UFC 260, Dana White said that Jones would challenge the winner of the main event. However, negotiations between the UFC and ‘Bones’ have so far failed to come to fruition as the former light heavyweight champion desires to get paid more.
Jon Jones Deserves It
Speaking on the ‘Hotboxin’ with Mike Tyson’ podcast (as transcribed by MMA Junkie), Ngannou said that after all that Jones has done for the sport, he deserves a big payday.
“Everybody in this position would like to get compensated,” Ngannou said. “Basically, a guy like Jones, he’s been around for very long and been doing this sport, and [the UFC] grows. I think there’s nothing wrong about [wanting to get paid more]. But I don’t know what the deal is. I would like that fight to happen – that would definitely be the number one fight.”
Fighting Jon Jones In Africa
With Ngannou winning the heavyweight title, the UFC currently has three African-born champions. The other two being welterweight kingpin Kamaru Usman and middleweight champion, Israel Adesanya.
‘The Predator’ believes now is the time for the UFC to enter the African market, and there’s no better way of doing it than pitting him in his backyard against one of the greatest fighters of all time.
“I think they can recreate ‘Rumble in the Jungle’ – the idea,” Ngannou suggested. “That would be something dope, and I’m definitely going to be a part of that. I wish they’d do it pretty soon, maybe something with Jones. We’re going to recreate ‘Rumble in the Jungle.’ That’s something epic, and now that Africa stands as a figure of combat sports, we have to go back to that.”
Should the two compete inside the Octagon, Ngannou doesn’t expect Jones to be as tough as Miocic.
“Jon Jones definitely has more tools in his pocket than Stipe, but I’m not sure he’s tougher than Stipe though,” Ngannou said.
Who do you think wins a potential heavyweight title fight between Francis Ngannou and Jon Jones?
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