Jon Jones indicated that securing his release from his UFC contract is the primary step toward making a fight with Francis Ngannou a reality. He made this statement shortly after Ngannou’s decisive victory over Philipe Lins at MVP’s Netflix event. Jones, who was part of the broadcast team for the Rousey vs. Carano card, acknowledged that the proposed bout would be challenging to arrange without his prior freedom from UFC commitments.
Ngannou’s swift first-round knockout of Lins reignited the intense interest in a potential matchup with Jones. Following his win, Ngannou reiterated his call for a fight against Jones, suggesting that the former UFC champion still needs to grasp the business aspects of combat sports and that their encounter could materialize before either fighter retires.
Jon Jones Believes Leaving UFC Contract is Key to Francis Ngannou Fight
However, Jones conveyed a pragmatic outlook on the obstacles. He speculated that Dana White might not be inclined to negotiate with Ngannou, which leads him to consider Most Valuable Promotions as a potential avenue for the fight. Jones emphasized that freeing himself from his UFC contract would be the most difficult aspect, but expressed optimism that if it were possible, “that would be great.”
“I’ve got to focus on getting out of my UFC contract. That’s going to be the tough part if this fight [with Francis Ngannou] is going to happen. I don’t think Dana is keen on doing business with Francis, so working with MVP would likely be the only way to make it happen, and if we can get out of my contract, that would be fantastic.”
Jones’ comments came immediately after Ngannou’s impactful performance, which served as a potent reminder of his capabilities. Ngannou’s return to MMA took place on MVP’s inaugural live event, providing the fight community with renewed discussion points for the long-speculated Jones matchup. Jones’ presence on the broadcast added another dimension, as his reactions were immediate and unscripted, rather than rehearsed talking points from later interviews.
Ngannou joined PFL after his departure from the UFC, where he had previously claimed the heavyweight championship in 2021 by defeating Stipe Miocic and successfully defended it against Ciryl Gane in 2022. Ngannou’s MMA activity in PFL included one fight, followed by two boxing matches where he suffered a loss to Anthony Joshua after nearly defeating Tyson Fury. Following Ngannou’s exit from the UFC, Jon Jones relinquished his light heavyweight title to move up to the heavyweight division, where he subsequently won the world championship.
Currently, the prospect of this fight seems more contingent on promotional dynamics than on pure sporting logic. While both fighters remain top-tier heavyweights, Jones is still under contract with the UFC, and Ngannou operates outside the promotion. This situation means that the matchup hinges on unconventional business arrangements rather than a straightforward booking.