Ngannou vs. UFC: The Story Behind the Match That Never Happened

Francis Ngannou, former UFC heavyweight champion, is no stranger to controversy, especially when it involves UFC President Dana White. Preparing for his PFL debut, Ngannou has refuted White’s claim that he avoided a fight against Jon Jones. White recently stated that the fight didn’t happen because “we couldn’t make Francis fight [Jon Jones],” but Ngannou has a different take.

In a pre-fight press conference for his upcoming bout against Renan Ferreira, Ngannou addressed White’s comments with a smile, saying, “I think that’s the new narrative since he needs to say something either way. As far as I’m concerned, it was Jon Jones that didn’t want to fight me — according to them.” He continued by recalling several meetings where UFC officials suggested that Jones was the one unwilling to fight: “They said, ‘Oh, it can’t happen, Jon Jones doesn’t want to fight anymore. He’s living in Albuquerque, he’s living his small life, he has a lot of money in his bank account.’”

Negotiations and UFC Departure

Ngannou has long pursued a fight against Jones, but he made it clear that he would only do so under the right conditions. Before leaving the UFC, he sought contractual concessions that would allow him to explore other interests, like boxing, which led to his eventual departure.

“I was the one requesting the Jon Jones fight but I didn’t want [to get trapped] into some deal and get to something that I didn’t want. I wanted things to be straight and square,” Ngannou stated.

TRENDING:

• Tom Aspinall Preparing for Potential Title Fight
• Floyd Mayweather Praises Jake Paul’s Hustle: “He Can Steal Money”
• Dana White Apologizes to Israel Adesanya Over Ngannou Erasure

White has shifted his narrative over the years. Initially, he questioned Jones’ willingness to take the fight, even suggesting Jones move down to middleweight. However, more recently, White has claimed that the fight fell through due to Ngannou.

White remarked, “That dude [Hunter Campbell] did everything in his power to make Jon Jones vs. Francis. The fight did not happen, and let me tell you, it wasn’t because of Jon Jones.”

A Complex Story with Unresolved Questions

Ngannou is set for his first MMA fight since leaving UFC, as he faces Renan Ferreira on October 19th in Saudi Arabia. Reflecting on the past, Ngannou insists that he never dodged the Jones fight.

“Yes, I wanted to fight Jon Jones, but in good conditions,” he reiterated. This ongoing back-and-forth highlights the complexities and shifting narratives often seen in MMA negotiations.

For more details, visit MMAnytt.se