Regardless of being in several organizations, a battle between Jon Jones and Francis Ngannou would completely be doable given the UFC and PFL are each broadcast below the identical ESPN umbrella. Sadly, UFC president Dana White is adamant {that a} battle between the 2 heavyweights “wouldn’t work.’
Throughout a recent interview with Pat McAffee, White shot down the thought of attempting to place a battle collectively between his present and former heavyweight champions.
“It wouldn’t work,” he declared. “Francis was right here, Jon Jones needed that battle the entire time. We tried to make the battle with Francis … yeah.”
That’s a reasonably broad assertion to explain the sophisticated historical past that prevented Jon Jones vs. Francis Ngannou from occurring below the UFC banner. Jones relinquished his mild heavyweight title and left energetic competitors for 3 years after the UFC refused to renegotiate a move to heavyweight the place he might have confronted “The Predator.” By the point he labored out a take care of the promotion, Ngannou was having his personal issues with UFC brass.
Sad with the quantity of fights he was getting and the restrictive phrases of his contract, Ngannou determined to battle out his contract and leave the UFC. However at the same time as he ready to go, he provided to signal a one battle take care of the UFC to face Jones. The UFC refused, Ngannou left the promotion, and now it appears to be like now we have one other legendary battle that can by no means occur.
Ngannou fired again at White after his feedback, boiling it down to 1 easy sentence.
“No Pat, Jonny was on trip for 3 years whereas I sat there ready,” he wrote.
It’s simply the most recent spherical of again and forths between White and Ngannou because the UFC president continues to color Ngannou as impossible to work with and unwilling to face Jones. He had comparable phrases for Jon when “Bones” was refusing to battle as effectively. As at all times, it’s no matter narrative that fits the UFC finest that White will push. On this case, it’s that the man he has below contract is the person, and the man he doesn’t is a bum.
