Francis Ngannou Says Jon Jones Is Still the Fight He Wants Most
Francis Ngannou has made it clear that one name still stands above all others when he thinks about the final chapters of his fighting career. Despite years of uncertainty over who his next opponent would be, the former UFC heavyweight champion says Jon Jones is still the fighter he most wants to face.
The fight between Ngannou and Jones has been pending for a long time as one of the largest fights in mixed martial arts that has never happened. The collision between the destructive force of Ngannou and the versatile genius of Jones was a debate among fans for years over how it would unfold within the cage.
As of today, both Jones and Francis are out of the UFC. The fight now seems unlikely to ever take place. Ngannou has made no secret of his desire to finally bring the long-awaited fantasy matchup to reality.
Ngannou Still Desires Jones Before Retirement
In a recent interview with ESPN, Francis discussed that, given his choice of one last marquee fight in his retirement, he would take Jones. He wanted to fight Jones before his career ended. Ngannou also said that, although he is ready to fight anybody, given a choice to fight one last person and then retire, Jones would be his first choice.
Francis said, “Jon Jones is the fight that I really want to have before my retirement,” Ngannou said to ESPN. “But other than that, it could be anybody, I don’t care. As long as it’s a fight. I’m not saying it’s a fight that would define my career or something, but if I had to pick, okay, let’s do this one and go home, then it would be Jon Jones.”
The Cameroonian star also clarified that he does not view the fight as something necessary to define his legacy. Instead, it is simply the matchup that interests him most on a personal level. That distinction is important because Ngannou has already built one of the most impressive careers in heavyweight MMA history. A victory over Jones would add to that résumé, but in his mind, it is more about unfinished business than validation.
A Fight That Always Felt Out Of Reach
Although fans and media frequently discussed Ngannou vs. Jones during their UFC years, Ngannou suggested the fight was never as close as people believed. He explained that missing out on the matchup did not leave him disappointed because it never truly felt like a realistic possibility. According to him, the only times Jones appeared available were moments when his name was being used during negotiations rather than as part of a serious plan to make the bout happen.
Ngannou believes the idea of fighting him was often used as leverage and bait rather than an authentic attempt to book the contest. Those comments reflect years of frustration surrounding one of MMA’s most talked-about fights that never materialized.
Jones Retired, Ngannou Moves Forward
Jon Jones recently stepped away from MMA competition, making the possibility of a future meeting even more uncertain. Meanwhile, Francis continues exploring opportunities outside the UFC.
He is scheduled to return to MMA on May 16, where he will face Philipe Lins on the Ronda Rousey vs. Gina Carano card. The bout will mark Ngannou’s first MMA appearance since October 2024. In that last outing, Ngannou scored a first-round TKO victory over Renan Ferreira in what remains his only appearance under the PFL banner. Now, he looks to stay active while keeping the door open for any major opportunity that may emerge.
Ngannou already has a great legacy even without facing Jones. He became one of the most feared punchers in MMA history and captured the UFC heavyweight title before moving on to opportunities outside the promotion. Nevertheless, some battles have more than ranking or titles. To Ngannou, Jones seems to be such a fight.
Fans Still Wonder
The topic of who would win between Ngannou and Jones is not over yet. One had technical mastery and experience in championships, and the other had unparalleled knockout power. Even though time and circumstance may not allow the contest to take place, there is a high interest. If the bout never comes together, it may go down as one of the greatest “what if” matchups in MMA history.
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