Francis Ngannou Sets the Record Straight

Francis Ngannou, former UFC heavyweight champion, has been making headlines ahead of his PFL debut against Renan Ferreira. One of the main issues he addressed was the narrative that he ducked a fight with Jon Jones, as claimed by UFC CEO Dana White. Ngannou made it clear that it was not the case and that he did, in fact, want the fight with Jones, but things didn’t come to fruition due to various reasons.

Following Ngannou’s last fight in the UFC defending his heavyweight championship against Ciryl Gane, talks of a potential superfight with Jon Jones began to circulate. However, negotiations fell through as Ngannou and the UFC failed to reach an agreement on a new contract. This led to Ngannou being stripped of his title in January 2023 and becoming a free agent shortly after. Meanwhile, Jon Jones went on to become the UFC heavyweight champion by defeating Gane for the vacant title in March 2023.

Ngannou shed light on the failed negotiations, stating that he did request the fight with Jon Jones, but he didn’t want it to be a ploy to force him into a new deal with the UFC that he wasn’t comfortable with. This contradicts the narrative put forth by Dana White, highlighting the complexities behind the scenes in the world of MMA negotiations.

After signing a multifight deal with the PFL in May 2023, Ngannou ventured into the world of boxing. His first match against Tyson Fury ended in a controversial split decision loss, although Ngannou managed to knock Fury down in the third round, surprising many. Subsequently, Ngannou faced Anthony Joshua in a boxing match, resulting in a knockout loss in March 2024. Despite these setbacks, Ngannou expressed interest in continuing his boxing career, including a potential rematch with Fury.

While Ngannou remains open to potential boxing matchups, his primary focus currently is on his return to MMA against Renan Ferreira on Oct. 19. With an eventful career spanning both UFC and PFL, Ngannou’s journey continues to captivate fans and intrigue the combat sports world. His determination to set the record straight and pursue his passions serves as a testament to his resilience and unwavering spirit in the face of adversity.