Jon Jones Slams Francis Ngannou For Not Fighting Him
Jon Jones is making his UFC return at UFC 285 and is set to fight Ciryl Gane for the vacant heavyweight title. However, Francis Ngannou’s name keeps getting tossed into the conversation.
For those unaware, it was believed that Jones would make his UFC return against Ngannou in a fight for the undisputed title. That fight did not come to fruition after Ngannou was released from the UFC. It is a shame that we are not getting that fight because it would have been one of the best fights the UFC could book.
The issue is that Ngannou’s absence casts a cloud over Jones’ return. Simply said, winning a UFC title is not quite as special if you do not take the belt off the champion. That does not seem to bother Jones, though.
“Francis had the opportunity to face me, and he opted out of the opportunity,” Jones told RMC Sport. “If anyone should be criticized, it’s Francis Ngannou.
“If I’m correct, he was offered the biggest contract in heavyweight history. He had the opportunity to be a guy that dethroned me. He didn’t believe in himself. … He wasn’t willing to gamble on himself.”
“I don’t think I deserve any criticism,” Jones said. “I’m here.”
Jones is being a little harsh in his assessment, but he is not wrong. If Ngannou did not want to fight, you can not blame that on Jones. In fairness to Ngannou, he is pursuing boxing matches against elite heavyweight boxers. I do not think either of these fighters is ducking the other.
This is not the fight time that Jones has spoken out about his fight with Ngannou. Previously, he stated that he did not want to fight Gane at UFC 285. Instead, he preferred fights against Ngannou or Stipe Miocic.
Despite Ngannou leaving the UFC, Jones has not closed the door on their fight. The former light heavyweight champion has stated that a bout against Ngannou is still possible.
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