Jon Jones up against Francis Ngannou in a heavyweight bout is undoubtedly the epitome of a dream match for most MMA fans.
But it’s not one that interests Dana White anymore.
The Nigerian and UFC parted ways earlier this year over disputes within their contract negotiations, with Ngannou also admitting he’s keen to try his hand at boxing.
The announcement of the split between the UFC heavyweight champ at the time and the company came simultaneously with the return of Jon Jones.
Jones had been out of the Octagon for three years, and now was returning to take on the heavyweight division.
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The returning all-timer proved that a long hiatus and a move up in division wouldn’t faze him on his mission to becoming the GOAT.
In his return fight, he secured the heavyweight championship with a first-round submission win over Ciryl Gane in what was an absolute rout.
Jones’ impressive performance only fuelled calls to finally make the dream fight between ‘Bones’ and Ngannou happen.
But White still ain’t interested.
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He told TMZ Sports: “I’m not interested (in that fight).
“I tried making that fight for two years. He didn’t want the fight. Do you know what I mean? He didn’t want the fight.
“He left here without even having another deal in place. And I know how the boxing world is. It’s crazy. But Francis didn’t want to do it.”
According to the UFC head honcho, that matchup would’ve ended up exactly how the UFC 285 main event did.
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White continued: “I tried to make that fight for two years, and let me tell you what. I think a lot of other people feel this way. I think that’s exactly the way the fight would’ve gone if (Ngannou) was in there, too.
“Him and Ciryl had a five-round war (at UFC 270). If Ciryl doesn’t go for that submission, Ciryl probably wins that fight at the end of the fifth round there.”
After UFC 285, Ngannou fired a bit of a backhanded compliment Jones’ way.
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He tweeted: “Good job Jonny Boy. Sincerely, the heavyweight King.”
Jones responded to the ‘compliment’ when speaking to reporters after his fight with Gane.
Simply put, he believed Ngannous was ‘a big old p***y’.
Topics: Dana White, UFC, MMA, Francis Ngannou, Jon Jones
Jayden Collins