Jon Jones demands the UFC make another superfight before Tom Aspinall after hearing who is 'still interested'

Jon Jones says he wants to defend his title in a "real super fight" against one of the greatest heavyweight fighters in UFC history, after the champion heard he is "still interested" in making it happen.

Earlier this week, many assumed Jones had announced his retirement from MMA, when he responded to a fan who accused him of being "scared" to fight interim heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall.

“It really has nothing to do with fear,” he wrote on X. “The question I asked my close friends and family is how much higher can a person like me climbing this sport. The goal for athletes is to build a brand and then take that brand and become so much more than an athlete."

He then added: “A lot of the fans and fighters are not used to seeing someone go out on top the way I have. I get that it’s uncomfortable and I don’t expect people to understand territories that they’ve never been."

Jones, who hasn’t fought since knocking out former two-time heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic at UFC 309 in November, continues to play down a potential match-up against Aspinall, despite Dana White trying his utmost to make it happen.

But in an unexpected twist, the 37-year-old has now called out Francis Ngannou, with the latter's coach claiming that the former UFC heavyweight champion is keen on rejoining the promotion.

Taking to X on Friday night, Jones said: "I’m hearing Francis Ngannou is still interested… now we’re talking. That’s a real super fight. A clash of champions, not just hype. He held the UFC belt, I’ve defended mine for over a decade. Two kings from different roads. Not just one legend facing a mouth that’s hot right now, but two real legacies colliding."

Jones added: "That’s the kind of fight that actually adds something special to my story. At least from my point of view."

Ngannou vacated the UFC heavyweight title in January 2023, and signed a more flexible contract with Professional Fighters League, which allowed him to take part in boxing fights against Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua.

He has only competed in MMA once since unifying the UFC heavyweight title in 2022, knocking out PFL heavyweight tournament winner Renan Ferreira in a single round.

Jones hasn’t fought since knocking out Stipe Miocic in November last year. Image credit: Getty

But his MMA coach, Eric Nicksick, has teased Ngannou's return to the UFC amid rumours around a boxing match with Deontay Wilder.

“I know that he’s been kind of asking for that Wilder fight, and if that’s something that comes up, great,” Nicksick told Home of Fight this week.

“I just feel like the heavyweight division as a whole is kind of in shambles, and I think that if we can somehow, someway get this back together, there’s so many options for Francis. Not only in the UFC, but just around. I think that he can help bridge that gap that the UFC is lacking in its star power when it comes to the heavyweight division."

Nicksick added: “I think enough time has passed. I would love to see somehow, someway that they can mend these fences and get back in competing in the UFC.”

Thoughts on a potential super fight between Jones and Ngannou? Would you like to see it happen? Let us know in the comments.