Jon Jones roasts Francis Ngannou after PFL signing, Ngannou responds
Jon Jones is none too happy with Francis Ngannou following the latter signing with the PFL.
The free agency period for Francis Ngannou finally came to an end on May 16, when it was announced that the former UFC heavyweight champion had signed a deal with the PFL.
This additionally seems to bring a permanent end to the idea of a long-awaited showdown between Ngannou and current UFC heavyweight champion Jon Jones.
A fight between the two had been rumored for quite some time — even stretching back years — before Ngannou officially parted ways with the UFC and vacated the UFC heavyweight championship.
Jones called Ngannou out on social media, seemingly mocking him for taking a deal outside the UFC and under the assumption he'll be facing lesser competition.
Calling yourself the baddest man on the planet from across the street, who does that? Lol
— BONY (@JonnyBones) May 16, 2023
Francis Ngannou dares Jon Jones to still face him after Jones calls him out on Twitter
Not one to back down and let Jones have the last word, Ngannou replied to Jones's tweet.
Then cross the street
— Francis Ngannou (@francis_ngannou) May 16, 2023
Jones, however, continued to fire off tweets taunting Ngannou.
My man wins one Super Bowl, transferred to a top arena football league, and then claims to be better than Brady. That’s what I’m hearing right now.
— BONY (@JonnyBones) May 16, 2023
You notice that! Wasn’t calling himself the baddest when he was still a free agent. He signed safely behind a new organization, and now suddenly the baddest thing walking. Like we all haven’t seen him quitting inside that cage before. https://t.co/2lm13FUqxI
— BONY (@JonnyBones) May 16, 2023
Rumors and reports of a Jones vs. Ngannou fight stretch all the way back to 2020 — when Jones was still UFC light heavyweight champion and looking to move to heavyweight. But a variety of issues both then and now led to the UFC never booking the fight.
Ngannou's PFL deal will see him compete in the promotion's new pay-per-view superfight division beginning in 2024. Ngannou, however, is also expected to compete in a boxing match later this year — though there are few to no official detail about such a fight.
In addition, the PFL deal will give Ngannou equity and leadership roles in the PFL, including the promotion making Ngannou chairman of the newly-launched PFL Africa. Ngannou will also serve on the company's advisory board "to represent fighter interests."
There is also reportedly a clause in Ngannou's contract that guarantees his opponents at least a $2 million payday.
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