The PFL has revealed that they are ready to see a fight between Francis Ngannou and Jon Jones. Talks of a fight between the two heavyweight giants have been in the background for years but have failed to take any proper form. The main issue is that both fighters are in different organizations, with Ngannou in the PFL and Jones as the UFC heavyweight champion.
Another factor holding the fight back is the indifference of the UFC. Although there has been talk of a possible matchup for years, the UFC has not given any hint of wanting to see the fight come to life. However, the PFL holds a different position.
Speaking at the PFL World Championships event held over the weekend in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Peter Murray, CEO of the PFL, when asked about the PFL’s position on a Ngannou vs. Jones fight, said that they are all very interested in seeing the fight happen, but the UFC appears to be holding back.
He said: “We’re supportive of it. The fighters want the fight, Jon Jones wants the fight, Francis wants the fight, we want the fight, our partners here in Saudi want the fight. It really comes down to whether the UFC wants to step up to it or not. Period.”
His statement does not come as a surprise to anyone who’s been following the talks for years. UFC President Dana White has never given a straight answer, like Murray, on whether the UFC wants a Ngannou vs. Jones fight.
The UFC may be uninterested in this matchup because of White’s personal issues with Ngannou. The Cameroonian left the UFC in 2022 under what could be considered “bad terms.” Before leaving, Ngannou, then the heavyweight champion, criticized the UFC’s pay structure, comparing it with that of other sports like boxing.
He did not mend his relationship with White before leaving, and it now seems like that could be one of the reasons behind the UFC’s current apathy towards the fight.
Another reason could be that the UFC does not typically do crossover events unless there is a significant benefit for them, and that does not seem to be the case with this matchup.
But this does not mean all hope is lost. The UFC has never outright rejected or dismissed the idea, and that in itself could be a sign that, under the right conditions, they would be willing to make the fight happen.
