Francis Ngannou Believes he Matches up “Pretty Good” With Jon Jones

Francis Ngannou is focused on fighting Stipe Miocic and taking the UFC’s heavyweight title. But, if he ends up facing Jon Jones afterward, he clearly is confident he’ll hand ‘Bones’ his first, legitimate loss.

Ngannou weighs-in on a potential fight with Jones

For multiple weeks last year, there was talk about the possibility of Ngannou and Jones fighting, after the latter called for the fight. The UFC and Jones, however, couldn’t come to terms for the contest.

A brief, contractual dispute occurred, but ultimately Jones ended up vacating the light heavyweight title in advance of a heavyweight run.

The expectation is that Jones will get an immediate title shot at heavyweight. But, UFC President Dana White has said several times that Ngannou is next for the champ, Miocic.

Well, recently Ngannou spoke with MMA Fighting, and he was asked about Jones. 

“It’s obviously something that everyone would love to see,” Ngannou said. “If I were to say myself, I would have liked to see that fight.

I wanted it to happen. If this fight would have happened, I would have been active by now.

If I have two positive things, which is fighting Jon Jones, who is probably the greatest of all time, the No. 1 pound-for-pound in the world in my opinion, but the main thing I would stay active.

“Because right now, right here, it’s just lacking. I don’t know where I am. I don’t know what I am doing exactly.

Having a fight is a good fight and having a big fight is a great thing. That’s something I’m looking forward to.”

And while weighing-in on how that fight would play out, the feared striker said this.

“I think I match up pretty well with Jon Jones,” Ngannou said. “He’s gaining weight now. He seems really big and strong, but I think I match up pretty good.

He has some good skills that he can match my power. It’s going to be different.”

Fascinating match-up

So, first things first, and Ngannoun needs to get by Miocic.

It’s possible, of course, that even if he loses to Miocic for a second time he could end up fighting Jones down the line. But, things would get much more uncertain, in terms of Jones – Ngannou materializing.

As far as how the fight could play out: anytime you’re taking about Ngannou – one of the hardest-hitting fighters in the game – he has a chance to win, and a very good one at that.

So, it would be fascinating to see how Jones approaches the feared slugger. Chances are we’d see Jones fighting at range, using lots of kicks, and mixing in his wrestling.