Former UFC light-heavyweight champion Jon Jones was very active on Twitter recently. He once again touched on his proposed fight against Francis Ngannou. This time Jines asked the Cameroonian heavyweight champion to motivate him.

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Motivate me more @francis_ngannou,” he wrote this time. ‘Bones’ vacated his light-heavyweight belt last year as he looks to prepare for his debut in the heavyweight division of the UFC. He was supposed to take on the winner of the title fight between Stipe Miocic and Francis Ngannou at UFC 260. Ngannou emerged victorious, knocking out Miocic in an emphatic fashion.

However, it seems like fans might have to wait before Jones enters the UFC Octagon again. Especially considering the recent saga of disagreement about payment between him and the company, the possibility of Jones fighting Ngannou next are slim to none. The UFC is almost set to finalize a rematch against Derrick Lewis as Ngannou’s first defense of his title.

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LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – MARCH 27: Francis Ngannou of Cameroon reacts after his victory over Stipe Miocic in their UFC heavyweight championship fight during the UFC 260 event at UFC APEX on March 27, 2021 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC)

So, if indeed ‘The Predator’ fights ‘The Black Beast‘ next, it will be interesting to see what lies in the future for Jones. Whether he waits for his shot at the heavyweight gold or decides to fight someone else upon his debut in the division remains to be seen. But first of all, there needs to be a solution to the current situation between him and the UFC.

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Should the UFC book Jon Jones for a fight already?

Jones hasn’t competed since his UFC 247 win against Dominick Reyes. He is considered the GOAT of the UFC and fans love to see him fight. There is a certain buzz of anticipation whenever ‘Bones’ steps inside the Octagon. His supporters want to see him winning. Whereas, his haters tune in to see him lose. Regardless, he is a big draw and a legendary fighter.

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LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – JULY 06: Jon Jones of the United States looks on after his after their UFC Light Heavyweight Title bout with Thiago Santos of Brazil at T-Mobile Arena on July 06, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Jones defeated Santos by decision. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)

There’s a certain risk for any fighter when they fight Ngannou. So, Jones is putting his legacy on the line here and his wanting to be compensated accordingly for that, makes perfect sense. One can argue the numbers he wants are too much for the UFC’s likings. But both parties should come to terms now.

Also Read: VIDEO: Israel Adesanya Reacts to Chris Weidman’s Nasty Leg Injury at UFC 261

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Apratim Banerjee

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Apratim Banerjee is a senior UFC author for EssentiallySports and has been writing professionally for almost a year. Before his current gig, Apratim worked as a UFC writer for Sportskeeda. A long-time MMA fan, Apratim has developed a critical eye for the sport that has helped him transfer his vast knowledge to his copies and give hardcore and casual readers a detailed insight into the fights and fighters. Dan Henderson’s brutal knockout against Michael Bisping at UFC 100 in 2009 is one of his earliest memories of the sport. He has never missed a UFC PPV or a Fight Night since, which speaks volumes about his wealth of MMA knowledge. Israel Adesanya, Jon Jones, Stipe Miocic, Conor McGregor are some of his favorite fighters. Apart from this, Apratim plays soccer in his free time and loves scoring long-distance goals.

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