When news of Jon Jones’ plans of competing in the Heavyweight division was first made public, a handful of names were thrown around as potential opponents. One name that stood out was the then-heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou. A fight with presumably the scariest hands in MMA would have served quite a challenge for arguably the GOAT of the sport. The recent developments, however, mean fans might never find out how this fight would have ended. Surprisingly, after trading jibes online for quite a while, both the fighters seemed to have found a common ground.

Both Jones and Ngannou have had their share of difficulties with the promotion when it comes to contract negotiations. Since Ngannou‘s departure from the UFC, Jones came out in support of the Cameroonian, which could have surprised a few fans.

Jon Jones gives his statement on Francis Ngannou’s exit from the UFC

While speaking to MMA Underground, the former Light Heavyweight champion expressed his admiration for Ngannou. Although touted as potential rivals, Jones and Ngannou clearly have an alignment of opinion regarding fighter pay. 

“I’m happy for Francis. I’m glad that Francis knows his worth. No man has a right to shame another man for fighting for his worth.” expressed Jones. 

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The UFC Hall of Famer continues, “I was in a very similar situation as Francis, as a light heavyweight. I was never happy with my salary. I had to sit out three years, and I missed a lot of time, but now we’re here. I encourage Francis on his journey, and I wish him all the best. Another company is going to be truly blessed to have him.”

Jones’ fans would be familiar with his struggles with the UFC regarding contract negotiations. Some would even argue that this was the reason for his delayed heavyweight debut. 

More details on Francis Ngannou’s exit from the promotion

Francis Ngannou, after winning the Heavyweight crown on March 2021, has multiple times spoken out on the issue of fighter pay. Eventually, this ended up as the reason for the 36-year-olds eventual departure from the UFC. Interestingly, Dana White revealed that the proposed contract for Ngannou would have made him the highest-paid heavyweight of all time.

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In a conversation with Ariel Helwani, Ngannou disclosed the genuine reasons for the disagreement with the promotion. The Cameroonian mentioned sponsorship, health insurance, and a fighter’s advocate in board meetings as his demands. Although, as reported, the pay involved was definitely among the highest ever in the sport. It was the UFC’s refusal to agree to any of the demands made by Ngannou that led to the current scenario.

Jon Jones Guarantees ‘At Least Two More Fights’ in the UFC

Ultimately, although Jones and Ngannou were a mouth-watering fight, fate had a different plan. With Jones set to face Ciryl Gane for the vacant title, maybe it might be more of a technical battle than Jones vs Ngannou. But in the end, Jones’ admiration for Ngannou is something fans will definitely appreciate.